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View Full Version : Candid portrait - comments, suggestions welcomed

themitty
Dec-21-2007, 08:43 AM
Hi all - I'm posting my first picture here, although I've lurked for quite a while. I find myself focusing more and more on this type of photography, and I'd like to get a sense for how I'm doing, and what I could do better. So, with that in mind, here's the picture - shot with the Sony a700, the old beercan lens (70-210 f4) and bounced flash.

http://lh5.google.com/themitty/R2nRomZFzXI/AAAAAAAACsw/f8i0RkTW1qg/s800/austin%201.jpg
shatch
Dec-21-2007, 04:32 PM
Welcome to Dgrin! Love the shot. Look forward to seeing more.
themitty
Dec-22-2007, 06:43 AM
Welcome to Dgrin! Love the shot. Look forward to seeing more.

Glad I found this place - nice to see more of a focus on photography for a change.
ShepsMom
Dec-22-2007, 07:16 AM
Hi and welcome! Love the composition on this shot, but it appears somehwat soft. His eyes could use more light, and there is some redness on his face. But that's just me!!

Keep posting :thumb
gefillmore
Dec-22-2007, 11:38 AM
Hi and welcome! Love the composition on this shot, but it appears somehwat soft. His eyes could use more light, and there is some redness on his face. But that's just me!!

Keep posting :thumb


yes, welcome-

what marina said and just a little bit of work cleaning up his face (just my thoughts)-

a very nice portrait-
bauerman
Dec-22-2007, 11:46 AM
I think that is a well done portrait. I do not think that it is soft - the eyes are sharp to me and that is where I would want the sharpness as well. This shot just has a shallow depth of focus - its not "soft".

I also like the tight crop and the red background - those work well to me. I could be wrong but he seems to be 'pursing' his lips a little bit - it might work better with a more natural position of his lips. When you bounce flash sometimes you can use a bounce card as well attached to the flash head to throw just a touch of light directly at the subject - get rid of the minimal shadows around the eyes.

Good work - post more.
themitty
Jan-02-2008, 01:16 PM
All - sorry about the delay in responding to this, I've been out on vacation for a couple weeks.

Thank you for all the feedback and comments. I really appreciate it, especially the info about getting more light around the eyes.