People My 1st attempt at Portraits

My 1st attempt at Portraits · 03:41 AM

Hi guys, this is my 1st attempt at portraits. Pic 1 and 2 are taken with the DA 70mm F2.4 and the rest taken with the FA 35mm F2.0. Hope to receive comments on what can be improved..

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

aaronius · 03-22-2010, 06:57 PM

Anyone can give me some comments?

**sureshgvv** · 03-23-2010, 11:46 AM

I am not an expert but, on the first one, the background is Overblown,too distracting to the eye. Second one does not work for me with the color you have chosen. On the Rest of the three pics, except for the last one, the other two have a busy back ground.

ghelary · 03-23-2010, 12:01 PM

If you're doing portrait, try to put no distracting elements on the background, one easy way to do this is to sue very small DOF. Hence the 85/1.4 noted as a "perfect" portrait lenses. Of course a "blank" background does the job as well.

Now, if you want to make a really good portrait (and it's a rule valid for any picture) try to think of what you want to show in this photo. Here lighting is quite even, therefore nothing is highlighted and the portrait lacks of strength.

aaronius · 03-25-2010, 01:03 AM

Thanks for the feedbacks guys! Will definitely takenote and try to improve on my next portraits attempt!

Oldphoto678 · 03-25-2010, 04:55 AM

I like #1 except for the foot in the backround

Ira · 03-25-2010, 12:45 PM

I think 1, 2 and 5 are fantastic!

3 and 4 ain't bad at all either, but out of the 5, I ranked those lower.

AND I LOVE THOSE FEET! IT GIVES AN ENTIRE DIFFERENT MOTION TO THE SHOT!

aaronius · 03-25-2010, 07:42 PM

Thanks man!

Originally posted by Oldphoto678

I like #1 except for the foot in the backround

Thanks man! I am glad you like the pics, I didn't really notice the feet was there when I took the pic..

Originally posted by Ira

I think 1, 2 and 5 are fantastic!

3 and 4 ain't bad at all either, but out of the 5, I ranked those lower.

AND I LOVE THOSE FEET! IT GIVES AN ENTIRE DIFFERENT MOTION TO THE SHOT!

Votesh · 03-25-2010, 09:20 PM

I like #1 very much. I don't find the blown background to be distracting at all. I actually like the way it frames her. I also think the feet are a good touch.

The color and framing in #2 could be better in my opinion, and the other 3 have, like others have said, backgrounds that are too busy.

You're off to a good start though.

aaronius · 03-26-2010, 02:01 AM

Thanks Votesh!

#1 is my favorite of the lot. I personally think having the feet there makes the pic more natural-looking? I used the random cross-processing function on my KX for #2 and it turned out to be a yellowish colour. I was hoping it will give people a retro feel. And I guess the framing of #2 is also abit too tight?

Originally posted by Votesh

I like #1 very much. I don't find the blown background to be distracting at all. I actually like the way it frames her. I also think the feet are a good touch.

The color and framing in #2 could be better in my opinion, and the other 3 have, like others have said, backgrounds that are too busy.

You're off to a good start though.

creampuff · 03-26-2010, 07:47 AM

They are all nice shots.
I like #1 best. I do not consider the background to be an issue at all.
Just be mindful of how you crop arms/legs.
Composition wise I feel the images would look better with less space above the head.

PeteyJ · 03-26-2010, 07:54 AM

#1 is my favorite except for the background. If you're gonna have such a bright white background, use a white sheet or a white backdrop so that the whole background is that color.

Obviously that's just my own personal preference though. It seems others here don't mind it too much. Good work!

Oscar1 · 03-26-2010, 08:12 AM

#1 is good although the foot in the background is distracting. #2 is, well, the coloring is bad. Looks like something went haywire with the WB.

I think the backgrounds in the rest are a little too busy.

JMO

MJB DIGITAL · 03-26-2010, 08:39 AM

I'll say number one is the best as well. I don't mind the blown background and actually I prefer it because distracting elements are blown out.

#2
Sepia is nice, but this one is just begging me for proper color balance.

#3
You'll want to pull her away from the background. Having her that close to the background puts her into the same plane of focus as the BG. So now her AND the entire background are the subject. When you pull her out, you can blur the BG a bit and create some seperation which will isolate her and give her all the attention. Women like all the attention.

#4
I like how you have used the pillar to anchor the subject to the left of the frame. I like how she is seperated from the background. My nitpick here is that (IMO) you should have composed lower, so that the shot is a 2/3 or 3/4 shot of her...meaning that I think you cut her off above the waist.
IMO you should have either aimed lower or shot wider

#5
Love the tilt. Love that you are at an angle to the wall, which blurs the back a bit. I love the flowery splash of color. Great shot but I have nitpicks again: You cut off her arms, and ( I could be wrong about this) but her skin seems to have a magenta cast. See what happens if you warm it up a tiny bit or slide the 'tint' slider over a tiny bit to the green side.

