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Second Portrait Attempt... · 09:05 PM

paden501 · 01-08-2008, 09:17 PM

The first one's way too close of a crop.

The second is ok... it kind-of reminds me of a freeze-frame in a TV Drama... like the first time you see the character... she's walking out of her wallstreet office and then the camera freezes and a bunch of information about her and her relevance to the story gets flashed up on the screen..... ok maybe that's taking it too far... but you see where I'm headed with this.

The Third is a nice mug... Love the subject's big blue eyes.

The last one (both color and b&w).... just WOW!

You nailed that shot and then some. Print that one and put it in an album. It's a keeper!

hamidlmt · 01-08-2008, 09:51 PM

This is a really nice series!

I don't agree that the first is too close of a crop... I love getting in close with portraits. But, I'm not fond of the overly centered composition in the first 3. Number 2 would have been my favorite if she wasn't centered... perhaps if the subject was in the right third of the frame. Sometimes a centered subject really works.... sometimes.

I have to agree... the last frame (in either color or b/w) is very successful. Great job! I really dig your b/w conversions.

roentarre · 01-08-2008, 11:59 PM

This series is very nice in deed. The skin tone and the atmosphere are all subtly captured.

spyglass · 01-09-2008, 01:27 AM

Nice work here!

Number 1 works for me. It is up close and personal. You establish a connection with the subject right away (maybe because the cropping brings you into what normally would be her personal space. I think that sometimes we tend to fall into ruts created by dragging heavy fixed rules around about cropping and off centered images. Way to shake it up a bit a bring some fresh light to the table.

Number 4 offers an interesting balance and draws you in. She has a whole world to the right of her ready to explore, yet she seems to be waiting for something or someone. I love the way the shot slides out of foucus as you stray from the subject. This has a nice way of guiding you back to the subject gently with out feeling confinded. I love the story you can form between the lines - makes the picture interesting.

Number 5 (even though it is the same shot as above) didn't grab me. It looks more sepia tone than black & white. I generally prefer sepia tone for very old photography style arrangements or old style western shots. If the subject and scene are too new, or does not play up to texture and contrast, I tend to stay with colour, otherwise it can come across like some of the life or energy has been bled from the shot.

Very enjoyable

vievetrick · 01-09-2008, 06:07 AM

GREAT SERIES!! #2 & #4 are clear winners in my eyes for reasons stated above. Nice work. #4 you did a great job with the background. Not distracting but just right. Good work.

Sleepy · 01-09-2008, 06:16 AM

Originally posted by vievetrick

GREAT SERIES!! #2 & #4 are clear winners in my eyes for reasons stated above. Nice work. #4 you did a great job with the background. Not distracting but just right. Good work.

Same here. I like #2 and #4.
Btw, what lens did you use?

Thanks for sharing.

daacon · 01-09-2008, 07:26 AM

Second attempt appears to work for me. I like #1 , and generally agree on the others comments on the centering (other than that great shots) last two could be billboard signs very well done.

ebarbaric · 01-09-2008, 09:25 AM

Thanks for the input everyone. I really appreciate it! Tried to implement as much advice from the last go around and this definitely helps with planning the next batch.

I used the K10D kit lens, because that's all I have right now haha. DA18-55 and DA50-200, for a few of those shots I also set the exposure1/2 step above using the exposure button.

I'd really like to track down even an old manual 50mm and a 100 or 135 prime to play with. But all in due time I guess.

Cheers,

e.

LED · 01-09-2008, 09:31 AM

This is a good serie. There are some cropping/framing issues but overall it's ok.

paden501 · 01-09-2008, 10:34 AM

I recommend the FA 50/1.4... it's not real cheap like an M 50/2 can be (you can get an M 50 for like $25 at a used camera shop) but the FA 50 is a great piece of glass and the autofocus really helps when you're working with such a small depth of field.

hamidlmt · 01-09-2008, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by paden501

I recommend the FA 50/1.4... it's not real cheap like an M 50/2 can be (you can get an M 50 for like $25 at a used camera shop) but the FA 50 is a great piece of glass and the autofocus really helps when you're working with such a small depth of field.

I concur... ya can't go wrong with a fast 50 in your bag!

But, these images show that you can take quite snazzy portraits with the kit lenses!

JahJahwarrior · 01-09-2008, 01:58 PM

The glow around her head in the third shot is very nice...did that just happen, or was that post?

Pretty girl, good shots!

ebarbaric · 01-09-2008, 02:24 PM

Jah, that would be post. The outside edges were darkened using the burn tool. Right now, I'm shooting in natural mode (K10D) with no in camera tweaks. I do all my adjustments and pp in photoshop.

