Natural Light Portrait

[miles]

Hey guys, here is a new shot from today that I took with my friend, we didn't have much time to shoot, but I was able to get 169 shots (not all of posting quality, I assure you). I am planning on submitting this to DPChallenge's Natural Light contest, so I am looking for some good C&C please.

Be honest, be brutal, and help me out please!

[wjeverly]

Wow! Incredible lighting. To me, the only problem would be the out of focus points of light in the background and the blue bar right behind the subject - a counter edge? The points of light are more distracting to me than the blue bar. Maybe those could PS'd out?

Everything about the subject herself: the lighting, skin tones, expression, pose, and focus are stunning. Well done.

[Palachandra]

I too agree, the points of light are more distracting....

but overall great shot.

[uvsub]

Your friend looks sensational in this lighting. What's with the two blue eyes peering out on the right? Big distraction. Since we westerners read from left to right have you tried flipping the shot horizontally? It should strengthen the composition even more as the eye scans across the less important space and then rivets on the girl's beautiful features in the complementary light. Good luck!

[miles]

Originally Posted by uvsub

Your friend looks sensational in this lighting. What's with the two blue eyes peering out on the right? Big distraction. Since we westerners read from left to right have you tried flipping the shot horizontally? It should strengthen the composition even more as the eye scans across the less important space and then rivets on the girl's beautiful features in the complementary light. Good luck!

Thanks, the light in the back is the kitchen sink I believe .

I agree about the back bar, but I do not think I will be able to remove them for the contest, as there are restrictions, which is tough..

Thanks for all the kind compliments, I will do some work before I submit to the contest and show how it goes.

[caseycroucher]

Great eye detail. I think that the skin is a little to soft/blurry.

[wulf]

Great light and great skin - is this straight off the camera and not touched up in any way?

I don't mind the points of light in the background as, to me, that suggests depth and they are not overly bright compared to the subject.

The one thing I don't like is that I think she is far too close to the left hand edge of the picture - cramped at the left and too much nothing at the right. I think the result would be much better if the camera had been a little over to the left. Imagine vertical lines marking thirds across the image - if one were between her eyes and the other between the points of light (like a second set of eyes) I think the result would be perfect rather than just very good.

Wulf

[miles]

Originally Posted by caseycroucher

Great eye detail. I think that the skin is a little to soft/blurry.

Thank you, I will take that into consideration!

[miles]

Originally Posted by wulf

Great light and great skin - is this straight off the camera and not touched up in any way?

I don't mind the points of light in the background as, to me, that suggests depth and they are not overly bright compared to the subject.

The one thing I don't like is that I think she is far too close to the left hand edge of the picture - cramped at the left and too much nothing at the right. I think the result would be much better if the camera had been a little over to the left. Imagine vertical lines marking thirds across the image - if one were between her eyes and the other between the points of light (like a second set of eyes) I think the result would be perfect rather than just very good.

Wulf

No, this is touched up, the light was dark, but I did do some adjustments in Lightroom. The skin was also softened up, but I may reduce that a bit.

I agree that the background is not overly distracting, but may just be a preference for the others.

I may see about cropping it a bit and pulling her to the right a little.

Thanks for the kind words wulf.

[ELAY]

Agree that the skin looks almost too perfect -- looking at the photo, if I had to guess whether the skin had been touched up, I would answer yes.

Obviously retouching is a matter of personal taste and preference, but I think you want to avoid the "is it real or is it Gaussian blur/smoothing/cloning" reaction (especially if your contest has strict rules).

As for other stuff: The lighting is very nice -- shadow on the one side, but with the eye showing well. I don't mind the blue dots at all.

EL