Portrait feedback - DPChallenge Forums

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

02/28/2004 08:46:04 AM · #1

This is only my second attempt at doing portraits so I'd really appreciate any comments or suggestions (other than about the wrinkles in her top)

Shot with a Canon D60, 100mm macro lens, 420EX flash with diffuser

(Edited to point to new version with boosted colour - though it is hard to boost reds without going too far for sRGB - doesn't seem to be much range in that area there)

Message edited by author 2004-02-28 11:16:30.

TerryGee

Canon EOS-30D

02/28/2004 08:55:08 AM · #2

All the technical stuff is good(lighting, dof...),but
she doesn't look all that relaxed with the camera. Her head leaning back on the wall looks a little stiff. I would like to see a more relaxed version showing her true personality. Her face needs to be turned more towards the camera IMHO.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

02/28/2004 08:55:19 AM · #3

I'm no expert by any means, but in my opinion she looks a bit rigid. This is a common pose but in this this case I think it looks a bit unnatural. I think the lighting is good, but the whole photo seems a little washed out. Thats all I've got to say really. I've got to do some outdoor portraits soon, so I'll be keeping my eye on this thread :)

helgihelgi

Canon EOS-20D

02/28/2004 08:59:38 AM · #4

Have you tried it in B/W? I like it, but the colors are a bit dull IMO, and B/W would add some class

casualguy

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/28/2004 09:00:28 AM · #5

My (personel) suggestions:
1. I think the torso needs to be cropped a tad more (just above the elbow perhaps).
2. I would give it a very slight counterclockwise rotation to square up the framing with the post (the other vertical lines beyond will look more skewed though).
3. The tones appear a bit muted to me, maybe bump up the color a pinch.
4. I would probably edit that hole out of the post.
5. (I won't mention the wrinkles).

lightpro1

Nikon D100

02/28/2004 10:23:24 AM · #6

Try turning her toward the post and leaning her head into the post. This will give your lighting more direction and a softer feel to the shot. She will also have the feel of looking into the portrait instead of looking out of the frame.

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/28/2004 10:22:42 PM · #7

This really is very nice. I like the eyes. Other than the things already mentioned, I think I'd like just a little bit warmer tone to the color. Not overdone, but just a bit more.

I do like it a lot just the way it is, but there is some room for improvement. Do we get to see some more?

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/29/2004 01:21:27 AM · #8

I agree she does not look entirely relaxed, her arm position probably adds to this. I think you might try shifting your viewpoint slightly toward her front, maybe 15-30 degrees, instead of shooting directly from the side, and have her bring the arm forward, possibly loosely wraped about her torso.
I really like the lighting, wouldn't change a thing there.
A little soft focus would go a long way here. I tried a 4px gaussian blur with 40% opacity, eyes masked, and it made quite a difference.
A bit of warming with curves also seems to be an improvment.

garrywhite2

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/29/2004 01:33:28 AM · #9

Yes she does not look relaxed... I'm guessing that she expects to see her picture on the internet and be the subject of several conversations.

I think you both did a great job, congratulations are in order. She is a very beautiful lady and you did well with this shot.

TG73

Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200

02/29/2004 08:07:35 AM · #10

From my very amateur eye, I think it looks good. I didn't notice till someone pointed it out, but she looks really nervous.

KarenB

Canon EOS-70D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/29/2004 08:31:11 AM · #11

Agree with TerryG that she could look a bit more relaxed.
I think the crop is fine, but since it is a half body shot, could have included her hand... perhaps arms folded across her, and then cropped just below the elbow of that. Go above the elbow, and you crop just below the chest which is worse than what you have - in which case you may as well have zoomed in with your camera for a head and shoulders shot.

I like the angle of the wall and how it is out of dof.

:)

Message edited by author 2004-02-29 15:17:20.

02/29/2004 10:23:33 AM · #12

Thanks for all the feedback - my main challenges are learning how to pose and learning how to make someone feel more relaxed - so I think everyone picked up on those quite well :)

I think next time I'll probably try to use a tripod, so that I come out from behind the lens a bit more and can talk more easily.

It was also her first time modeling and she was no doubt unsure about me not knowing what I was doing either.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/29/2004 10:27:37 AM · #13

Originally posted by kirbic:

A little soft focus would go a long way here. I tried a 4px gaussian blur with 40% opacity, eyes masked, and it made quite a difference.
A bit of warming with curves also seems to be an improvment.

Thanks for the detailed feedback - a couple of observations from doing this.

the 100mm macro is _really_ sharp - possibly too much for a lot of portrait work without softening things down. I was quite staggered by the detail in some of the head shots I have.

The final prints are going to be a bit softer than this anyway - my default 'make it 640 pixels high' action does a bit more sharpening than this maybe needed - I'll try a masked blur though.

On the colours - I'm trying to get away from the over saturated digital camera look - just trying to say 'no' to the saturation slider. Maybe I backed off a bit too much. Also I had a bit of a hangover yesterday while doing these shots - really impacts colour judgement, I've noticed :)

Spork99

OM System OM-1

02/29/2004 10:37:01 AM · #14

Getting your subject to relax is always a challenge when shooting portraits. Usually, if you can have a conversation that revolves around something the subject is interested in with cues from the photographer being more of a secondary tpic, that will get them to relax as much as is possible with a camera stuck in their face. Some subjects just will not relax.

Brent_Ward

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

02/29/2004 03:07:25 PM · #15

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

...it helps to get them a little drunk first. ;D jk...

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/29/2004 09:43:50 PM · #16

Here is another couple from this shoot:

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

02/29/2004 09:48:44 PM · #17

G, I relly like the first one. The colors are very soft and the crop is very nice. Nice and relaxed facial expression. The second one looks a bit too "posed" (stiff).

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/29/2004 09:53:50 PM · #18

The top one in the last post.

Message edited by author 2004-02-29 21:55:50.

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

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

02/29/2004 09:57:23 PM · #19

Originally posted by Gordon:

Here is another couple from this shoot:

I love this one the best. Her eyes really stand out here and her smile is lovely. Oh and the lighting is awesome.