Critique My Image

donaldejose

Yes, good observation and comment on the crop. It is a very tight crop. I had included more of the shoulders but she complained she looked too fat and wanted as much of her body as possible cut out so I cropped it this severe to please her. Clients don't always know what makes the best photo! I agree, head should have more base to set on. I didn't add any lower eyelashes. This is how she presented herself.

Vipmediastar_JZ

@msmoto I should have listened to my wife. She suggested to post the jumping one but I like the other one though. Here is one photo per your response

Rx4Photo

I didn't add any lower eyelashes. This is how she presented herself.

How about that... they just looked very detailed and straight to me - almost purposefully placed. My apologies for sure Donandejose. Photography is a nonstop visual education.

elopez95

Father and son bonding time.

Msmoto

@elopez95

Vertical crop?

elopez95

@Msmoto wow thank you I was completely unaware of that feature! I'm not quite fond of how tightly cramped together this photograph becomes with a vertical crop but I will definitely be utilizing that feature in the future
Edit: I just figured out how to change the aspect ratio in lightroom! This opens up a whole new world for me lol

Msmoto

Here is what I would do with this image… and there are a lot of very small post processing adjustments…..


Check out the eyes..

I love the photo, BTW

elopez95

@Msmoto that looks absolutely incredible, thank you! It's quite obvious I need a lot of practice in the post processing department

Msmoto

Practice is what is required. Just start with an image and fiddle with all the controls and learn. A tutorial in your post processing program is very useful.

What was done with your image:
eyes lightened and contrast increased.
Faces matched in tone
Crop of course
some background darkening
A little sharpening
Highlights pulled down and overall contrast increased

In shooting the original, I might have shot vertical so as to not have the rear dog's ears so close to the edge.

We are happy you are on NRF. There are some very knowledgable folks here and we do have a variety of opinions. Maybe someone else will do your image with a different approach.

Msmoto

@donaldejose

I would have chosen a lower angle as this does not seem to be as flattering for the subject. My main softbox would have been almost straight off her nose, slightly to the camera right. The model's face camera left I would have left in shadow as this tends to reduce the issue of weight gain which occurs in photos. Highlights in eyes…one only.

donaldejose

Msmoto: good comments!

[Deleted User]

@Vipmediastar_JZ I should have known that you already had experimented. I like the first one also and the same here, I never listen to my wife. (Now I 'am in real trouble.) Normally I set my camera on single shot and try the best composition possible, but these are the moments I use ch.

Vipmediastar_JZ

Round 2. My Triggers and receivers are at Paul C Buff for repair and re-calibration. I wanted to test the 24x24 softbox for the sb-910 and towards the end I decided to just use window light. My wife like them all in black and white but she picked one in color. She read last photo's critique and made sure she had darker lipstic.
Yesterday we went for another backdrop but didn't find material. We want to get more photos in the next 5 weeks but it has been cold. We shall try another session this weekend. For now here is this one.

Cropped to cut of some of the ceiling
d800 70-200 iso 800 f4 1/50 Lens foot on tripod

Msmoto

The female figure during gestation is very precious. I believe I would work this out with a composition which allows the abdomen to be near one of the "thirds" positions. And, try to have the eyes relaxed, not looking at a sharp angle. She could be seated on a tall bench or standing back from the window. I think a longer lens so as to not have the acute angel when in so close might be more pleasant. Possibly 135mm on full frame, camera about 20 cm higher. Maybe a white reflector on the camera right so as to fill just a very little bit on her left.

Having said all this, I love the outfit….

Before the actual shoot, sit with your wife and ask her what she would like to see in the photo….what feelings she may wish expressed in the image, and most important tell her how beautiful she looks. This last comment is just before you click the shutter. You may have to try several different angles, distances, compositions, but shoot a lot and then edit…...

Rx4Photo

Since I've started photographing more people lately I've found that it can be a bit of work to get to that "relaxed" point. Once you aim that camera at them some people tend to tense up. It's after 15 or 20 clicks that you might get the look you want. The funny yet frustrating thing is you could walk thru a mall or down the street and see so many people sitting or standing in that relaxed "pose" that's just begging to be photographed - point a camera at them and it goes away. That seems to be how it is with planned photoshoots as well. I'm making it my "people shooting" personal goal to talk more, relax them, compliment them, let them breathe, then photograph them.
BTW, I love that natural window light, Vipmediastar_JZ.
Check out Sue Bryce's photography work, posing, etc.

