Portaits

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1

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Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

Tropical cyclone Alfred hit and days of strong wind and pelting rain. Keeping the grand-kids occupied.

Specific Feedback

There are not many portraits here, but I know there is a wealth of information.

It’s been pretty rough weather down this way so bored grandchildren sometimes like to play with me.

The first one: Belle. She is seven going on 17 and can work the camera with no guidance from me.

Dismal window light from the right and a dull “make-up” mirror (not mine!) with a ring light in front, with a copper-coloured reflector off to the left front. First question: Do her eyes look too bright or weird? The reflection in her eyes are from the make-up mirror. Does the circular catch light look odd?

The second image is also Belle. Same setup with make-up mirror problem in the eye.

Third image is Chase. Photo taken outside, sitting on a step with black sheet draped behind. He is 12 and built like a brick out-house. He is quite self-conscience and he doesn’t like being photographed. I thought the dog might relax him a little and get the disapproving look off his face.

Is the dog a big distraction? Is there too much dog? The pose is awkward. Chase is slightly bent over, resting his elbow on his knee.

I’ve fiddled so much with this and can’t get it the way I (and him) would like. Any suggestions lighting and posing, dog or no dog would be appreciated.

Technical Details

First two images are shot indoors. ISO2000 70-200@70mm f4 1/30 Tripod

Second image is shot outdoors. ISO500 70-200@90mm f4 1/640 HH
I’ve just noticed a strange colour on the shirt!? Clumsy editing!

Critique Template

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  • Vision and Purpose:
  • Conceptual:
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  • Composition:
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  • Depth and Dimension:
  • Color:
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2

Firstly - 2 great- looking kids! Good genes down there!
I’m no portrait photographer, but all of these look great to me.
Belle is beautiful, and the side/soft lighting makes her face just glow. The first portrait is stunning.
Chase’s portrait is nice as well, and the dog is fine. Perhaps it would be even more striking if he were not looking directly AT you - similar to Belle’s gaze…

3

Thanks Sandy! Thats the trouble. I’m not a portrait photographer. I think i have another with a side on look on Chase.

4

I like the two shots of Belle. The ring light catchlight is a minor issue to me, but could be easily modified/removed if you prefer. Chase’s portrait looks fine as a portrait of him, but I think the dog is an issue since there’s no visible interaction with the dog on Chase’s end.

I really like the lighting in both images.

Our camera club just had a presentation on portrait photography from one of our members who is really into it and I asked about getting models to relax. His solution is to ask them to pick their nose. He says it’s impossible to do that without losing some of the tension of being in front of a camera.

5

I really like all of these but, I have to say, that first one really grabbed me. I was not going to notice the ring light catchlight before reading about it. It would be easy enough to change in photoshop. Well done captures!

6

All three are wonderful, with excellent models and light!! I remember some of your elegantly lighted still life work and the same ideas work for portraits. You have incorporated it very well here in a simple version, which is basically needed for any spontaneity with a portrait.

Belle is a gorgeous little girl! If you have the canvas, a little more room bottom and right in the first one could be nice – a little more elbow room as it were, as you got in the second one – but not a big deal. A small tweak with one of the patch/removal tools would fix the eye.

Chase looks appropriately like a tough guy and you got a good pose and expression for that. Elbow on knee is always a good look. I think the dog is fine but you might try a burn from the LR corner. The dog is a good foil to try to entice him into more sessions, maybe a hug with both their faces. (Tell him the dog is the subject…!)

Hope to see more of them, and fervent hopes for better weather. We’ve been lucky but a lot of the country has been hit hard.

7

Thank you @Diane_Miller , @Dave_Douglass , @Dennis_Plank and @SandyR-B . All comments have been taken on board. Ist image has had the table extended below…a big improvement! Also circular catch lights have been fixed.

Another day for shooting Chase and the dog. I’m pertty clear now how I would like the portrait to turn out.

8

Glennie, congratulations on the EP!! Hope to see more of your portraits! Good material to work with.

9

Whow! Portraits here! I must come here more often.
A long time ago, I followed a few workshops with a portrait photographer. His advice for good poses was to start and tell a story for your model to get into. Nothing fancy, just a few acting proposals. And time, of course. But this we all of us know more than enough.