People New Portrait

New Portrait · 06:39 PM

Haven't posed any pictures in a while. Here's a portrait I did today of my wife.

**Ash** · 10-04-2009, 10:38 PM

A candid portrait that leaves me wishing the face was sharper.
? a hint of FF? (cf. blades of grass just in front of subject).
Very nice casual pose.

AlmightyPentax · 10-05-2009, 03:15 AM

I wish it were too. I was having a bit of trouble with the lens on my k10d. Still not sure if it's me or the lens...

goddo31 · 10-05-2009, 05:22 AM

What lens?

I quite like the shot.
I'm not exactly qualified on portraits - but IMO the foreground grass detracts slightly. Maybe crop it out a little?

AlmightyPentax · 10-05-2009, 05:41 AM

It's a DA* 55. I'm going to do some lens testing this coming weekend. Pretty much every shot I've looked at from this weekedn has a bit of FF.

I hope that's what it is... Otherwise I may be back for some focusing tips

Taff · 10-05-2009, 05:49 AM

Originally posted by AlmightyPentax

It's a DA* 55. I'm going to do some lens testing this coming weekend. Pretty much every shot I've looked at from this weekedn has a bit of FF.

I hope that's what it is... Otherwise I may be back for some focusing tips

if your shooting at 1.4 the depth of field is very small (thin) maybe your just OOF

I just looked again and the grass in front of her hands is sharp as, i agree, you should do a focusing test

AlmightyPentax · 10-25-2009, 02:02 PM

So I got a LensAlign tool this past week and adjusted my cameras for my lens (the new k7 was pretty much spot on).

I wanted to retake the shot and get it right this time. So here's the portrait redo:

It's a little tough to tell with the small size. But here's a crop:

I think it's much better that the first one that was pretty much soft all over. I'm happier with the results.

**Ash** · 10-25-2009, 04:10 PM

Well it's sharp - and the combination has produced a fine portrait.
My only suggestion for next time is to get a better balance of light - here her face is well lit but not her neck or below, whereas the grassy background is very bright and slightly distracts the viewer from the beauty of the subject.

Hard to control in ambient conditions, but choosing the setting (like having the background grass in a shady area, perhaps with a touch of off-camera fill flash) would do wonders to the overall result. Then there's also what you can do in PP - burning the distracting background elements and dodging the areas that need to be brought out - these methods have limitations, however.

bbluesman · 10-25-2009, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by goddo31

What lens?

I quite like the shot.
I'm not exactly qualified on portraits - but IMO the foreground grass detracts slightly. Maybe crop it out a little?

Pretty lady! I agree on grass and cropping suggestion. Nice shot.

ramair455 · 10-25-2009, 05:03 PM

This shot looks better, although you didn't nail focus, most times it works better for beauty shots.

You could have used a soft white reflector on the ground in front of her (chin reflector) to open up the shadows on her neck, under her eyes, and puts a sparkle on the teeth. This way you can keep the "natural light" feel to your lighting.

Barnster · 10-25-2009, 05:35 PM

Originally posted by Ash

Well it's sharp - and the combination has produced a fine portrait.
My only suggestion for next time is to get a better balance of light - here her face is well lit but not her neck or below, whereas the grassy background is very bright and slightly distracts the viewer from the beauty of the subject.

Hard to control in ambient conditions, but choosing the setting (like having the background grass in a shady area, perhaps with a touch of off-camera fill flash) would do wonders to the overall result. Then there's also what you can do in PP - burning the distracting background elements and dodging the areas that need to be brought out - these methods have limitations, however.

Adding to what Ash said,maybe also getting someone to hold a reflector to bounce the natural light back on your wife's face.I prefer the tones and colour of the first shot you did,but yeh,a little to much unmowed grass in the foreground.Just keep on practicing.It all makes perfect!

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10-04-2009, 10:38 PM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	A candid portrait that leaves me wishing the face was sharper. ? a hint of FF? (cf. blades of grass just in front of subject). Very nice casual pose.

10-05-2009, 03:15 AM	#3
AlmightyPentax Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 31 Original Poster	I wish it were too. I was having a bit of trouble with the lens on my k10d. Still not sure if it's me or the lens...

10-05-2009, 05:22 AM	#4
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	What lens? I quite like the shot. I'm not exactly qualified on portraits - but IMO the foreground grass detracts slightly. Maybe crop it out a little?

10-05-2009, 05:41 AM	#5
AlmightyPentax Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 31 Original Poster	It's a DA* 55. I'm going to do some lens testing this coming weekend. Pretty much every shot I've looked at from this weekedn has a bit of FF. I hope that's what it is... Otherwise I may be back for some focusing tips

10-05-2009, 05:49 AM	#6
Taff Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,612	Originally posted by AlmightyPentax It's a DA* 55. I'm going to do some lens testing this coming weekend. Pretty much every shot I've looked at from this weekedn has a bit of FF. I hope that's what it is... Otherwise I may be back for some focusing tips if your shooting at 1.4 the depth of field is very small (thin) maybe your just OOF I just looked again and the grass in front of her hands is sharp as, i agree, you should do a focusing test

10-25-2009, 02:02 PM	#7
AlmightyPentax Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 31 Original Poster	So I got a LensAlign tool this past week and adjusted my cameras for my lens (the new k7 was pretty much spot on). I wanted to retake the shot and get it right this time. So here's the portrait redo: It's a little tough to tell with the small size. But here's a crop: I think it's much better that the first one that was pretty much soft all over. I'm happier with the results.

10-25-2009, 04:10 PM	#8
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Well it's sharp - and the combination has produced a fine portrait. My only suggestion for next time is to get a better balance of light - here her face is well lit but not her neck or below, whereas the grassy background is very bright and slightly distracts the viewer from the beauty of the subject. Hard to control in ambient conditions, but choosing the setting (like having the background grass in a shady area, perhaps with a touch of off-camera fill flash) would do wonders to the overall result. Then there's also what you can do in PP - burning the distracting background elements and dodging the areas that need to be brought out - these methods have limitations, however.

10-25-2009, 04:16 PM	#9
bbluesman Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,615	Originally posted by goddo31 What lens? I quite like the shot. I'm not exactly qualified on portraits - but IMO the foreground grass detracts slightly. Maybe crop it out a little? Pretty lady! I agree on grass and cropping suggestion. Nice shot.

10-25-2009, 05:03 PM	#10
ramair455 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Okc Photos: Gallery Posts: 284	This shot looks better, although you didn't nail focus, most times it works better for beauty shots. You could have used a soft white reflector on the ground in front of her (chin reflector) to open up the shadows on her neck, under her eyes, and puts a sparkle on the teeth. This way you can keep the "natural light" feel to your lighting.

10-25-2009, 05:35 PM	#11
Barnster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mid North Coast,Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,016	Originally posted by Ash Well it's sharp - and the combination has produced a fine portrait. My only suggestion for next time is to get a better balance of light - here her face is well lit but not her neck or below, whereas the grassy background is very bright and slightly distracts the viewer from the beauty of the subject. Hard to control in ambient conditions, but choosing the setting (like having the background grass in a shady area, perhaps with a touch of off-camera fill flash) would do wonders to the overall result. Then there's also what you can do in PP - burning the distracting background elements and dodging the areas that need to be brought out - these methods have limitations, however. Adding to what Ash said,maybe also getting someone to hold a reflector to bounce the natural light back on your wife's face.I prefer the tones and colour of the first shot you did,but yeh,a little to much unmowed grass in the foreground.Just keep on practicing.It all makes perfect!