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Some recent portrait photos. (56K Warning)

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Some recent portrait photos. (56K Warning)

Postby Ady on Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:16 pm

I took these a couple of days ago, while just having lunch and going for a walk with my GF. Not a planned shoot or anything but I'm quite happy with them and I think i'm improving a bit. I'd appreciate any critique and advice. I'm really trying to get better at this photography thing, so hopefully you can help me out. :)

Image

Image

Image

Image

#5

#6

#7

#8

Thanks for looking.

Edit: changed some to links.
Last edited by Ady on Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Killakoala on Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:47 pm

I took these a couple of days ago, while just having lunch and going for a walk with my GF. Not a planned shoot or anything


So how did your GF approve of you taking photos of such an attractive model? :) :) ;)

Seriously, your exposures are pretty much spot-on for all your pics shown here, of that, you should be proud. Your techniqiue is certainly good in theis department.

But from a personal point of view, i would have used a wider aperture to get more of that background out of focus.

Remember Killakoala's rule number two of portraits. Focus on your subject and disregard everything else. :)

Nice work though and i hope to see more as you get even better. ;)

ED: Spelling
Last edited by Killakoala on Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby DStrom on Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:48 pm

Nice shots Ady,

I think #1 , 5 and 6 work best for me.

also you should only post 4 shots in a thread, you can link to the others....
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Postby Ady on Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:57 pm

Killakoala wrote:
I took these a couple of days ago, while just having lunch and going for a walk with my GF. Not a planned shoot or anything


So how did your GF approve of you taking photos of such an attractive model? :) :) ;)

Seriously, your exposures are pretty much spot-on for all your pics shown here, of that, you should be proud. Your techniqiue is certainly good in theis department.

But from a personal point of view, i would have used a wider aperture to get more of that background out of focus.

Remember Killakoala's rule number two of portraits. Focus on your subject and disregard everything else. :)

Nice work though and i hope to see more as you get even better. ;)

ED: Spelling


Thanks! :) I must admit I have been having trouble keeping the eyes in focus when I use a wider apeture with wider shots (shot from greater distance). I do love the shallow DOF look and most of my shots are like that. I don't have any problems doing that when i'm close to the subject but as I move further away my focus gets worse. :? I'm going to keep practicing at this but i'm almost ready to blame it on the lens :twisted: Any hints on this?

DStrom wrote:Nice shots Ady,

I think #1 , 5 and 6 work best for me.

also you should only post 4 shots in a thread, you can link to the others....


Thanks. I didn't realise there was a 4 photo limit. I'll edit it.
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Postby gstark on Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:32 am

Ady,

The fourth of these is particularly nice.

Did you shoot in raw or straight to jpg? I'd like to see them warmed up a notch or two; they seem a bit too cool for my liking, and I think a tickle of the wb settings might be in order.

In the second image, I'd have also liked to have seen you use some fill flash here, to help counter the harsh shadows on the face.

Noce work.

Cheerz.
g.
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Postby Alpha_7 on Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:38 am

I really like the composition of #5 #7 and #8, and please thank you GF for being such a willing model, trust me it isn't always easy to get your partner to be happy infront of the camera...
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Postby Justin on Fri Oct 13, 2006 1:33 pm

#8 - great pose, great framing with the tree behind her.

As said by others - a touch of fill flash would work well. If you are 3-4 metres away, try dialling the flash down to around -1.7 to -2.3 and then experiment from there.
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Postby Ady on Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:18 pm

Thanks everyone. Yes I did shoot in raw so I might have a play with the colour temp on these. I actually did use some fill flash but I might have dialled it down a little too much. I'm only using the on camera flash for now aswell so it's not so great.
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Postby blacknstormy on Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:43 pm

Ady - I think these shots have turned out great !!!! I agree that it would have been better with a wider ap ... but you can always go back and take some more :) I particularly like the 6th shot, but I'm not sure why - it does need a slight crop though to take out the playground at the top .....
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Postby padey on Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:44 pm

Hi Ady,

I like your poses.

I think that the time of day didn't do you any favours. Mixed lighting is the worst lighting to shoot in. Your shadows are under exposed, (her face) and where the sun is breaking through in the background, this is over exposed.

I guess you could have pushed some fill flash to try and even the exposure between the highlights and shadows. Or looked for a spot that is in full shade. Or dabble with the shadows/highlights in CS. Or convert them to B&W and push the contrast +8....
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Postby Ady on Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:45 pm

Thanks, I noticed that damn playground and thought about cloning it out. I will try a crop though. :)
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