Model shots

[GB1]

A few shots from a model shoot in June. I like the backgrounds but maybe they're also slightly distracting. C&Cs on that, and whatever else about the shots, are very welcome. You'll notice that the 3rd shot from the top was taken with flash, whereas the other two like it were not.

GB

[JonW]

I like the second shot. To me, the others are much too busy and detract from the model.

[Didache]

Tough set you had there to shoot in! The first one, as you most certainly know, suffers from a lot of contrast - the bottom left would need to be cropped off and the model's face brought up a little. The second one is pretty good too, and strikes the balance between an interesting set, and too much distraction. For that reason it is my favourite of the ones you've posted. No 3 is a little harsh but otherwise fine - maybe if you could pull the face back a little? No 4 doesn't do a lot for me I'm afraid - I know I am in the minority on that one.

Hope that helps!
Mike

[draymorton]

That last one is great

[ChowChi-Ching]

I agree, the last one is the only one that caught my eye....

[draymorton]

Don't get me wrong: I like #2, as well. But yeah, #4 is far and away the closest to something I'd see as editorial work somewhere. A few tweaks here and there and I could easily see it in a magazine. I think it may be some of the best model stuff I've seen from you, GB.

[AgingEyes]

The first one the model is kind of dark comparing with a quite bright background. Not much details in her black dress. I'd suggest more light be thrown at her and may be under-exposed the background instead.

The second one the leaves in the back to her right are too bright and so can use some work there. Details in her black dress is a tad better but still could use more light, IMO.

The third one I think the background looks slightly over-exposed. The flash also looks a bit too much on her face. All fixable in post-processing. Perhaps something in between the second and third shot could do?

Good thing about the third one is you have the subject brighter than the subject - essentially because of the lighter gray i.e., her skin - and that usually is a good thing. The cropping a bit tight as the top of the hat is almost kissing the frame.

Still, a simpler background would be preferable.

BTW, I think her head turned too much ( take a look at her neck).

[Greg McCary]

I agree the B&W is the best. IMO. Anytime you have high contrast like these try for a B&W. True blacks, true whites and not to much midtone. The background is just to distracting in the first three.

[draymorton]

The other thing about the b/w is that she looks GREAT - the best she's looked in any of your photos of her. Is that version cropped from the original? Because the one nitpick I have is that I'd like to see either more hands or less hat - leave more in at the bottom or crop farther down from the top.

[jetrim]

Don't get me wrong: I like #2, as well. But yeah, #4 is far and away the closest to something I'd see as editorial work somewhere. A few tweaks here and there and I could easily see it in a magazine. I think it may be some of the best model stuff I've seen from you, GB.

Yeah, what he said! Really like #4 the best, by a wide margin. As has already been mentioned, #1 is dark/contrasty. I think it could be brought back, but it'd be a job. I like the composition and exposure in #2 and #3 but have to say that I'm not overly crazy about the pose (head looks good, but body ain't doing it for me. Arms look unnaturally rigid, like she's gonna launch herself off that perch at any second) but also understand you can be a bit limited with a bar top.

[GB1]

Wow, big time feedback on these shots everyone, a lot more than I expected (!)

There is definitely a lot happening in the background. I think if she were wearing a tropical bikini or something that the background might complement. Here, I think the consensus is that it's a bit too much.

Signals and Jon, that's for commenting.

Mike, thks for commenting too. I do see the sunlit area poking into the scene on the left on # 1. # 2 is more even by comparison and #3 I added a slight black vignette to control the blow out, which maybe I should have done to # 1 also. I see the bar set exciting, personally, but also very hard to make work.

Dray and Chow - I think the last one came out the best as far as the model seeming comfortable and relaxed. I didn't quite have an excellent model-photog rapport with her that day even though I've photographed her before, just one of those days .... Another thing on this shot at the end of my post here ..

And thks Dray, it does have a snazzy feel to it. Mostly the model btw. She has an elegant look. This one would have worked great in a studio. A pose to remember for when I do my next studio shoot.

