Frustrated

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I shot frame after frame and this was the best, where is the snap, is there a snap. Why can't I find this "snap oo wow picture" What am I doing wrong. Is it the color, the grass, I need some advice.

[SmartWombat]

Well for a start, in 1 and 2 you've cut her feet off, 3 and 4 you've cut her hands in half.
In 1 and 3 the light is rather harsh, I suppose a reflector to fill the shadows might be better than fill flash, but how often do you have a reflector in your pocket? I never do !
In 5, I think it's looking good except for the two white things in the background sticking out of her head. Shot from a little higher the out of focus red and white stripes would be OK.
But where is the real sharp focus in 5, on her eyes, or her nose, or her hair? My home monitor is a bit soft and I can't tell.
In 1, 3, 4 & 5 you've got a horizon line, or some kind of transition in the background running right through her head. Even in 2 the "V" runs through her head, maybe it doesn't matter, maybe putting her between the letters would help.
Looks like you used fill flash in #4, but it's the on-camera flash? The that's perhaps the best face, with the sparkle in her eyes, but there's a slight shadow under her chin.

I'm waiting for Alison to drop by and talk about thirds
Everything except #2 looks centred, as if you used the middle focus point and then didn't recompose afterwards. When you have a cooperative subject, you can be more creative.

[Didache]

I can't add much to Paul's excellent critique. They are all pleasant enough but, to me, No 2 is by far the best of them - it looks more like a portrait as opposed to a snapshot. Do you have a version of that with her feet intact?

Alison .. where are yooooooo ??

Cheers
Mike

[Tyson L. Sparks]

[Didache]

Now I do like that one. Much, much better imo. The diagonals of the pipes, the little flash of diagonal orange, and the interesting crop makes this one a success in my eyes. It probably breaks a few rules - but that gives it interest.

Cheers
Mike

[MB1]

The first batch seemed to get better as you went along but they were just photographs that could have been taken by anyone with a camera.

This one is a PHOTOGRAPH! You have an interesting crop and tilt to the image. She fills the frame and the line of her legs and arms draws the viewer into the image. The pose and face works well. I wouldn't say you had the best light for any of these shots (closer to evening would have given you a lot more) but this works well plus the clothes look right for the girl.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I guess I am still on that hump, I am trying to create images as good as the ones in magazines. I just can't get over that hump. Back to the drawing board I go.

[Alison]

Oh my goodness! I am so flattered, I can feel the love in here LOL.

Well there's not much I can add to Paul's CC. The hands and feet were my first thoughts. And it's funny you should mention thirds I was just thinking about that! LOL

As for the last shot...well, it's nice that you didn't cut off her feet and the exposure and colours are superb, however, the crop doesn't do anything for me. I am finding my eyes are being drawn towards her legs. I feel this portrait is all about her legs and not her beautiful face.

Would you like me to have a play with these and post some visuals Tyson?
(Thanks for the PM by the way. I am still battling my way through my friends wedding from September 1st!)

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Please do.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

[Tyson L. Sparks]

My last example

[Didache]

This has thrown up something interesting: how good an image is depends on differing sets of criteria. Alison (who is the forum expert on portraiture) assessed the second post picture according to how it fitted the criteria of a portrait, ie did it accentuate the face or the legs? On the other hand, I looked at it as a graphic image in which a person happened to be present! Tyson - I think it depends on what YOU were trying to achieve with it.

Cheers
Mike

[Alison]

Now, I'm not perfect and still get things wrong but here's what I see.

#1 - she looks too tense and her smile is all wrong. I don't always have my subjects smile. If they don't want to, then don't, y'know what I mean?

#2 - lovely how she is leaning against the wall. Because you have cut her feet off cut some more off to balance it up.





#3 not too bad. Again the hands are cut off so with a 20 degree rotate and a landscape crop I feel it looks a little better.



and, I know, here I go with my rule of thirds again, but, I seriously believe it helps.



#4 - hmmm I think it would have been fine if you hadn't cut her hands off.

#5 - can't do much with that one. The crop is a bit close and her eyes are too centred.

#6 - my rule of thirds is way off here but then I couldn't do much when you had captured the image so close to the top of her head. However, I think the crop works much better like this.



Another tip that someone once told me, watch your 4 corners. Make them the same colour for balance. For example, all 4 corners the same colour (see #2), one corner green, make the other green (see #3, I know one corner is blue lol but hey, what can I do, I'm not a magician haha). One corner black, make the other black (see #6). You get the general idea.

Hope this has helped Tyson

[Alison]

My last example

Lovin' this one Tyson, posed but looking relaxed. Much better!

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I love the advice here, I am taking a little of everyones help. I am going to ask here to do a re shoot for me, I think a different color other than black would help. I am also going to try an urban environment.

[KenB]

I like this shot but I think it's lacking lighting. A fill flash would put some nice catchlights in her eyes. It's like you had a nice sunny day with good light but it either got late or a cloud just happened over when you pressed the shutter release.

Also, if you moved just a touch to the right, you wouldn't have her leg and foot in the frame. I think that would make for a more striking shot.

She's got great eyes.

[SmartWombat]

My last example

... I think is the best yet.
made me go Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I think the background might be a bit over exposed because of the evening sun, but you've got a good pose and good lighting on her face.

Don't force the pose, try to make it fun, get them relaxed if you can, while still directing them - seems to be the art, that I haven't got

[Greg McCary]

I guess I am still on that hump, I am trying to create images as good as the ones in magazines. I just can't get over that hump. Back to the drawing board I go.

I would think that magazine photogs have huge budgets and all sorts of lights, props, flashes, reflectors, make up artist, ect ect.ect. I think a few tips from Alison will get you what you want.

[cyberlord]

The last 2 shots in the series are very good, they just need some off camera lighting to model the face.

To help pop the subject from the background you have to use a small tele lens and large aperture to blur out the background. You've accomplished that in the last 2 shots. The one leaning against the wall seems like the wall texture/pattern is competing with the subject. Use a more plain background or move her away from the wall and blur it out. Try contrasting colors, background colors contrast against subject clothes. Scout out some possible locations and select wardrobe colors to contrast.

You've got the 430EX, buy a cable or some ebay radio triggers and get the flash off camera as the key light. Use some white foamcore/poster board as a reflector for fill light. Set your camera aperture/shutter so the background is 1 to 2 stops underexposed. Now set your flash to light your subject (adjust distance or reduce strength to match the camera's aperture) and adjust reflector distance so the fill light is 1 stop under key. You should notice a 3d look to your subjects face your subject popping out from the background more.

Another alternative is to back light with the sun (will light the edges of hair) and use a powerful (close flash) to light up the face. Use fill reflector as well.

Hope this helps.

Tim

[gahspidy]

You have alot of good advice here, Tyson. i like your last example best. I think you would really benefit alot from a reflector to bounce some light onto your subjects faces. Flash and lightng would be very useful, but natural lighting is quite nice and having a reflector to manipulate it to your advantage should be your first step.Your skin tones and colors look pretty good throughout. Keep experimenting . . .

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I have to shoot a ball game for the paper tonight, Saturday I might have a chance to try out a reflector. I want to thank everyone for your input, I have learned a lot. I hope my next post will be better keep watching I'll be back.