My Brother!

[ken52278]

This is a Christmas Portrait of my brother. Used my trusty XTI with an old 50mm f:1.8 EF lens. CS3 to crop and make adjustments.

What do you think? Feedback is appreciated.

[Saralonde]

Hi Ken. I think you did a good job getting nice and close for the portrait and I like the little catchlight in his eyes. Good dof, too, with both eyes in focus. Some of his goatee is cut off the bottom. For some reason that bothers me a bit, but not his hair being cut off the top.

[ken52278]

Yeah, the cropping of the original photo kinda bothered me too. The frame just wasn't big enough to hold the image. I wish that I had gotten this shot in a portrait frame... I would have been more pleased!

[jiminyClickit]

ken52278, Welcome

Take a day of shooting holding the camera vertical only, or alternate holding it landscape, then portrait, then landscape etc. You'll be more comfortable switching when it's called for. Did you desaturate this one?

[ken52278]

I did desaturate it a little and I bumped the contrast a touch. I also did a heavy desaturate on the background to lose any distracting color.

That switching idea is a good suggestion, I will have to try that!

[katescasa]

The flash is alittle harsh...you need a softer light. Maybe use natural light next time.

[jiminyClickit]

ken52278,

If you warn your subject ahead of time, a flashlight shone on their foreheads just before you release shutter will contract their pupils so the eye color is more pronounced. Warning them will keep the pose fairly steady, forehead does not cause as much reaction, and eye color is better than black holes.

[ken52278]

Those are good points, I will have to practice them. Portraits are a new thing for me. That's why I love this place so much! Everyone is willing to help.