Meet Erica... Story inside - DPChallenge Forums

02/03/2005 09:08:13 PM · #1

Hello folks, just thought I share the first installation of the portfolio I'm putting together for Donna Baldwin.

The model is Erica, this was her first time posing as a model as it was my first time shooting 'model' portfolios.

Used only natural light and a gold reflector. Here's the kicker. After I took this shot I realized the white balance was 'wrong' so I fixed it and reshot.. Let me say it turned out to be crap 'correct'.

I adjusted contrast and used the healing brush for complextion. Other than that it's untouched.

deapee

Kodak V803

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/03/2005 09:12:58 PM · #2

Without actually seeing more of the model, I can't say if the picture is flattering of her or not. I can say that it is definately flattering for her face -- she looks beautiful.

Arcanist

Nikon D810

02/03/2005 09:28:27 PM · #3

Very nice work for someone who is first-timing and 'thinks' they shot the wrong settings.

GAWD how to say this without sounding like a dog or worse...dang it, a man just can't say these things so that a woman would not be offended....

I could be wrong, but this woman seems a bit on the heavier side of the 'typical rail-thin' model. Not that that is bad, she is definitely not obese or looking like she needs to lose weight. That said, you have done a very good job of minimizing something that narrow-minded model-users might consider a drawback. For what it's worth, she looks great.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/03/2005 09:29:52 PM · #4

Joe,

it's beautifully lit and presented, kudos for that. However, when I look at the image I feel like the shoulder thrusting towards the camera is WAY out of proportion, looming too large, and it quite disturbs me. In this image, her face looks too small for her torso, and the shoulder's the culprit.

Or that's what I think anyway; maybe it's just me...

Robt.

edit: Arcanist is getting the same vibes as me, I see; he's just put it a little more bluntly :-)

Message edited by author 2005-02-03 21:30:53.

Arcanist

Nikon D810

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/03/2005 09:33:15 PM · #5

Lately I'm like that, it's gonna get me in trouble.

Of course, when the divorce is final, if she's single, I'd like to meet her. (8-o

Message edited by author 2005-02-03 21:34:16.

Jozi

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

02/03/2005 09:40:37 PM · #6

Not being a rail thin model myself haha, I think this gal is quite lovely. Her skin tone is beautiful and creamy smooth with a gorgeous glow to it. I have to agree about the shoulder comment. It stuck me too. I think she is just a bit broad in the shoulders and this particular pose, AND her clothing, accentuates this. However, I did mention that she is quite beautiful regardless. :)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/03/2005 09:47:42 PM · #7

thanks folks for the great comments. I continue to learn and hopefully progress.. I have a few more of Erica that I will post when I have them finished.

I must say that you were pretty close on the size matter. She has very strong shoulders and I was really trying to get around it. This had to be IMHO the best over all shot but opinions may and always do vary. I actually hadn't noticed the shoulder thing in this photo until it was pointed out. I think a few other shots fix that problems but like all art has problems of it's own.

None the less I'm super proud of my progress and think along with a few other shots I have in mind to use for this project, I should have no trouble getting the account.

Thanks again and see you in a few with more shots!

Joe

Arcanist

Nikon D810

02/03/2005 09:52:03 PM · #8

Originally posted by Jozi:

I think this gal is quite lovely. Her skin tone is beautiful and creamy smooth with a gorgeous glow to it.

...What she said.

See, I knew a woman would know what to say that I didn't know to say.

deapee

Kodak V803

02/03/2005 09:53:28 PM · #9

After hearing that, I will elaborate...the picture is flattering of the model in the sense that it brings focus to her beautiful face...she really does have a great face...and you brought that out nicely.

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

02/03/2005 10:28:33 PM · #10

Originally posted by deapee:

exactly what i was going for

dartompkins

Nikon D70s

02/04/2005 12:00:50 AM · #11

She has a lovely face and her hair is very flattering. Being a woman blessed with the shoulders of a linebacker and more of an anti-model myself, I would recommend that you never shoot a large shouldered woman at an angle where her neck is lost in the shot. From what I can see, she probably has a lovely neck and that always helps pull attention away from the broad boxiness of her shoulders. I bet you could get an absolutely wonderful close up of this young lady with more of an upward angle.

KevinRiggs

Canon EOS-1Ds

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/04/2005 01:46:38 AM · #12

Joe,

I love the skin tone you achieved in terms of coloration and texture. That alone is flattering to any woman whose photo is going to be scrutinized; she appears to have a flawless complexion with lovely hints of color especially where the light catches at the shoulders, cheek and chest. Her eyes are a tad dark but you got a good catchlight that livens them up and I'm sure as an 8x10 this will have more of a differentiation in color in her eyes so they will probably be even that much better. You have captured two of her assets admirably here: her beautifully feminine face and her cleavage (for which adjectives fail me right now). I think a second reflector (white perhaps) to drop a little more light on top of her head to sort out the darker areas of her hair might have been worthwhile. The striped, white lines that cross her shoulders beside the spaghetti straps of the top are mildly distracting but you may not have been able to do anything about them. The pose does create the single most noticeable effect of making her look almost disproportianate between her upper body and her face; just moving her right hand back towards her lower body could have helped to lessen this effect but that's something that you'll start to recognize in camera. If your first efforts were anything like mine then there was probably more than enough to keep track of during the shoot.

I think that whether this is the first shot you contribute to someone's portfolio or not it has some merit and can only be judged against the rest of the work they have. This photo shows several positive highlights of the subject and has few distractions. I think its a good capture as a portrait and a very good first outing for shooting for someone's portfolio.

Congrats,

Kev