People Self Portrait

GregX999 · 10-05-2010, 07:23 PM

My first post in the Critique forum, my first self-portrait, and my first conversion to black and white where I actually adjusted the various colors to try to create depth and draw the eye.

**DWitte** · 10-05-2010, 10:12 PM

Looks good to me. One thing I have yet to do is take even a decent self portrait.

r0ckstarr · 10-05-2010, 11:04 PM

I have no complaints. It looks good. The tones are just right, and you are drawn right to the subject. There are other details in the wall, but not too much to be a distraction. If anything they add to the photo. Nice work.

brofkand · 10-06-2010, 05:00 AM

Dodge your eye sockets and I would like to see a version without the vignette, not sure if I like it or not.

Other than that, well done!

K-9 · 10-06-2010, 05:01 AM

Overall, pretty good effort. To be picky, your eyes could be a little better lit, and I am just not a fan of the vignetting look.

digadv · 10-06-2010, 05:08 AM

Overall good job. As mentioned before, the eyes are a little dark but I think it adds to the mood you are trying to create. A couple of technical nits on the crop ... should not crop at a joint (knees) and there is unnecessary space above the head.

GregX999 · 10-06-2010, 06:08 AM

Here's a version with a much lighter vignette and with my eye sockets a bit lighter. Myself, I think I still prefer the first version. This second one looks good also, but I was/am going for the slightly darker look.

I think I learned quite a bit just by making the change the comparing the two side-by-side.

(Click for larger)

brofkand · 10-06-2010, 03:40 PM

Greg:

What you want the photograph to look like is all that really matters at the end of the day; you're the one with the vision.

I enjoy your second one (at least on a technical basis), but I appreciate your reasoning behind sticking to the first.

It's a great thing to do; prepare two versions of an image, look at them side by side, and compare. Many times you won't stick with one or the other. Most times I take pieces from each version to make a final output.

r0ckstarr · 10-07-2010, 12:11 AM

Originally posted by digadv

should not crop at a joint (knees) and there is unnecessary space above the head.

In this case, where would one crop at? Above or below the knee's?

PeterD · 10-07-2010, 01:13 AM

i like the second version more

digadv · 10-07-2010, 10:34 AM

Originally posted by r0ckstarr

In this case, where would one crop at? Above or below the knee's?

Most say mid-thigh. Somthing like this (image attached hopefully) ...

GregX999 · 10-07-2010, 11:09 AM

Originally posted by digadv

Most say mid-thigh. Somthing like this (image attached hopefully) ...

Hmmm... I have to say, I do like that crop. I just hate that the bricks from the window are no longer there.

Even though I "know" I should be more ruthless, I still have trouble with cropping "for the overall good of the photo" as opposed to leaving things in that I really like, and in this case, are what drew me to this particular wall in the first place.

digadv · 10-07-2010, 04:48 PM

Hey, I really liked the wall also. The question is where do you want the viewers eyes to go? The eye will naturally move to areas of high contrast. In your original crop, three areas competes for the eye: top and bottom right and of course you. Even in the last crop you still have the lower right area that competes for you eye.

Do you have any room to move back to take a shot? Sometimes a wide/distance shot can create an image where everything works.

GregX999 · 10-07-2010, 05:34 PM

Originally posted by digadv

Do you have any room to move back to take a shot? Sometimes a wide/distance shot can create an image where everything works.

Yeah, I thought of going back to that wall to try some other variations of distance - me to the wall, camera to wall, and camera to me.

Or, just keep it in mind the next time I try a self-portrait.

privateryan · 10-07-2010, 08:10 PM

Your hands aren't symmetrical. That was the first thing I noticed. I would probably dodge the eyes as well. But I think its probably a matter of a preference cause they kinda add to the overall effect of the photo as is. Overall good photo.

10-05-2010, 07:23 PM	#1
GregX999 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South SF Bay, CA Posts: 71	Self Portrait Lens: DA 18-55 WR Camera: K-7 Photo Location: Outdoors ISO: 100 Shutter Speed: 1/90s Aperture: F4.5 My first post in the Critique forum, my first self-portrait, and my first conversion to black and white where I actually adjusted the various colors to try to create depth and draw the eye.