AE - We did use a reflector in # 2, but I think there was still too much contrast in the scene and that destroyed detail in the dress (not uncommon with my digital camera, unfortunately .. seems digital struggles w/ dynamic range). I don't like the looks of the flash on her face on # 3 myself. Not sure how to go about fixing it (care to elaborate?) As mentioned above, w/ # 4, I think this one would work a lot better in a studio... no background junk except what you plan. Good eye on the neck wrinkles, though I am not sure how fatal it is to the image.

Thks Greg. B&W usually works well with model shots (and people in general). I will remember your tip on noisy backgrounds.

Jet, thanks. I see what you mean about her getting ready to launch off there, though with this pose that's normal. Maybe that's a sign that this pose won't work, period ! W/ # 1, she prob needs something in her hands, as they seems too flexed, too jittery as is.

What no one asked was if she was post processed - I actually applied a very slight smart blur to her in # 4. I was wondering if her back looked too clear but nobody said anything. Actually, the original looks pretty clear (I think she's only 20 y.o.)

Here's the original w/ # 4, and a slightly wider version of the edited one.

G

[AgingEyes]

I don't like the looks of the flash on her face on # 3 myself. Not sure how to go about fixing it (care to elaborate?)

If you use Camera Raw, try "Recovery" and see if you like the result.

I like your original with her standing better. May not be the best perspective - guess it depends on one's...errr...preference - but overall the background is better because not the entire background is cluttered. The worst part of it is the part with the leaves and the trees...busy and too bright. The model's exposure looks good, black with details. Colors look good. Makes me wonder why you turned it into black and white (which is a bit dark). I may crop slightly off the left though. Personally I like this original the most out.

[draymorton]

Thanks for posting the originals, GB. Tried another quick edit (hope you don't mind - and I won't make a habit out of it, don't worry - just wanted to see what it would look like with a couple of alterations). It really is a fabulous shot, IMHO.

[GB1]

Ae - I was just experimenting with a BW edit and noticed that the silly flower and green leaves weren't quite as distracting.. you can try a full color one and see. It's not a RAW btw When I shoot RAW I only get ~ 275 shots on an 8 GB mem card and that wasn't nearly enough given it was a 4+ hr shoot with multiple models, but I will give that RECOVERY cmd a try on some other funky shots I've taken with RAWs.

Btw, what made me crop where I did was the crude looking plywood area under the bar's countertop, just soooooooo cheesy. Makes you wonder why the owner did all that fancy work on this place and chose stuff like that for the bottom?

Dray, no problema editing, I like experiments and I learn a lot! That's quite a glowing effect on her face there though, esp on her upper lip. There's no right or wrong w/ PP, though as one model said to me once, she didn't know about that "ultra Photoshopped" look. Alas, worth the expt.

G

[AgingEyes]

you can try a full color one and see.

I think I can see why: because they all look gray and they happen to fall into similar shades of gray. Still, if you want them to stay distracting, it can be done

It's not a RAW btw

You do not need to use a raw file with Camera Raw. Unless you have some older version of Photoshop, open your jpeg file using "open as" and then select "camera raw" as the file type. I tried the recovery on your jpeg file. I saw the result and so thought recovery might help you.

[Charlietala]

I think you should have focus on her lovely face, especially to hide the fact that the set is way too busy, which is obviously very distracting. On the first shot, I don't like the way her hands look, they are not her best asset. The B&W is the best shot; you feel she is talking to you with those beautiful eyes.

Charlie T.

[GB1]

I think you should have focus on her lovely face, especially to hide the fact that the set is way too busy, which is obviously very distracting. On the first shot, I don't like the way her hands look, they are not her best asset. The B&W is the best shot; you feel she is talking to you with those beautiful eyes.

Charlie T.

Charlie - Yes, but that's quite limiting, is it not? Here I have a model in a busy but obviously diverse setting, so zooming in on her face for a portraiture just wouldn't seem to fit the occasion. I agree on her hands there. A lot of young and generally inexperienced models don't seem to know what to do with them in these type shots. I try to hand them a prop - a guitar, hat, etc - to hide that.

The black and white does seem to work best. I think it minimizes the colorful distractions in the background, letting one focus more on her.