Mum and Sis

[adam]

Someone pointed out to be that I'll never improve it I don't post for critique to learn from all of you

So, in the midst of end-of-sem-rush-assignments-study-period, my mum just got back from being away for a month, so by using my equipment to take photographs of her, I can "introduce" the new equipment to her and if I take nice photos of her hopefully she won't tell me off for spending

My attempt at portraits, please examine technique, posing, composition. For posing, I did not control, because what I saw seemed ok, but if there's anythings that can be improved, please tell, so I know for next time. Really want to learn! Examine and critique, and perhaps suggest how I *should* do it.

Set up was an umbrella to my left and mirror on the right (is this the right terminology?). White wall as background

#1

#2

Go go go!

[BT*ist]

Firstly, I'm no expert on portraiture so feel more than welcome to regard/disregard as you see fit!....I found both of the images interesting.

The first one is quite posed, but the facial expression is intriguing. I used to think it was a smile, then I was certain it was a frown.. and now I'm just not sure!

The second one is very nice - the pose is a little different, but I love the mother/daughter-type of mood between the participants - one happy and carefree, the other more reluctant and yet indulgent at the same time. Classic

[macka]

Hey Adam,

I think #2 is a really nice shot of your rellies. I agree with BT*ist, it captures the feelings of mother and daughter so well.

The fact that you haven't really posed them works well here - they are just acting themselves, and it looks natural. Posing people can work to great effect, but it's very difficult to do well with people who aren't used to doing it.

I think #1 looks a little bit stiff, whereas #2 is more fun.

Cheers,

[zafra52]

Both are very nice, sharp, and well lit images. I agree with the comments on the first picture and I will add that I find the chair and the floor background a bit distracting; while in the second image there is nothing distracting so the viewer is compelled to look at the subjects and observe their action and this is what makes it, in my view, a better picture.

[adam]

Thank you very much for your replies

Only after you pointed the floor background - I realised that it was a problem I agree, it looks in the way now that I see it! Better to have all white, like those seamless types? The colour of green behind in the first pic was my experimenting with another flash behind, I just had it pointed at the wall - how is the proper way to get a spot type of effect?

About the chair being distracting, should I use a different chair? Perhaps without the armrests?

Thanks BT*ist, Macka and Zafra52.

Also, one more thing, sometimes people post process their images until it is very beautiful, I don't know what they do, or how they do it, but it's very natural that you wouldn't immediately think that it has been post processed. What sort of steps are involved in these?

[zafra52]

Now the problem with image #1 is that it has too much depth of field. Once the picture is taken, if I cannot take it again, I use layers in Photoshop with the background layer being blurred, but in this case it may work only for the floor - not the chair. So, I would tamper with this image.
Perhaps, an easier solution could be to crop the image, but honestly it could be more trouble than it is worth. Next time you could get your subject to seat in a smaller chair and fill the frame more with the subject. Personally, I don't like to do a lot of altering after taking the picture, maybe a bit of sharpening or resizing - but that's me.

[zafra52]

I hope you don't mind. I only meant as a rough demonstration. I cropped your image and opened a new canvas, then pasted the image. I duplicated the layer. On the top layer, I selected the image of the lady and I inversed the selection to deleted it. On the bottom layer, I blurred the image to force the eyes to focus in face and the mesmerasing gaze of this lady. I guess with a little more time you could do a better job. I guess you can do the same with Paint Shop Pro, but I believe it is not the same as using a telephoto lens and focusing on the subject. I am not a professional either, but I learned so far that in a portrait what is important is the subject, not the props.

[adam]

Wow! that is really cool.
It makes such a big difference!
The crop and blurring of the background really focusses all the attention on the subject!

Thanks!