Abstract First attempt at portraits

Sage97 · 12-26-2012, 04:56 PM

Not really sure what I am doing so honest feedback appreciated. My goal is to shoot better pics of my family. Thanks in advance.

LeDave · 12-26-2012, 05:24 PM

Wow great portraits, especially for a first-timer. I like the colors in the photos, did you use a incident light meter?

Na Horuk · 12-26-2012, 05:24 PM

The first one turned out pretty great I think. But I think you are keeping too much space above the people's heads. And you are using landscape orientation instead of.. well, portrait orientation. With portraits it is not uncommon to even cut off the person's forehead (for really 'intimate' shots). There are some classical rules for portrait photography composition that you have to learn before you can break them

In terms of technicalities and processing I don't think there are any problems

Ponosby Britt · 12-26-2012, 07:14 PM

"Not really sure what I am doing so honest feedback appreciated. My goal is to shoot better pics of my family. Thanks in advance."

Photographs are okay but I doubt you want okay. If you're not sure what you're doing, research and think about it until you have an idea. If your goal is to make it about the environment, make it all about the environment. If its all about the people, make it all about the people.

Spend some time reading and thinking about lighting ratios, high key vs low key and light qualities ( intensity, color, direction and quality - hard or soft). How those things set the mood will help you figure out the story you want to tell, the character of your photograph. A lot of this, you will know intuitively. Some of it, you'll have to think about.

D4rknezz · 12-26-2012, 10:45 PM

Nice work!

If I need to nitpick :

1st Picture : Too much space above the head. Rule of thirds would work well here - i would crop it tighter. Pretty sharp, but the sharpest area is on her outfit. Her face is a little softer. Nice colours!
2nd picture : Youngest kid is too soft/oof. Increase aperture..Great pose. Unfortunate placement of waterfall. Can you move it?

It feels like a weird shower for the guy. Sometimes, we cant get it all. Choose either the background, or the people. These days my biggest worry is when a client says...I wanna take you to this nice park...there is this really nice..tree. or object

.
3rd picture : A little too bright. The issue is the treatment of skin colour renders them the same as the background colour - making them blend.

Great job overall!

Sage97 · 12-26-2012, 11:23 PM

Originally posted by LeDave

Wow great portraits, especially for a first-timer. I like the colors in the photos, did you use a incident light meter?

Thank you LeDave. Not sure what a light meter is so the answer is no. I'll have to look into it. Are the pics too bright or is there something wrong with the lighting?

Originally posted by Na Horuk

The first one turned out pretty great I think. But I think you are keeping too much space above the people's heads. And you are using landscape orientation instead of.. well, portrait orientation. With portraits it is not uncommon to even cut off the person's forehead (for really 'intimate' shots). There are some classical rules for portrait photography composition that you have to learn before you can break them

In terms of technicalities and processing I don't think there are any problems

Thank you. Great comment about space above the head and orientation. Very good suggestions. Thank you.

Originally posted by Ponosby Britt

"Not really sure what I am doing so honest feedback appreciated. My goal is to shoot better pics of my family. Thanks in advance."

Photographs are okay but I doubt you want okay. If you're not sure what you're doing, research and think about it until you have an idea. If your goal is to make it about the environment, make it all about the environment. If its all about the people, make it all about the people.

Spend some time reading and thinking about lighting ratios, high key vs low key and light qualities ( intensity, color, direction and quality - hard or soft). How those things set the mood will help you figure out the story you want to tell, the character of your photograph. A lot of this, you will know intuitively. Some of it, you'll have to think about.

Thank you. I definitely have a lot of reading and learning to do. Asking experts like you is an important step in any research process. Thanks again.

Originally posted by D4rknezz

Nice work!

If I need to nitpick :

1st Picture : Too much space above the head. Rule of thirds would work well here - i would crop it tighter. Pretty sharp, but the sharpest area is on her outfit. Her face is a little softer. Nice colours!
2nd picture : Youngest kid is too soft/oof. Increase aperture..Great pose. Unfortunate placement of waterfall. Can you move it?

It feels like a weird shower for the guy. Sometimes, we cant get it all. Choose either the background, or the people. These days my biggest worry is when a client says...I wanna take you to this nice park...there is this really nice..tree. or object

.
3rd picture : A little too bright. The issue is the treatment of skin colour renders them the same as the background colour - making them blend.

Great job overall!

Excellent suggestions. Background vs. people.....very important question. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.

From the pictures already taken, it looks like I can "fix" the first one while the others will need reshoots. All of you have been very helpful. Thanks all.

**Bruce Clark** · 12-27-2012, 05:31 PM

Great beginning, exposure and focus are excellent, perhaps a bit tighter composition especially #1 and and to a lesser extent # 2 and #3. I think #1 would work better as a portrait orientation. #2 has boy's shoe cut off at bottom and has odd things happening at the top too. A rock just cut off and what looks like two posts jutting into frame. Experiment with different crops on these and you will be amazed at the difference it can make.

Sage97 · 12-27-2012, 06:06 PM

Originally posted by Bruce Clark

Great beginning, exposure and focus are excellent, perhaps a bit tighter composition especially #1 and and to a lesser extent # 2 and #3. I think #1 would work better as a portrait orientation. #2 has boy's shoe cut off at bottom and has odd things happening at the top too. A rock just cut off and what looks like two posts jutting into frame. Experiment with different crops on these and you will be amazed at the difference it can make.

Thank you Bruce. Really appreciate your suggestions. I'll need to work on composition and a couple other things. Thanks again.

