Outdoor portrait

[Aleix]

Hello,

I'm an avid urban and landscape photographer, but I'd really like to learn portrait photography as well. As of now, I've not done much in this field of photography and only practise with my girlfriend. This is a picture I took of her, would really appreciate all feedback I can get in order to learn and improve!



I must add I had problems correcting skin tone (not sure I did it so well), because the light coming through the flowers casted magenta on it. Any comments appreciated. Thanks!

EXIF:

Sigma 17-70mm | Pentax K20D
Metering mode: spot
ISO 400
Focal length: 17mm
Aperture: f/6,7
Shutter speed: 1/90s

[Benji]

A wonderful idea! Good composition and a beautiful model.
Critique: The sunlight has overexposed the flowers, the edge of her forehead, the back of her arm and some of her hair. It appears this pose would work quite well on an overcast day or when the sun is lower on the horizon and not overexposing anything. A slight crop off the top would bring her up higher in the composition.

Benji

[Aleix]

Originally Posted by Benji

It appears this pose would work quite well on an overcast day or when the sun is lower on the horizon and not overexposing anything. A slight crop off the top would bring her up higher in the composition.

Benji

Thanks for your encouraging comments! Actually the photo was taken during the golden hour, about half an hour before sunset (however sun was still quite up and strong, as mountains behind were high). The day was not overcast, but cloudless skies.

I cropped as you suggested:

[autofocus]

A couple of basic things to consider:
*Dappled light can be problematic
*If it bends (as in a joint) bend it
*Always consider the rule of thirds
*Be careful of inadvertent crops at joints
*Make sure the subject's eyes are the sharpest point
*Use of wide apertures for blurring the background
*Turn the body at an angle to the camera...avoid straight on shots especially if the subject is heavy
*Shift the weight on the subject's back leg
*Women subjects heads can be tilted looking over the high or low shoulder...men subjects look best with their head looking in the direction of the low shoulder (more masculine)
*Be conscious of placement of the hands which look best viewed from the side edge
*Most people have one eye larger than the other...always good to place the head with the smallest eye towards the camera which will make it appear larger

Some of these things you did in your photo...some you did not. There's probably hundreds of more things to think about in portrait photography...I've only listed a few of the basics to consider before you squeeze off that shutter. Hope this helps

Vince

[SusanH1970]

I can see you struggled with skin tones - she's really still quite magenta and her forehead is blue. One nitpick I have is that she's got tree branches growing out of her shoulder, head and back. Other than that, I do like the pose and her expression - fun and quirky.

[Aleix]

@auto-focus: thanks for the list of tips! As I mentioned I'm not very skilled yet in portrait photography, but I'm willing to learn and will take into account the tips you wrote and those which I find in DPS.

@SusanH1970: obviously now it's too late to remove those branches, but I must admit you're true; should have taken the picture from a different angle. I tried to further correct the skin tone, as seen in the picture below. I hope it looks a bit better...

[irishmuth]

You have enough of her skin exposed to do some pretty good cloning - at least remove the main branch that is in front as well as the one by her left arm. I also smoothed her skin a little bit and went a little bit further to remove the redness around her necklace and on her arms.