Three portraits

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I have here three portraits I would like honest opinions on, I really really want you to look at them and tell me what you think please.

[Greg McCary]

I like one and three. The first one could use to be wider left and right and three might benefit from a 40% desaturation of the background so the subject won't be competing with the BG. All in all nice shooting.

[srblough]

Agree, nice but she doesn't stand out enough from the background in 1 and 3. First could use shallow depth of field to soften the trees; in both cases her hair blend right into the dark color in back of it. I personally like the 2nd best as a photo, though I think my eye is drawn too much by the blue of her jeans.

[n8]

I've noticed that your recent uploads have all looked quite soft. If they look sharp on your monitor, then it may just be something in your exporting/uploading process. If that's not the case, there may be some extra investigation needed.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

I shot this in RAW mode today, I normally shoot in JPEG. Does this image look sharper to you.

[GB1]

Tyson -

Shooting these type shots is art, but there's always little things I think one can do to make them incrementally better. I like the last one the best because she's placed so well in the frame and the background seems to be so well lit. The side shadow isn't ideal but you will get that from a single strobe with small head.

The lighting is sort of daring in # 2, but she's not really dressed or posing in a daring fashion. Her shirt's OK but her shoes don't look like woods footwear and her jeans really look too clean and uncomfortable to be wearing in the sticks: she should really be wearing jeans with holes in them (or something to that effect!). They're also a tad dark and absorb too much of the light making them fade into the background.

Model shoots are maybe half photography and half model look and preparation, but I've found that we photographers tend to concentrate so much on the photography end that we don't do enough prep and planning for the subject: the model. Outfit, make up, theme, and so on are all so important. I'll be learning it for the next 40 years.

G

[Don Schaeffer]

I agree, 1 and 3. #2 looks like a simple snapshot to me.

[Tyson L. Sparks]

Thank you, for the input it helps a lot.

[n8]

I shot this in RAW mode today, I normally shoot in JPEG. Does this image look sharper to you.

That cat is razor sharp here. I would actually expect a JPEG to be sharper than a RAW as the former is sharpened in camera, while the latter is not. So...we know it's not your upload process. Also, seeing that you have that 2.8 at your disposal, I would suggest give it a whirl in shots like this. The shallow dof can become a really good, albeit touchy friend, and it may also save you from setting up that flash.