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05/24/2006 06:57:04 PM · #1 |
My goal this summer is to really broaden my view on photography, and better my passion for my favorite type, portraiture. I want to learn as much as possible, and would love to ask anyone that is available to look at my portfolio if they see some things i could work on. i take constructive criticism very well, so please don't think you will offend me. i learn from you great photographers more than you could ever know, and if there's something little that you see in my photos that could be a small problem i could fix, i'd love to know it. if you don't have time, i completely understand, but i appreciate and value every one of your opinions very much so.
my main problem is lighting, i know, and i'm working on understand DOF and aperature more in depth..that's why some of my entries have been knocked for being so "soft" when i didn't realize they were. i just recently bought some new alien bees, so hopefully that will be fixed in recent time
thank you so much for all that have helped me in the past, and will continue in the future. you will never know how much i appreciate it. :)
now let me have it :) |
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05/24/2006 07:01:12 PM · #2 |
I think you know what you need to do...lighting and composition.
A few of your shots look just like snaps -- which is cool, they capture a moment that may mean something to someone...but photographically speaking, I think there are a few in there that are a bit more. "Deep Thought" and "Up to Something" are really good. "All Lit Up" for example -- just too much direct flash.
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05/24/2006 09:17:32 PM · #3 |
Like you I'm trying to broaden myself. After my first portrait session yesterday I know what I need and what I need to do so it's just a matter of time and hoping yesterdays model is willing to work with me again.
3 things I learned
1. Go where the model is most comfortable even if it means having to work harder for good shots.
My model was 15 and is VERY popular at school. Went to a place where I've done a lot of work with my 5yo daughter because there are so many places within a block for good bg's and lighting. Problem was girls kept teasing my model, and it didn't help that his mom had to be there since he is a minor. We had to stop shooting every few minutes because of his embarassment of his mom being there and all the girls being around.
2. use my 14mm lens and leave the 45 at home. Funny thing though, all the great shots I have of my daughter are with my 45mm and that's what I've always felt most comfortable using. So I thought I'd stick with it. Uploaded pictures and the portrait shots have the top of his head missing in every one. The headshots aren't bad, but they too have the top of his head missing but it's less noticeable- or bad looking since they are closeup shots.
3. get a new reflector. I used my accordian folding reflector for my windshield so it made it really hard trying to use it because the light was uneven. I'm going to buy one of those big round ones- folds in half and is two circles.
All that being said I looked around at your website and was impressed. You have a good eye and really capture the moments. So whatever you do just keep shooting, improving on what you know you need to and the rest will fall into place.
I've learned a great deal here too and if it wasn't for this place I wouldn't be trying to do what I am lol. I'd still be sitting here with a p&s taking snapshots. |
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05/24/2006 09:20:47 PM · #4 |
There are some wonderful books available on lighting----look up Porters Camera Store on the internet.
Also.....if you have a community college or someone else offering classes, take them!!! It will be well worth the cost in the long run!
All photography is about the light and the lighting!
Best of luck! |
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05/24/2006 10:01:20 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by missinseattle:
2. use my 14mm lens and leave the 45 at home.
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I agree with what missinseattle said except for this one, number 2. I say bring both. I have shot with my 12-24 quite a bit and I love getting in close but still being able to include the whole body. It will work with some shots and not with others. You'll end up getting distortion that will often make their head to small and their feet and hands too big or vise/versa.
These two show how from different angles you'll get different results.
 Her head is too big in this one and her feet get real small.
 In this one her feet are too large and her body is the farthest part from the lens, so it makes her body look really small and her head also a little large.
I didn't realize until after the shoot I was getting this effect, but from now on I've decided to do everything I can to get farther away from my subject and zoom in to create an even perspective.
 I did that in this shot by standing on a ladder and using my 28-75, still at the wide end, but this lens is long enough to basically eliminate the distortion. You can see that her head and feet are still proportional.
Enough about that though, a few thoughts about your pictures. You certaily seem to have been working with getting good expressions and that is really important. Always try to seperate your subject from the background whether by using shallow depth of field or strong lighting on the person. This will be much easier with your alien bees than with natural light(which it looks like all you have used so far). Your libby and deep thought shots are my favorite where you have that shallow depth of field although, and I could be wrong, it looks like you added the blur in on photoshop, particularly on the deepthought. I didn't notice right away and the average person certainly wouldn't. I assume you also saturated the eyes heavily and thats cool(I often do too much) but know that you don't want to go to far with it. Definetly keep learning photoshop, you can't know too much and it will only improve your shots. I use it for my stuff all the time(probably too much). My final suggestion would be to experiment with different angles. When looking at your portfolio I couldn't help but notice they were all shot straight on from a standing point of view. Get high, low, tilt the camera, have fun with it and experiment. You never know when something will really work well. Oh and one more thing, when you do full body shots work with natural hand placement. I've found this to be the hardest part for me so if you find out any good ideas, let me know. Hope this helps and feel free to PM with any questions.
Edit- Just noticed you have a 50mm f1.8, I would suggest using this as much as possible. A fantastic lens and the DOF is awesome. Just be sure you're focused on the eys, sometimes its hard to tell on that small lcd screen.
Message edited by author 2006-05-24 22:15:11. |
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05/25/2006 02:20:36 PM · #6 |
thank you all so very much. i would love as many responses as possible to take in for the summer, so if you have any ideas for me whatsoever, it's much appreciated.
this is great, so much i've learned so far from these replies and the private messages i've received.
thanks so much.
-jon rowe |
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05/25/2006 03:16:17 PM · #7 |
| Left a couple of comments for you Jon. |
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05/25/2006 03:20:46 PM · #8 |
This is a great pic of Victor Wooten...probably as good as most posted on this site. Composition works and the color looks fine for what you had to work with.
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05/30/2006 01:28:23 AM · #9 |
one bump for this, then i'm through. thanks for all that have commented.
much appreciated. |
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