Vipmediastar_JZ

Thanks for the critique. It is hard to photograph my wife. I read this critique to her and she said "so you don't want me to be myself?"

I hope round 3 comes out better lol

I have one of her laughing with our daughter but the belly is not showing. I have posted it on my flickr and share it on todays PAD

to her credit she was tired while I was taking photos of her and she had to take breaks. After the the last photo by the door she knocked out on the sofa and I continued photographing her.

Ade

@VIP

To me the picture is actually nice. It is different from the typical prenatal posed shots. I would crop a lot tighter above her head. As it is there is too much empty space and a distracting line towards the ceiling. Plus it would make a more natural aspect ratio (not so tall as it is now).

I think @Msmoto is quite right with her suggestions. But I might keep this version as well.

When I take portraits, (simplistically) I think of two different kind of portraits I might take:

- Sometimes we take portraits in the most flattering way possible. This is the norm for glamour, commercial portraits, business & model headshots, etc. And yes, prenatal shots. When someone looks at this kind of portrait, you want the reaction to be "wow, how beautiful!". Msmoto's suggestions will guide you towards this kind of pictures.

- Other times, we take portraits which captures a person's charisma or character. This one is harder to define. It could be the subtle way the person tilts her head, glances at you, etc. But in any case, when someone looks at this kind of portrait, you want the reaction to be: "Yes, that's HER. That's exactly her!!!" Then you know you've captured the person's inner character.

Ade

@donaldejose

I noticed on Flickr you have a different version of the portrait:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76080384@N03/13043170154/in/photostream/

I like this other version much better. It's a more natural angle for her and more flattering. I might post-process the picture differently... in a softer tone throughout (her skin, background, etc.)

elopez95

I was extremely excited to go out and shoot Pegasus (yes that's the name of my car lol). Editing the pictures is proving to be very difficult especially due to white balance issues. This is the best I've been able to produce thus far and as always I really appreciate the constructive criticism. I'm not sure if there's much to be done about the distorted sign caused by the rear window.

spraynpray

@elopez95: The bigger problem than the sign is the rear end is too tightly cropped. It should show the whole of the sign plus a little more (like the front sign) because the rear of the car is way too close to the edge in my opinion. I would also lift the whites a little personally.

WestEndBoy

@elopez95: The bigger problem than the sign is the rear end is too tightly cropped. It should show the whole of the sign plus a little more (like the front sign) because the rear of the car is way too close to the edge in my opinion. I would also lift the whites a little personally.

A flash might help deal with the shadows and lighten the whites.

adamz

I've played a little bit more with Alaskans, starting from msmoto edit. basically I've darkened the background, remove some structure from the back and fixed left eye.

Msmoto

@elopez95

Photography of cars is primarily the reflections….and then working the dickens out of it in post. Look at this one.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/8129698705/in/set-72157631859730867
In yours, you can open up the sides of the cars in post, then lighten and increase contrast in the wheels, turn on the lights….. as in this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/11767698696/in/set-72157638863736776
Cars are extremely difficult to capture… I might suggest avoiding any distracting background or minimizing in post.

In this one
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fantinesfotos/7379174452/in/set-72157629918001642
the background is desaturated and darkened.

@adamz…. and I thought I had it perfect…LOL It looks great Adam.

spraynpray

@elopez95: The bigger problem than the sign is the rear end is too tightly cropped. It should show the whole of the sign plus a little more (like the front sign) because the rear of the car is way too close to the edge in my opinion. I would also lift the whites a little personally.

A flash might help deal with the shadows and lighten the whites.

Flash may have played havoc with those reflective signs though. Best do it in post, it's easy enough.

dissent

Posted this to my Flickr stream originally -


I liked this picture. But, after looking at it some more it just seemed to me that there was a grayish cast to the snow, especially the foreground. So I went back to LR, painted in an adjustment brush, and played a bit with the white balance and exposure. Got this -


So what do you think? Was this a pointless exercise for me? Am I chasing the wrong problem(s) with this image? Should I just cut back on the caffeine and then get my monitor properly calibrated?