student. first post.

[summerkate]

I'm a college student, and I am really starting to enjoy photography as a hobby/obsession. I drag my roommates and friends out to do little photo shoots. Here is a portrait from one such shoot.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/48407467@N04/4501511471/

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 80 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -2/3 EV

Shot in RAW. Some slight editing in GIMP.

What can I do to improve a shot like this? Also, how can I make my portraits more unique? Also, what do we think about those creepy vine things hanging in front of her face?

[Benji]

Exposure, white balance and focus were all excellent. The lighting is rather nice, maybe a little on the flat side but all in all not too shabby. I find the vines in her face and hair a little distracting as well as the bra strap.

Had I done this shot I would have stepped to camera right about three feet to get a little more angle to her body and then I would have had her make eye contact with the camera. That way the whites of her eyes would not be so large nor would her eyes be crammed into the corners of her eye sockets.

Benji

[SusanH1970]

Agreed with Benji about focus, white balance, exposure and focus.

Not digging the crop, though...she's so centered. I'd have liked to see this in portrait orientation and not cut off right below her bustline, and not so much dead space above her head.

Her eyes don't bother me...it gives it a more fashion look rather than portrait. The vines framing her face add to this.

Next time, have her fix her bra straps.

[zona5101]

Very nicely done! Benji and Susan have given you excellent suggestions. Beautiful model...can't wait to see pics from your next session!!

[mandyatm]

I think her eyes are fine too but agree that there is too much dead space above her. I would leave it in landscape orientation but crop off some of the top. You can use the clone tool to remove the one twig in her face and to remove the bra strap. Very nice though.

[summerkate]

thanks so much! y'all are great!

[LoveDSLR]

Your capture shows creative way of using of framing technique and good choice of colors. Beside a few distractions, I prefer a slight tilt of her head and looking more to her right instead.

I don't mind the bra strap at all. Sample for illustration purposes.