Looking for Brutality - DPChallenge Forums

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

06/30/2008 12:33:29 PM · #1

So this is my second stab at model shoots... had some help from a MUA this time... but the model (a co-worker) has never modeled before so I really had to coach her through everything (not an easy feat when you barely know what you're doing yourself). but now that it's done I need you all to be brutal with me... what di you like and what not?

The whole set can be seen here... but here are some selected ones. thanks in advance:

[thumb]693507[/thumb] [thumb]693509[/thumb] [thumb]693512[/thumb] [thumb]693515[/thumb]
[thumb]693518[/thumb] [thumb]693525[/thumb] [thumb]693519[/thumb]

Critique away!

Citadel

Nikon D7500

06/30/2008 12:42:03 PM · #2

Just a quick comment - There are some nice shots but you've got a little heavy handed with the post-processing in some of them.

(Edit: grammar)

Message edited by author 2008-06-30 12:42:22.

Ubersteiny

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Sigma 35mm f1.4 dg hsm for Canon

06/30/2008 12:45:38 PM · #3

ai! in the first one has she ever played golf? lifting your front foot is a no no

06/30/2008 12:54:45 PM · #4

Originally posted by noisemaker:

ai! in the first one has she ever played golf? lifting your front foot is a no no

Nope never played golf but owns the clubs and wanted to shoot with them... I didn't bother to correct her

Intelli

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/30/2008 12:58:09 PM · #5

Bent left elbow.. club to far around.. and I guess it's a practice swing...cause there's no golf ball=)

TCGuru

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/30/2008 01:06:31 PM · #6

My biggest nitpick: Her arms are raised in almost all of these. There is no variation except location and clothing. When coaching a model, have a short sit down with them and a big copy of Vogue and Elle. Show them what they need to do. Telling is hard :) Flirt with them a little over the camera and keep telling them they look beautiful. You will get "the look" after a little while :) Works for me and I am a woman ;) Above all, tell them to keep moving and changing positions with a moments' pause between each one and keep eye contact with the camera unless they are doing a profile shot. Also, women rarely look good looking down hehe :)

My last comment is that the images look a little noisy... is that from PP or a high ISO??

Otherwise, with her having no experience, she looks beautiful and you got some great angles on her face :)

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

06/30/2008 01:10:08 PM · #7

Not very technical and not very brutal: I like them. You've got a great model and have got some wonderful poses. I like the colours. The only ones I really don't like are 121 & 122; the processing on her face makes it look plastic and does not convey to me the character shown in the other pictures.

Oh, and another one I feel is not as strong as the rest is 119. It was a good idea, I feel, to catch the water coming off her hair like that, but the water is obscuring her face and, further to that, she seems in too-deep a shadow.

Sigma 35mm f1.4 dg hsm for Canon

06/30/2008 01:13:01 PM · #8

Originally posted by TCGuru:

Actually there are many shots with her hands in different positions... but these ones just looked better... IMO anyway :) thanks for the advise though I'll try having a set down next time before hand (more so then I did which was very general) the noise is likely my PP it was a bright sunny morning, and my ISO was 200 (lowest for the d300)

Ubersteiny

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

06/30/2008 01:18:55 PM · #9

Originally posted by Intelli:

Bent left elbow.. club to far around.. and I guess it's a practice swing...cause there's no golf ball=)

..there's nothing wrong with bending your elbow

06/30/2008 01:27:22 PM · #10

any more out there??? I'm planing on doing this again in a week so I want some good stuff soI can get better at this

Intelli

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

06/30/2008 01:30:48 PM · #11

Originally posted by noisemaker:

Originally posted by Intelli:
Bent left elbow.. club to far around.. and I guess it's a practice swing...cause there's no golf ball=)

..there's nothing wrong with bending your elbow

uhh.. if you want controll.. keep the arm straight.. don't lock the elbow, just keep the arm straight. You lose all control of the club when you bend the elbow.

sorry for the off topic post's =)

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

06/30/2008 01:43:38 PM · #12

Originally posted by Intelli:

Originally posted by noisemaker:

Originally posted by Intelli:
Bent left elbow.. club to far around.. and I guess it's a practice swing...cause there's no golf ball=)

..there's nothing wrong with bending your elbow

uhh.. if you want controll.. keep the arm straight.. don't lock the elbow, just keep the arm straight. You lose all control of the club when you bend the elbow.

sorry for the off topic post's =)

I automatically presumed that the phrase "there's nothing wrong with bending your elbow" was a drinking reference :)

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

06/30/2008 01:48:14 PM · #13

//www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-images/nataliegulbis.jpg

When I saw your pic my first thought was "That looks like a girl's swing". Sorry ladies(plenty of men are equally bad). So...

In the interest of helping you the next time you shoot--check this pic out. Classic golf swing albeit a little different angle than your shot. Use the picture of Ms Gulbis and you won't go wrong with your model's stance. Do a search for Natalie Gulbis and you'll see some other shots(non golf) that might be helpful. Your model looks athletic so take advantage and put her in strong positions. The shadows are heavy on her face in a couple, particularly #2. Overall nice and I think you'll have an even better set the next time, using what you learned from this session. (FWIW-- I'm a rank amateur photog, and an above average amateur golfer.) My opinions are worth about that much. ;)

icu1965

Sony DSLR-A200

Sony 75-300 mm f/4.5-5.6

06/30/2008 02:37:00 PM · #14

First off, great job for only your 2nd "stab" at it. If you use another model that has never done it before tell them to practice in a full length mirror before the shoot. The best models know their bodies really well and they know which angles they look best at. If your model is comfortable or uncomfortable it will show in the photos. Also, when you're directing your model, be very specific. Don't just say something like look down. That could either end up with you looking at the top of their head, or them looking down with their eyes making it look like their eyes are closed. The most important thing, remember to have fun!

CaseyAllen

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

06/30/2008 02:47:04 PM · #15

I think they came out pretty good. To me it seems like you went a bit heavy on the post processing, but maybe that was the look you were going for. I think it's good that you had her in different locations/poses/clothes. I'm new at portraits as well and one of the things I have noticed is that sometimes I think a pose looks dumb when shooting but when I look at it on the computer it looks great, so I try to get in as many different ones as I can to see what works and what doesn't. I don't know if you had a choice of time to shoot, but I probably would have gone for later in the day. The lighting in most of the shots is really flat and harsh. Other than that, good job and keep practicing!