People My Wife on Film

troika · 11-05-2016, 03:11 PM

I don't really do portrait photography and wife hates having her picture taken, but I manged to get her to sit still for a moment at a summer solstice party at the beach. This was a film shot on (I think) Kodak Max. Not my favorite film, but it was available.

Because this is not what I usually do, I'd welcome input and advice on anything that might make the next one better.

---------- Post added 11-05-16 at 03:14 PM ----------

I'll start...I don't think I nailed focus on her eyes. Her left hand seems to be in sharpest focus. I don't know what aperture was, but that might have made a difference.

**lithedreamer** · 11-05-2016, 05:55 PM

Not a bad start. You already noticed the focus issue, so that's good. The first thing that I look for in a conventional portrait is 'catchlights' in the eyes, sometimes called 'specular highlights'. I often use a flash to bring them out, but a reflector (get a BIG one) would work better in natural light like this if it was bright enough out. It would also open up the shadows created by the brim of your wife's hat. Deeper depth of field would improve the composition, in my opinion, regardless of focus issues.

**Schraubstock** · 11-05-2016, 10:23 PM

Hi

In addition to the aforementioned, compositionally, the lump wood in the foreground is too overpowering. It dominates the picture in an ugly way.

Cheers

BATMON · 11-06-2016, 10:48 AM

Too much negative space above her head. I'd close in more.

**robgski** · 11-06-2016, 12:10 PM

A good start, I can't add to the comments above.

automorphism · 11-06-2016, 10:00 PM

Aside from the other advices, I find the opposite shoreline and mountain interfere too much with her head. Sharp lines cutting into faces bother me a lot though so take this with a grain of salt. I do however think the colour scheme is rather nice.

**clackers** · 11-07-2016, 02:27 AM

Do what you gotta do, Troika, but you must see her eyes clearly ... you can build the photo around them.

If she won't lose the hat, her head has to be tilted back enough so that the brim shadow doesn't fall over them.

troika · 11-07-2016, 08:06 AM

Great inputs from everyone, thank you!

slip · 11-24-2016, 04:02 PM

great start. the only thing I can add is not cutting the ends of her fingers off. maybe lay that hand more horizontally?

randy

troika · 11-26-2016, 01:25 PM

All great feedback and advance, thanks.

aleonx3 · 11-26-2016, 10:20 PM

I admire your courage to learn photography with film; I failed that miserably more than 15 years ago...

Nevertheless, we have some good folks here on this forum who can certainly help...

**Tonytee** · 11-27-2016, 05:25 AM

First off I would crop down to about one half inch above her cap. I will be the odd duck here and admit that I sort of like the obtrusive driftwood as it tends to pull the eyes directly towards the subject. I would also encourage some increase in saturation all around, because color wise it seems a bit flat or lacking. It would work better if she had pushed the bill of her hat back aways to expose her eyes better with more light. Nice looking lady with a winning smile. Thanks for sharing.

Rgds,

Antonio

troika · 11-27-2016, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by aleonx3

I admire your courage to learn photography with film; I failed that miserably more than 15 years ago...

Nevertheless, we have some good folks here on this forum who can certainly help...

I learned on film on my dad's Canon in the 80s, but technology made me dumber over the years and I forgot how to compose, expose and chose my depth of field. So, going back to it just forces me to slow down and remember how to take photos. My K5ii gets much more use but I really enjoy shooting film.

Originally posted by Tonytee

First off I would crop down to about one half inch above her cap. I will be the odd duck here and admit that I sort of like the obtrusive driftwood as it tends to pull the eyes directly towards the subject. I would also encourage some increase in saturation all around, because color wise it seems a bit flat or lacking. It would work better if she had pushed the bill of her hat back aways to expose her eyes better with more light. Nice looking lady with a winning smile. Thanks for sharing.

Rgds,

Antonio

Thanks, Antonio, I'll try that.

What I failed to mention, that might have effected some of the advice is that she didn't/won't pose for me. If I catch her in a good environment and pose, I can occasionally get her to sit still and smile for a moment, but for now, that's the best I can do.

aleonx3 · 11-27-2016, 09:08 PM

Originally posted by troika

My K5ii gets much more use but I really enjoy shooting film.

Why not use the k-5IIs to experiment at a much faster pace (take it in JPG if you want to see instant result)? Just saying and not being critical on your choice..

troika · 11-28-2016, 09:39 AM

I do use my K5 that way. To your point, I can take a million shots and learn from them instantly.

But, now and again, shooting an all-manual film camera forces me and my eye into a different perspective. I enjoy it and it helps me...plus it's cheap "Full Frame".