10-07-2010, 10:34 AM	#11
digadv Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 52	Originally posted by r0ckstarr In this case, where would one crop at? Above or below the knee's? Most say mid-thigh. Somthing like this (image attached hopefully) ... Attached Images

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10-05-2010, 10:12 PM	#2
DWitte Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North of KCMO Photos: Albums Posts: 84	Looks good to me. One thing I have yet to do is take even a decent self portrait.

10-05-2010, 11:04 PM	#3
r0ckstarr Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,507	I have no complaints. It looks good. The tones are just right, and you are drawn right to the subject. There are other details in the wall, but not too much to be a distraction. If anything they add to the photo. Nice work.

10-06-2010, 05:00 AM	#4
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836	Dodge your eye sockets and I would like to see a version without the vignette, not sure if I like it or not. Other than that, well done!

10-06-2010, 05:01 AM	#5
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	Overall, pretty good effort. To be picky, your eyes could be a little better lit, and I am just not a fan of the vignetting look.

10-06-2010, 05:08 AM	#6
digadv Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 52	Overall good job. As mentioned before, the eyes are a little dark but I think it adds to the mood you are trying to create. A couple of technical nits on the crop ... should not crop at a joint (knees) and there is unnecessary space above the head.

10-06-2010, 06:08 AM	#7
GregX999 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South SF Bay, CA Posts: 71 Original Poster	Here's a version with a much lighter vignette and with my eye sockets a bit lighter. Myself, I think I still prefer the first version. This second one looks good also, but I was/am going for the slightly darker look. I think I learned quite a bit just by making the change the comparing the two side-by-side. (Click for larger)

10-06-2010, 03:40 PM	#8
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836	Greg: What you want the photograph to look like is all that really matters at the end of the day; you're the one with the vision. I enjoy your second one (at least on a technical basis), but I appreciate your reasoning behind sticking to the first. It's a great thing to do; prepare two versions of an image, look at them side by side, and compare. Many times you won't stick with one or the other. Most times I take pieces from each version to make a final output.

10-07-2010, 12:11 AM	#9
r0ckstarr Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,507	Originally posted by digadv should not crop at a joint (knees) and there is unnecessary space above the head. In this case, where would one crop at? Above or below the knee's?

10-07-2010, 01:13 AM	#10
PeterD Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 6	i like the second version more

10-07-2010, 11:09 AM	#12
GregX999 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South SF Bay, CA Posts: 71 Original Poster	Originally posted by digadv Most say mid-thigh. Somthing like this (image attached hopefully) ... Hmmm... I have to say, I do like that crop. I just hate that the bricks from the window are no longer there. Even though I "know" I should be more ruthless, I still have trouble with cropping "for the overall good of the photo" as opposed to leaving things in that I really like, and in this case, are what drew me to this particular wall in the first place.

10-07-2010, 04:48 PM	#13
digadv Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 52	Hey, I really liked the wall also. The question is where do you want the viewers eyes to go? The eye will naturally move to areas of high contrast. In your original crop, three areas competes for the eye: top and bottom right and of course you. Even in the last crop you still have the lower right area that competes for you eye. Do you have any room to move back to take a shot? Sometimes a wide/distance shot can create an image where everything works.

10-07-2010, 05:34 PM	#14
GregX999 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South SF Bay, CA Posts: 71 Original Poster	Originally posted by digadv Do you have any room to move back to take a shot? Sometimes a wide/distance shot can create an image where everything works. Yeah, I thought of going back to that wall to try some other variations of distance - me to the wall, camera to wall, and camera to me. Or, just keep it in mind the next time I try a self-portrait.

10-07-2010, 08:10 PM	#15
privateryan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atlanta Posts: 209	Your hands aren't symmetrical. That was the first thing I noticed. I would probably dodge the eyes as well. But I think its probably a matter of a preference cause they kinda add to the overall effect of the photo as is. Overall good photo.