Model and Sunset

[GB1]

Critique appreciated.

Flash was used the second, set to about -1 f-stop intensity.

Gb

[Pyro37976]

The flash should have probably been diffused so it was less harsh, but other than that - nice shots.

[JTcooper]

very nice shot GB, the model and sky are awsome:thumbsup:

[Greg McCary]

I like the composition of them both. She seems to know what she is doing which I think would help. I think in the first one she is to dark against the background and better on the second one. I think you should do some PS work, healing brush ect on her face but I really like no.2. You did well picking a background.

[filtersweep]

The color of her dress is too similar to the color of the sea.

[MB1]

The color of her dress is too similar to the color of the sea.

I agree, although I love the background.

[GB1]

Thanks for commenting everyone.

Filter I see what you mean about the similarities. I will think of that next time.

Greg I will try the PS work. Note that I already masked off the ocean and sky and lightened everything else in # 1 (did you notice?). It's always hard to compensate for a silhouetted subject. I will try the magic wand.

Thanks JT, I will tell her you liked it. She takes her modeling pretty seriously.

Pyro, yes I think a flash diffuser would have been good to use here. I have one too but it doesn't seem to want to stay on my flash very well so I tend shoot w/o it. Excuses excuses..

BTW, I will mention here that I was I didn't think these shots were that good, perhaps too casual. Posting here allows me to see what others think

G

[AgingEyes]

The background is too interesting that it draws too much attention away from the model, whom I think you would like the viewers to focus on

[Alison]

I would say the white patches in the bg are drawing my eye away from the model. And I would say it's not orange enough to be described as a sunset.

Having said that...wow! She's a GREAT model!
Colours are lovely.
I don't mind the blue dress against the blue bg. It works to bring the attention to the models tanned body and pretty face.

Clarity is superb too.

Did you use "off camera flash"?
It looks like the flash is a bit direct IMO and could have done with being diffused a little more to stop the harsh shadows.
Maybe to have had a reflector to one side of her too. (Not easy if you don't have an assistant or a stand with a clamp. Something I would love to have because I don't have an assistant).

An idea would be to shoot the bg at perfect exposure then shoot the model and photoshop her on there. (I know, you'd rather get it all done in camera to save you the work. So would I). But I'm sure you know all of that already.

All in all you did a great job to be honest. Not easy shooting conditions with all those different exposures going on in one shot. :thumbsup:

[GB1]

AE - yeah sort of a paradox isn't it?

Alison - Tks for the detailed reply. You're very good at portraiture so it's great hearing from you. It isn't quite a sunset but it was only about 1.5 hrs before sunset, which.. err.. I don't know if that's considered a sunset, technically anyway. I think the model definitely has confidence and it shows through. The only negative comment I got so far (not here) was that her poses seemed too prerehearsed and that more emotion would be a good thing.

No I didn't use an off camera flash, though my flash does have that capability. We had a reflector and her husband was available to hold it, but if memory serves me it wasn't making much impact that evening due to the spotty nature of the sun. BUT .. I could have shot the flash off the reflector. Didn't try it. We were in such a hurry .. three hrs goes by quick and we still had the beach to do (see my previous posts).

PS the model on the background?? Ha! That's what some people here thought I did in a previous post of her leaping (which I didn't - sounds like a lot of work ).

I think the key here to do exposure for the background like you said and do whatever reflector, diffuser et al work that is necessary to light her in a flattering & convincing way. Live and learn. I'm really a landscape photographer experimenting in other areas..

G

[Lori11]

Love the first one! I like the colors the way they are. :thumbsup:
The second one because of the crop, looks like if she moves she will fall off the cliff :lol: (Ok, so Im afraid of heights lol)