12-26-2012, 11:23 PM	#6
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238 Original Poster	Originally posted by LeDave Wow great portraits, especially for a first-timer. I like the colors in the photos, did you use a incident light meter? Thank you LeDave. Not sure what a light meter is so the answer is no. I'll have to look into it. Are the pics too bright or is there something wrong with the lighting? Originally posted by Na Horuk The first one turned out pretty great I think. But I think you are keeping too much space above the people's heads. And you are using landscape orientation instead of.. well, portrait orientation. With portraits it is not uncommon to even cut off the person's forehead (for really 'intimate' shots). There are some classical rules for portrait photography composition that you have to learn before you can break them In terms of technicalities and processing I don't think there are any problems Thank you. Great comment about space above the head and orientation. Very good suggestions. Thank you. Originally posted by Ponosby Britt "Not really sure what I am doing so honest feedback appreciated. My goal is to shoot better pics of my family. Thanks in advance." Photographs are okay but I doubt you want okay. If you're not sure what you're doing, research and think about it until you have an idea. If your goal is to make it about the environment, make it all about the environment. If its all about the people, make it all about the people. Spend some time reading and thinking about lighting ratios, high key vs low key and light qualities ( intensity, color, direction and quality - hard or soft). How those things set the mood will help you figure out the story you want to tell, the character of your photograph. A lot of this, you will know intuitively. Some of it, you'll have to think about. Thank you. I definitely have a lot of reading and learning to do. Asking experts like you is an important step in any research process. Thanks again. Originally posted by D4rknezz Nice work! If I need to nitpick : 1st Picture : Too much space above the head. Rule of thirds would work well here - i would crop it tighter. Pretty sharp, but the sharpest area is on her outfit. Her face is a little softer. Nice colours! 2nd picture : Youngest kid is too soft/oof. Increase aperture..Great pose. Unfortunate placement of waterfall. Can you move it? It feels like a weird shower for the guy. Sometimes, we cant get it all. Choose either the background, or the people. These days my biggest worry is when a client says...I wanna take you to this nice park...there is this really nice..tree. or object . 3rd picture : A little too bright. The issue is the treatment of skin colour renders them the same as the background colour - making them blend. Great job overall! Excellent suggestions. Background vs. people.....very important question. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. From the pictures already taken, it looks like I can "fix" the first one while the others will need reshoots. All of you have been very helpful. Thanks all. Last edited by Sage97; 12-26-2012 at 11:47 PM.

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12-26-2012, 04:56 PM	#1
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238	First attempt at portraits Lens: Various limiteds Camera: K5 Not really sure what I am doing so honest feedback appreciated. My goal is to shoot better pics of my family. Thanks in advance.

12-26-2012, 05:24 PM	#2
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Wow great portraits, especially for a first-timer. I like the colors in the photos, did you use a incident light meter?

12-26-2012, 05:24 PM	#3
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	The first one turned out pretty great I think. But I think you are keeping too much space above the people's heads. And you are using landscape orientation instead of.. well, portrait orientation. With portraits it is not uncommon to even cut off the person's forehead (for really 'intimate' shots). There are some classical rules for portrait photography composition that you have to learn before you can break them In terms of technicalities and processing I don't think there are any problems

12-26-2012, 07:14 PM	#4
Ponosby Britt Closed Account Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 227	"Not really sure what I am doing so honest feedback appreciated. My goal is to shoot better pics of my family. Thanks in advance." Photographs are okay but I doubt you want okay. If you're not sure what you're doing, research and think about it until you have an idea. If your goal is to make it about the environment, make it all about the environment. If its all about the people, make it all about the people. Spend some time reading and thinking about lighting ratios, high key vs low key and light qualities ( intensity, color, direction and quality - hard or soft). How those things set the mood will help you figure out the story you want to tell, the character of your photograph. A lot of this, you will know intuitively. Some of it, you'll have to think about.

12-26-2012, 10:45 PM	#5
D4rknezz Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,196	Nice work! If I need to nitpick : 1st Picture : Too much space above the head. Rule of thirds would work well here - i would crop it tighter. Pretty sharp, but the sharpest area is on her outfit. Her face is a little softer. Nice colours! 2nd picture : Youngest kid is too soft/oof. Increase aperture..Great pose. Unfortunate placement of waterfall. Can you move it? It feels like a weird shower for the guy. Sometimes, we cant get it all. Choose either the background, or the people. These days my biggest worry is when a client says...I wanna take you to this nice park...there is this really nice..tree. or object . 3rd picture : A little too bright. The issue is the treatment of skin colour renders them the same as the background colour - making them blend. Great job overall!

12-27-2012, 05:31 PM	#7
Bruce Clark Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ocean Grove, Victoria Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,458	Great beginning, exposure and focus are excellent, perhaps a bit tighter composition especially #1 and and to a lesser extent # 2 and #3. I think #1 would work better as a portrait orientation. #2 has boy's shoe cut off at bottom and has odd things happening at the top too. A rock just cut off and what looks like two posts jutting into frame. Experiment with different crops on these and you will be amazed at the difference it can make.

12-27-2012, 06:06 PM	#8
Sage97 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,238 Original Poster	Originally posted by Bruce Clark Great beginning, exposure and focus are excellent, perhaps a bit tighter composition especially #1 and and to a lesser extent # 2 and #3. I think #1 would work better as a portrait orientation. #2 has boy's shoe cut off at bottom and has odd things happening at the top too. A rock just cut off and what looks like two posts jutting into frame. Experiment with different crops on these and you will be amazed at the difference it can make. Thank you Bruce. Really appreciate your suggestions. I'll need to work on composition and a couple other things. Thanks again.