Taking a Stab at Portraits - DPChallenge Forums

12/04/2003 02:33:47 PM · #1

Hi everyone!

I'm not a big people/portrait photographer, but my father wanted to get some new pictures of my sisters and I for x-mas.. and since I'm the 'photographer' of the group, I was elected to give it a shot.. so to speak.

I would appreciate your input on these two shots of my youngest sister. I realize there are some skin flaws etc that could probably magically disappear if I were more knowledgeable with photo editing but I'm not so there they'll stay. Anything else though that I can work on in the future or change with these two particular photos would be great!

Finda & Friend

Impish Smile

Thanks!

Sia

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

12/05/2003 01:10:18 AM · #2

No advice/comments out there at all?

Firstrich1

Nikon D610

12/05/2003 01:20:53 AM · #3

Hi Sia

I am more a B&W fan so the first image is the one I think works best. You have done a good job of capturing the warmth in her smile in both images. the second Images pose with her looking over the shoulder seems almost strained...maybe a little less of a twist of the head..also a bit more saturation. still I do think you have done a fine job working with the natural light.

Hope I helped

Richard

Message edited by author 2003-12-05 01:21:25.

aussie

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 90-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM

12/05/2003 02:23:34 AM · #4

I love the B&W photo. The light is beautifully done and I also like how you have added the pup in there. Nicely composed as well. Nice work.

The second looks like you both had a lot of fun!! Honestly though the colour looks a little flat and I don't particularly like the background.

Alexys

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/05/2003 02:53:32 AM · #5

I love the B&W portrait. I love B&W´s portraits, personally, I think B&W is the best way to get a good portrait. And, of course, your B&W´s portrait is brilliant. Good job!

Natasha

Nikon D50

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

12/05/2003 03:19:56 AM · #6

I really like the top one, the lighting and pose are lovely. There is a lot of character to this picture. I agree that the second picture looks a little uncomfortable, but still a great picture and I am sure that they will be delighted!

I too have been trying some portaits for my sister for xmas, they have just had a baby. There are three B&W shots on my profile, any comments would be appreciated!

Message edited by author 2003-12-05 03:28:43.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

12/05/2003 05:03:27 AM · #7

Thank you guys!

I too like the b&w one the best, but we're going to do some more so she can have a wider range to choose from.

Both of these were taken in the same room with the light coming in from a bay window. Unfortunately the color photo's background has a lot of artifacts (possibly from the website upload? Not there in the original photos) instead of the nice crisp blue, silver & white stripes that should be there.

We did have fun, took awhile to figure out poses & styles for her to do (the big Janet Jackson "What have you done for me lately" music video hairstyle was the most hilarious) but once we got started, two hours went by like nothing. I'm trying a new area (portraiture) and filling some x-mas lists at the same time. Can't beat that.

I really appreciate the input - I'm going to try and find a place to learn how to even out skin tones via editing because she does have lighter skin on her cheeks and nose than the rest of her face and the photo picked up on that - I tried to spot-edit slightly using the hue and saturation but it didn't make up for the difference enough.

Again, thank you!

- Sia

PS: Natasha, I like the portrait of all three of them together, especially because the baby looks so delicate and small with the adults around to give a size contrast.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

12/05/2003 05:12:29 AM · #8

Try here.

KarenB

Canon EOS-70D

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

12/05/2003 08:34:11 AM · #9

I like the b&w, but because of the composition and lighting. The dogs head is almost cut off the bottom, but it is still a nice portrait.

fdpiech

Canon EOS-10D

12/05/2003 08:47:14 AM · #10

I love them both.

The B&W is my favorite... it's got great range and wonderful light.

I like the second one also, but I'd like to see it shot with a more interesting colored background with a much shallower DOF.

kinks

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

Olympus 17.5-45mm f/3.5-5.6

12/05/2003 09:34:54 AM · #11

I like more the colour one. Girl is there so nice.
On b&W picture she is not so cute, but dog is lovely. I would use Photoshop for the second and she will be like top model

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/05/2003 10:23:36 AM · #12

Originally posted by LucidLotus:

I left you a detailed comment on one of the photos.