What a babe.

dragonfly · 03-26-2010, 09:04 AM

More ear, unless they're deformed.

aaronius
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by aaronius
	Find threads started by aaronius
	Find threads in which aaronius has posted

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
People 1st attempt strobist	ckaz	Post Your Photos!	8	02-04-2010 05:06 AM
1st HDR Attempt	Aaron1971	Post Your Photos!	7	01-09-2009 10:21 PM
Street - 1st Attempt	pop4	Post Your Photos!	14	09-13-2008 12:58 PM
1st attempt@astrophotography	gpaual	Post Your Photos!	3	04-19-2008 01:09 PM
1st attempt at portrait..	distorted_vision	Post Your Photos!	12	01-04-2008 05:25 PM

03-22-2010, 06:57 PM	#2
aaronius Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 188 Original Poster	Anyone can give me some comments?

03-23-2010, 11:46 AM	#3
sureshgvv Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Jacksonville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,115	I am not an expert but, on the first one, the background is Overblown,too distracting to the eye. Second one does not work for me with the color you have chosen. On the Rest of the three pics, except for the last one, the other two have a busy back ground.

03-23-2010, 12:01 PM	#4
ghelary Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 613	If you're doing portrait, try to put no distracting elements on the background, one easy way to do this is to sue very small DOF. Hence the 85/1.4 noted as a "perfect" portrait lenses. Of course a "blank" background does the job as well. Now, if you want to make a really good portrait (and it's a rule valid for any picture) try to think of what you want to show in this photo. Here lighting is quite even, therefore nothing is highlighted and the portrait lacks of strength.

03-25-2010, 01:03 AM	#5
aaronius Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 188 Original Poster	Thanks for the feedbacks guys! Will definitely takenote and try to improve on my next portraits attempt!

03-25-2010, 04:55 AM	#6
Oldphoto678 Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Athens GA. Posts: 98	I like #1 except for the foot in the backround

03-25-2010, 12:45 PM	#7
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	I think 1, 2 and 5 are fantastic! 3 and 4 ain't bad at all either, but out of the 5, I ranked those lower. AND I LOVE THOSE FEET! IT GIVES AN ENTIRE DIFFERENT MOTION TO THE SHOT!

03-25-2010, 07:42 PM	#8
aaronius Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 188 Original Poster	Thanks man! Originally posted by Oldphoto678 I like #1 except for the foot in the backround Thanks man! I am glad you like the pics, I didn't really notice the feet was there when I took the pic.. Originally posted by Ira I think 1, 2 and 5 are fantastic! 3 and 4 ain't bad at all either, but out of the 5, I ranked those lower. AND I LOVE THOSE FEET! IT GIVES AN ENTIRE DIFFERENT MOTION TO THE SHOT!

03-25-2010, 09:20 PM	#9
Votesh Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 817	I like #1 very much. I don't find the blown background to be distracting at all. I actually like the way it frames her. I also think the feet are a good touch. The color and framing in #2 could be better in my opinion, and the other 3 have, like others have said, backgrounds that are too busy. You're off to a good start though.

03-26-2010, 02:01 AM	#10
aaronius Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 188 Original Poster	Thanks Votesh! #1 is my favorite of the lot. I personally think having the feet there makes the pic more natural-looking? I used the random cross-processing function on my KX for #2 and it turned out to be a yellowish colour. I was hoping it will give people a retro feel. And I guess the framing of #2 is also abit too tight? Originally posted by Votesh I like #1 very much. I don't find the blown background to be distracting at all. I actually like the way it frames her. I also think the feet are a good touch. The color and framing in #2 could be better in my opinion, and the other 3 have, like others have said, backgrounds that are too busy. You're off to a good start though.

03-26-2010, 07:47 AM	#11
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	They are all nice shots. I like #1 best. I do not consider the background to be an issue at all. Just be mindful of how you crop arms/legs. Composition wise I feel the images would look better with less space above the head.

03-26-2010, 07:54 AM	#12
PeteyJ Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chicago/Cleveland Posts: 176	#1 is my favorite except for the background. If you're gonna have such a bright white background, use a white sheet or a white backdrop so that the whole background is that color. Obviously that's just my own personal preference though. It seems others here don't mind it too much. Good work!

03-26-2010, 08:12 AM	#13
Oscar1 Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 231	#1 is good although the foot in the background is distracting. #2 is, well, the coloring is bad. Looks like something went haywire with the WB. I think the backgrounds in the rest are a little too busy. JMO

03-26-2010, 08:39 AM	#14
MJB DIGITAL Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: st. louis Posts: 1,170	I'll say number one is the best as well. I don't mind the blown background and actually I prefer it because distracting elements are blown out. #2 Sepia is nice, but this one is just begging me for proper color balance. #3 You'll want to pull her away from the background. Having her that close to the background puts her into the same plane of focus as the BG. So now her AND the entire background are the subject. When you pull her out, you can blur the BG a bit and create some seperation which will isolate her and give her all the attention. Women like all the attention. #4 I like how you have used the pillar to anchor the subject to the left of the frame. I like how she is seperated from the background. My nitpick here is that (IMO) you should have composed lower, so that the shot is a 2/3 or 3/4 shot of her...meaning that I think you cut her off above the waist. IMO you should have either aimed lower or shot wider #5 Love the tilt. Love that you are at an angle to the wall, which blurs the back a bit. I love the flowery splash of color. Great shot but I have nitpicks again: You cut off her arms, and ( I could be wrong about this) but her skin seems to have a magenta cast. See what happens if you warm it up a tiny bit or slide the 'tint' slider over a tiny bit to the green side. What a babe.

03-26-2010, 09:04 AM	#15
dragonfly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: on the wall Photos: Gallery Posts: 715	More ear, unless they're deformed.