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01-08-2008, 09:17 PM	#2
paden501 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 234	The first one's way too close of a crop. The second is ok... it kind-of reminds me of a freeze-frame in a TV Drama... like the first time you see the character... she's walking out of her wallstreet office and then the camera freezes and a bunch of information about her and her relevance to the story gets flashed up on the screen..... ok maybe that's taking it too far... but you see where I'm headed with this. The Third is a nice mug... Love the subject's big blue eyes. The last one (both color and b&w).... just WOW! You nailed that shot and then some. Print that one and put it in an album. It's a keeper!

01-08-2008, 09:51 PM	#3
hamidlmt Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Gresham, Oregon USA Posts: 1,217	This is a really nice series! I don't agree that the first is too close of a crop... I love getting in close with portraits. But, I'm not fond of the overly centered composition in the first 3. Number 2 would have been my favorite if she wasn't centered... perhaps if the subject was in the right third of the frame. Sometimes a centered subject really works.... sometimes. I have to agree... the last frame (in either color or b/w) is very successful. Great job! I really dig your b/w conversions.

01-08-2008, 11:59 PM	#4
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	This series is very nice in deed. The skin tone and the atmosphere are all subtly captured.

01-09-2008, 01:27 AM	#5
spyglass Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 747	Nice work here! Number 1 works for me. It is up close and personal. You establish a connection with the subject right away (maybe because the cropping brings you into what normally would be her personal space. I think that sometimes we tend to fall into ruts created by dragging heavy fixed rules around about cropping and off centered images. Way to shake it up a bit a bring some fresh light to the table. Number 4 offers an interesting balance and draws you in. She has a whole world to the right of her ready to explore, yet she seems to be waiting for something or someone. I love the way the shot slides out of foucus as you stray from the subject. This has a nice way of guiding you back to the subject gently with out feeling confinded. I love the story you can form between the lines - makes the picture interesting. Number 5 (even though it is the same shot as above) didn't grab me. It looks more sepia tone than black & white. I generally prefer sepia tone for very old photography style arrangements or old style western shots. If the subject and scene are too new, or does not play up to texture and contrast, I tend to stay with colour, otherwise it can come across like some of the life or energy has been bled from the shot. Very enjoyable

01-09-2008, 06:07 AM	#6
vievetrick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Easthampton - Massachusetts - USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,183	GREAT SERIES!! #2 & #4 are clear winners in my eyes for reasons stated above. Nice work. #4 you did a great job with the background. Not distracting but just right. Good work.

01-09-2008, 06:16 AM	#7
Sleepy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami Photos: Gallery Posts: 133	Originally posted by vievetrick GREAT SERIES!! #2 & #4 are clear winners in my eyes for reasons stated above. Nice work. #4 you did a great job with the background. Not distracting but just right. Good work. Same here. I like #2 and #4. Btw, what lens did you use? Thanks for sharing.

01-09-2008, 07:26 AM	#8
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Second attempt appears to work for me. I like #1 , and generally agree on the others comments on the centering (other than that great shots) last two could be billboard signs very well done.

01-09-2008, 09:25 AM	#9
ebarbaric New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 16 Original Poster	Thanks for the input everyone. I really appreciate it! Tried to implement as much advice from the last go around and this definitely helps with planning the next batch. I used the K10D kit lens, because that's all I have right now haha. DA18-55 and DA50-200, for a few of those shots I also set the exposure1/2 step above using the exposure button. I'd really like to track down even an old manual 50mm and a 100 or 135 prime to play with. But all in due time I guess. Cheers, e.

01-09-2008, 09:31 AM	#10
LED Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 192	This is a good serie. There are some cropping/framing issues but overall it's ok.

01-09-2008, 10:34 AM	#11
paden501 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 234	I recommend the FA 50/1.4... it's not real cheap like an M 50/2 can be (you can get an M 50 for like $25 at a used camera shop) but the FA 50 is a great piece of glass and the autofocus really helps when you're working with such a small depth of field.

01-09-2008, 10:51 AM	#12
hamidlmt Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Gresham, Oregon USA Posts: 1,217	Originally posted by paden501 I recommend the FA 50/1.4... it's not real cheap like an M 50/2 can be (you can get an M 50 for like $25 at a used camera shop) but the FA 50 is a great piece of glass and the autofocus really helps when you're working with such a small depth of field. I concur... ya can't go wrong with a fast 50 in your bag! But, these images show that you can take quite snazzy portraits with the kit lenses!

01-09-2008, 01:58 PM	#13
JahJahwarrior Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Gainesville, Fl Posts: 102	The glow around her head in the third shot is very nice...did that just happen, or was that post? Pretty girl, good shots!

01-09-2008, 02:24 PM	#14
ebarbaric New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 16 Original Poster	Jah, that would be post. The outside edges were darkened using the burn tool. Right now, I'm shooting in natural mode (K10D) with no in camera tweaks. I do all my adjustments and pp in photoshop.

Second Portrait Attempt...

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