First Model Shoot

[rahmonster]

I recently did a shoot with a friend who wanted some black and white portraits. This was the only "candid" I took.

ISO:400
f4.5
1/1000
Canon 28-135mm USM IS lens

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/rahmonster/photography/annafinished.jpg

[rutt]

There seems to be a focus issue here. Her teeth and hands are a bit out of focus and her sweater on her shoulder seems sharper. Possibly your camera focused there? At f4.5 you have some DOF, but perhaps not enough for this.

The composition is interesting and I like the play of shadow and light on her face and hands.

[rahmonster]

I see what you mean. Sometimes it really helps to have a fresh pair of eyes look at a picture. I have been working on it so much it's hard for me to notice some minor differences I have made.

Anyone else? I came here on the promise of being whipped:whip:rofl

[Netgarden]

I'm not too good at DOF, so I fix my focus issues with the PaintshopPro sharpen brush. Its more subtle than surrounding or masking. You can adjust and fine tune amount of sharpening and also size of area. Its quite handy!

I like your composition alot, and wish I could have done it! ;~)

I see what you mean. Sometimes it really helps to have a fresh pair of eyes look at a picture. I have been working on it so much it's hard for me to notice some minor differences I have made.

Anyone else? I came here on the promise of being whipped:whip:rofl

[DoctorIt]

that is a great black and white composition. I agree with Rutt on some weird sharpness issues, but overall, they don't distract my take on the photo.

[Shay Stephens]

I like the expression, but the right hand side of the photo is doing nothing for me. Consider a vertical crop instead of a horzontal. It just may "pop".

[rahmonster]

I like the expression, but the right hand side of the photo is doing nothing for me. Consider a vertical crop instead of a horzontal. It just may "pop".
Like this?

I havent cropped the first one that's straight from the camera. But I left the sarf in for the midtones.

I'm not sure about the vertical but wha do you think?

[pathfinder]

Like this?

I havent cropped the first one that's straight from the camera. But I left the sarf in for the midtones.

I'm not sure about the vertical but wha do you think?


My problem is that I can't decide if she is happy or sad or in pain in this shot. Her hand is attractive, and the B&W conversion is well executed, but the wrinkles at the side of her eye I cannot decipher - pain, giddy happiness, or sadness. I think I would prefer to see more of her face - just my opinion.

[ginger_55]

I like the shot, so I guess I am going to be no good, generally, at critquing model type portrait shoots.

Just a pretty girl, and I would think the shot was fine. It is the guys who know how to critique it, funny. And, hey, I am straight, or have been for the first 65 yrs of my life.

However, every time they say things, I think, yeah, that is right.

I would say that she is smiling, that is one thing I could say right off. I might be wrong, but that is what I think. Kind of one of those smiles people do about the whole ridiculous pose in the first place.

ginger:D (that is a smile) In person there are many more wrinkles. PS can take care of that.:thumb

[mercphoto]

I, too, like the vertical crop better. In my eyes its a stunning portrait. I see the soft focus issue others referered to, but I've always thought faces can look very nice in soft focus. Its a fine edge, however, but I think you got an attractive face that is just on the edge of the DOF. There is enough sharpness elsewhere in the photo that my eyes said the focus was fine.

[photobug]

Beautiful shot!

The first thing that hit me in the original was also the distraction of the sweater being in focus and not the face ... if the whole thing had been soft-focus, it wouldn't have mattered. But in a portrait, the focal plane should normally be at face (and I've heard suggested, "the nearest eye" in particular).

The crop pretty much solved that for me -- I like the crop much better!

Re smiling or not -- it is a bit ambiguous. I see a smile, but it could easily be something else. The ambiguity is good ... just like the Mona Lisa, it keeps you guessing. Not that you could have "planned for" or easily "posed" the shot that way, but you caught that moment.

Plus, you did a nice job of converting to B&W (assuming that you shot in color).

Bravo!

= Dave

[lpswimmer003]

I have to agree with pathfinder and photobug, that I can't tell whether she's smiling or crying. However, I think it makes the photo intriguing.

[rahmonster]

Thanks for the critique everyone.

The story behind the facial expression: I took a few posed shots but I was trying to relax her to get some more natural ones. She was making alot of silly poses and joking around and then bumped her head on the floor. So she was laughing, but embarassed and slightly in pain at the same time. I didn't pose her for this one I just snapped her natural reaction and ened up with this shot.

I think the sharpness problems came from Neat Image. I ran it through as her skin looked a little 'patchy'.

Thanks everyone I appreciate all your help!