First Portrait Post

[Thomas J.]

Hello to all. I'm new here and decided to try a post of a portrait I recently took. I got the bug for digital cameras a few years ago and purchased a few really good ones in the past year or so. A sony R-1 and a H-5 that I only use for tele photos, a Canon S3IS that I got for a fantastic price, and an Oly E-500 DSLR. Actually too many cameras for me to get familiar with and really learn.:o

Anyway this shot was taken with the E-500 with the intent of having it backlight. I did a major crop on the picture and was wondering what comments there would be for this. Was the crop too much? If need be I could post the whole pic.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/47146451@N00/2219456321/" title="post125 by jiminyClickit, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/2219456321_d9d6ff6d43.jpg" width="500" height="303" alt="post125" /></a>

Thanks for looking
Thomas

[ELAY]

Hi Thomas --

I'm getting a message that says "Attachment waiting approval" or something like that. I don't know if that indicates some problem with the attachment, or if attachment approval is part of the new regime here, but either way it is a good reason to use a photo-hosting site like flickr and post the HTML tags in your post.

It is much easier to critique a photo when you can see it inline.

EL

[Thomas J.]

Sorry for the foul up. I'll have to resize and upload to Photobucket I guess.
Thomas

[geotography]

Thomas J.,

Sadly, I am not able to pull up your image. Check out the thread posting guidelines. Look forward to seeing your photo.

[jiminyClickit]

Thomas J., Welcome

To receive the best Critique, these guidelines have been selected to help everyone with as much information as possible. You are still missing EXIF.

http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10888

I am temporarily hosting your photo. Please replace it soon, or deletion of your thread is the next recommended step.

[RussHeath]

So, before JC gives your photo the axe, here are a few comments: (don't think any of the mods are singling you out, we've had major issues with the critique forum recently)

I really like the quality of the light and how it plays on her face. There are many parts of the photo that are overexposed (wall, her back) but it gives the photo a high key look that is appealing (was it intentional?) However, I usually associate the high key look with an upbeat mood and a smiling, happy person. Your daughter (?) looks quite pensive in this photo. Do you have a similar one where she is smiling? That may work better with the overall feel of the scene.

Also, you clip quite a few joints which can be a little unsettling in a portrait. I would either crop in even tighter on her face, or zoom out (if you have room) to include her left elbow and knees.

Thanks for sharing this and good luck sorting out the posting issues. We've all been there and struggled with it at one point, so hang in there and keep posting! :)

[jiminyClickit]

newbie,

You've read the rules: is there anything difficult in them? Somehow, getting members to read them is the most difficult part.

These guidelines are for better Critiques of better photos. The deletion is not my choice or decision: comes right from Admin.

The more photos and EXIF I have to add to keep from having to delete, is no fun. It's not to make moderating easier, definitely hasn't done that.

[ELAY]

JC --

I have long been an advocate of more vigilant patrolling of this section, so good on 'ya.

I will say (and have said before) that the "no attachment" policy really does not leap out of the rules. It's buried at the end of the paragraph and stuck in the middle of rules on linking to large sizes. I think the picture is further clouded by the fact that the rules say that use of a photo-hosting site is "strongly recommended" which seems inconsistent with a no attachments policy -- if we don't allow attachments, isn't use of a photo-hosting site mandatory?

None of this has anything to do with this thread or with you (you don't make the rules). I do think that if people are going to be deleted for using attachments the policy should be much more clear and explicit.

EL

[Thomas J.]

Well I can't seem to locate the original to get the EXIF info off of so I guess you'll have to delete the post.:( If I locate it later I'll try and repost.

[kimspics]

I think your pic is great- I like the soft look- I wonder how it would look with a tighter crop of her face and the expression of wonder on her face?

[Thomas J.]

I do have tighter crop and will post it if I can find the EXIF info.:)
Thanks

Thomas

[RussHeath]

newbie,

You've read the rules: is there anything difficult in them? Somehow, getting members to read them is the most difficult part.

These guidelines are for better Critiques of better photos. The deletion is not my choice or decision: comes right from Admin.

The more photos and EXIF I have to add to keep from having to delete, is no fun. It's not to make moderating easier, definitely hasn't done that.

Jiminy -- I am very grateful for your work and that of the other mods who are putting in extra hours to make this place better. I never meant to imply otherwise.

As to how to ensure that members read the rules? It's an ongoing battle. I did suggest one method here (http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/showpost.php?p=92290&postcount=32) (long post, my suggestion is about 3/4 down), and I have not heard from any mods or admins if it would be possible. I know that when I was new here (and to forums in general) it was easy to miss the stickies. Something a little more in-your-face than the sticky threads might be just the thing.

Thanks again for your hard work and thoughtful critiques. DPS wouldn't be what it is without you.


I do have tighter crop and will post it if I can find the EXIF info.:)
Thanks

Thomas

Thomas -- I'd love to see it!

[Thomas J.]

Well I uploaded a tighter crop pic at photobucket where I've been placing my pics now for over a year, and wow it looks like crud. For some reason it's all fuzzy. I loaded it here and did a preview and nope, it looks too bad. The original crop on my computer doesn't look like that nor do any of my other pics on photobucket. I guess this thread was doomed from the start.:(