strmrdr - photos need some of your gentle critique :)

[MonkeyPie]

I had another shoot yesterday. She was WAY more fun to take pictures of than anyone else I have shot yet. It helped that she was super cute. I thought I''d ask you for some more gentle critique. I did my best to follow your "rule of thirds" suggestion

 

[MonkeyPie]

I liked the "Independent Artists" sticker there.

 

[MonkeyPie]

I had to crop out a beer bottle

 

[MonkeyPie]

123!

 

[MonkeyPie]

That window behind her head was so perfect for rim lighting.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Better pose.

 

[MonkeyPie]

The cutest shoes EVER...wait til I get to the B&W one!

 

[MonkeyPie]

I used a light gun here, but no other extra light.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Marilyn-esque!

 

[MonkeyPie]

 

[MonkeyPie]

That little spot of paint looked like a head and shoulders.

 

[MonkeyPie]

This one has gotten some great feedback on DA and flick-r. It was the only one I put a lot of photoshop time into.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Last one. This was just for fun, and I haven''t posted it anywhere else. It''s mostly for her, since I sort of ripped off the idea from a photographer friend of mine

 

[FrekeChild]

I love them MP.

 

[LaurenThePartier]

MP, I''m loving these, and I totally love her shoes! Are you getting paid for these yet?

 

[MonkeyPie]

Thanks ladies!

Lauren, not yet - the ladies I have been working with are using my photos for their portfolios, and vice versa. I figure for stuff like this, which is just fun for me, I won''t charge for some time because it benefits both of us. The stuff I''ll charge for in the future will be like senior portraits or weddings.

 

[TravelingGal]

MP, every batch just keeps getting better! These are fun, great job!!!

 

[MonkeyPie]

Thanks TGal! I''m hoping to see some great shots from you too once you get your D40

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 10/5/2008 3:00:26 PM
Author: MonkeyPie
Thanks TGal! I''m hoping to see some great shots from you too once you get your D40

Hehehe. I''m not a portrait photographer...too hard. They move! I like landscapes. I''ll find some I''ve posted here and post it on the DSLR thread I started.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 10/5/2008 3:34:50 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 10/5/2008 3:00:26 PM

Author: MonkeyPie

Thanks TGal! I''m hoping to see some great shots from you too once you get your D40

Hehehe. I''m not a portrait photographer...too hard. They move! I like landscapes. I''ll find some I''ve posted here and post it on the DSLR thread I started.

I actually prefer non-moving subjects as well lol. Macro was my first love and it is still my favorite thing to shoot, I just need a better lens for it to continue. *runs over to your other thread*

 

[bee*]

I think they''re fab MP! Really great.

 

[Lorelei]

I like these ones MP, they turned out really well and this gal was a good model!! I think though that it would be good if you could use your cat as a subject/ model when she is feeling better, with a little icecream in her bowl.....

 

[strmrdr]

I love this one.
Bright colors, well laid out, excellent location selection.
Now for the CC see how her right shoulder/arm looks huge?
If she had moved her arm back or turned slightly or shot from different angle it would have looked more in proportion.
Her eyes are in shadow a little fill light(flash or reflector) to make them pop would have been good if going for a model look.
I do think it adds feeling to the picture however and makes her look moody which matches the facial expression.
So this one depends on what you were going for if you should have used fill.

 

[strmrdr]

This one is a little orange on my monitor.

What is she looking at?
I bet she hates this one because her thighs look frumpy.
Her ankles look to be in a contorted position.
I''m not a fan of up skirt shots.

 

[strmrdr]

This is a smokin shot.
This one I would have shot like this,,,except would have got the rest of the statue in it.
Again it could use a little fill to pop the eyes.
White balance is a little on the warm side. (orange)

 

[strmrdr]

fixed WB and lightened up around the eyes a little.

 

[strmrdr]

This is the last one for now, more later.

I love the concept and location.
Needs a little fill flash to pop the eyes and add catch lights.
What is she looking at? Eyes a little to the side good, all the way bad.
Does she smile?

I would have told her to imagine there is a hot hunk walking down the side walk towards her then captured a dreamy look on her face.

The green plant behind her looks a little like it is growing out of her head.
lightening it in post would eliminate that a little more.

So far it looks like your doing a good job on location and the controlling exposure.
The next step is controlling your model(posing and expression) and some fill flash.

 

[strmrdr]

I''m going to do the rest later 30 min is about my limit for deep CC before my eyes cross.
Try this next time, camera in manual mode, set the proper exposure, turn on pop-up flash set it to the lowest power setting or 1 up.
Adjust as needed.
The goal is to catch the eyes and lighten shadows but not change the overall exposure.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 10/5/2008 5:17:03 PM
Author: strmrdr
This is the last one for now, more later.

I love the concept and location.
Needs a little fill flash to pop the eyes and add catch lights.
What is she looking at? Eyes a little to the side good, all the way bad. She was funny - she did that on her own most of the time. I think she likes how it looks, and I just let her lol.
Does she smile? Yes, but NEVER when I was looking at her through the camera! Lol I am under the impression she doesn''t like how she looks when she smiles. Most of my models have done this quite a bit - is that a style maybe?

I would have told her to imagine there is a hot hunk walking down the side walk towards her then captured a dreamy look on her face.
The green plant behind her looks a little like it is growing out of her head. LOL I never even noticed that.
lightening it in post would eliminate that a little more.

So far it looks like your doing a good job on location and the controlling exposure.
The next step is controlling your model(posing and expression) and some fill flash.

Thanks a lot, strm, I knew you would have some good pointers.
I actually had a reflector, but wouldn''t you know it was CLOUDY? I was so bummed when I realized my reflector was virtually useless. So yeah, a lot of them do have an orange hue. I picked the one cloudy rainy day in the desert - lucky me!

 

[MonkeyPie]

Date: 10/5/2008 5:29:46 PM
Author: strmrdr
I''m going to do the rest later 30 min is about my limit for deep CC before my eyes cross.

Try this next time, camera in manual mode, set the proper exposure, turn on pop-up flash set it to the lowest power setting or 1 up.
Adjust as needed.

The goal is to catch the eyes and lighten shadows but not change the overall exposure.

That''s a good idea, I''ll have to try that next time. My on-camera flash is obnoxiously bright, but maybe outdoors it wouldn''t be so bad lowered down. I do shoot in manual only though. I''m going to test this on my husband later