11-05-2016, 03:11 PM	#1
troika Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 1,753	My Wife on Film Camera: MX Photo Location: Washington State I don't really do portrait photography and wife hates having her picture taken, but I manged to get her to sit still for a moment at a summer solstice party at the beach. This was a film shot on (I think) Kodak Max. Not my favorite film, but it was available. Because this is not what I usually do, I'd welcome input and advice on anything that might make the next one better. ---------- Post added 11-05-16 at 03:14 PM ---------- I'll start...I don't think I nailed focus on her eyes. Her left hand seems to be in sharpest focus. I don't know what aperture was, but that might have made a difference.

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11-05-2016, 05:55 PM	#2
lithedreamer Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,799	Not a bad start. You already noticed the focus issue, so that's good. The first thing that I look for in a conventional portrait is 'catchlights' in the eyes, sometimes called 'specular highlights'. I often use a flash to bring them out, but a reflector (get a BIG one) would work better in natural light like this if it was bright enough out. It would also open up the shadows created by the brim of your wife's hat. Deeper depth of field would improve the composition, in my opinion, regardless of focus issues.

11-05-2016, 10:23 PM	#3
Schraubstock Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,386	Hi In addition to the aforementioned, compositionally, the lump wood in the foreground is too overpowering. It dominates the picture in an ugly way. Cheers

11-06-2016, 10:48 AM	#4
BATMON Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 207	Too much negative space above her head. I'd close in more.

11-06-2016, 12:10 PM	#5
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,799	A good start, I can't add to the comments above.

11-06-2016, 10:00 PM	#6
automorphism Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 791	Aside from the other advices, I find the opposite shoreline and mountain interfere too much with her head. Sharp lines cutting into faces bother me a lot though so take this with a grain of salt. I do however think the colour scheme is rather nice.

11-07-2016, 02:27 AM	#7
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Do what you gotta do, Troika, but you must see her eyes clearly ... you can build the photo around them. If she won't lose the hat, her head has to be tilted back enough so that the brim shadow doesn't fall over them.

11-07-2016, 08:06 AM	#8
troika Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 1,753 Original Poster	Great inputs from everyone, thank you!

11-24-2016, 04:02 PM	#9
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	great start. the only thing I can add is not cutting the ends of her fingers off. maybe lay that hand more horizontally? randy

11-26-2016, 01:25 PM	#10
troika Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 1,753 Original Poster	All great feedback and advance, thanks.

11-26-2016, 10:20 PM	#11
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	I admire your courage to learn photography with film; I failed that miserably more than 15 years ago... Nevertheless, we have some good folks here on this forum who can certainly help...

11-27-2016, 05:25 AM	#12
Tonytee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 21,461	First off I would crop down to about one half inch above her cap. I will be the odd duck here and admit that I sort of like the obtrusive driftwood as it tends to pull the eyes directly towards the subject. I would also encourage some increase in saturation all around, because color wise it seems a bit flat or lacking. It would work better if she had pushed the bill of her hat back aways to expose her eyes better with more light. Nice looking lady with a winning smile. Thanks for sharing. Rgds, Antonio

11-27-2016, 12:26 PM	#13
troika Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 1,753 Original Poster	Originally posted by aleonx3 I admire your courage to learn photography with film; I failed that miserably more than 15 years ago... Nevertheless, we have some good folks here on this forum who can certainly help... I learned on film on my dad's Canon in the 80s, but technology made me dumber over the years and I forgot how to compose, expose and chose my depth of field. So, going back to it just forces me to slow down and remember how to take photos. My K5ii gets much more use but I really enjoy shooting film. Originally posted by Tonytee First off I would crop down to about one half inch above her cap. I will be the odd duck here and admit that I sort of like the obtrusive driftwood as it tends to pull the eyes directly towards the subject. I would also encourage some increase in saturation all around, because color wise it seems a bit flat or lacking. It would work better if she had pushed the bill of her hat back aways to expose her eyes better with more light. Nice looking lady with a winning smile. Thanks for sharing. Rgds, Antonio Thanks, Antonio, I'll try that. What I failed to mention, that might have effected some of the advice is that she didn't/won't pose for me. If I catch her in a good environment and pose, I can occasionally get her to sit still and smile for a moment, but for now, that's the best I can do.

11-27-2016, 09:08 PM	#14
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by troika My K5ii gets much more use but I really enjoy shooting film. Why not use the k-5IIs to experiment at a much faster pace (take it in JPG if you want to see instant result)? Just saying and not being critical on your choice..

11-28-2016, 09:39 AM	#15
troika Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Seattle, WA USA Posts: 1,753 Original Poster	I do use my K5 that way. To your point, I can take a million shots and learn from them instantly. But, now and again, shooting an all-manual film camera forces me and my eye into a different perspective. I enjoy it and it helps me...plus it's cheap "Full Frame".