Building My Portfolio

[Essynce Photo BR]

On the road to building my portfolio, I have taken quite a few portraits. The one I'm sharing is special to me not only because the subject is my sister, but it really catches my eye every time I look at it. I want to know if you think it's as "eye catching" as I do. Thanks in advance for your feedback! Honesty will only motivate me to do better!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/...871acf6083.jpg

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 52 mm

[Stina3246]

Originally Posted by Essynce Photo BR

On the road to building my portfolio, I have taken quite a few portraits. The one I'm sharing is special to me not only because the subject is my sister, but it really catches my eye every time I look at it. I want to know if you think it's as "eye catching" as I do. Thanks in advance for your feedback! Honesty will only motivate me to do better!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/...871acf6083.jpg

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/6.3
Focal Length: 52 mm

I'm only a beginner really but my personal feeling is. At first glance I LOVE the photo of your sister. It is very eye catching, I like the composition, I love her smile...I love her eyes. My unprofessional opinion though says I'd like to see it zoomed out just a hair. She seems to be just slightly crowded but the fact that she is looking back helps. Also, her green shirt blends in a bit too well with the grass although maybe that was intentional. AND I'd like to see her features highlighted a little bit more. I think maybe a tiny bit more fill flash? Again, my unprofessional opinion but great job.

[windrider86]

Could you post your photo here for us? txs

[Essynce Photo BR]

Here it is...I'm new to this.

[LeeR]

Your unusual composition has really paid off for you here. That and the fact that you have a beautiful sister! Very well done.

[Aleix]

Originally Posted by Essynce Photo BR

Here it is...I'm new to this.

While the pic looks nice to me - not a portrait expert, however! - I still find a bit too obvious the flash light on her front (namely, 'white' light which can be easily distinguished from the right warm 'yellowish' natural light). Of course there might be many opinions on that and ways to change the look; right now I could only think of flash colour gels could help (in this case, yellow/orange gel to match natural light tone).

Strobist has a thread explaining further: Strobist: Lighting 101: Using Gels to Correct Light
Another link provided by Google... http://lightingmods.blogspot.com/200...ing-color.html

Anyway as I said I'm not an expert and it is my personal, subjective, opinion, so dismiss my advice if veterans tell you something else on the subject.

Good luck

[Essynce Photo BR]

Thank you all so much for the feed back! Stina, the shot was a happy "accident". I simply told her to turn around and "click!" there it was! She does look sort of "stuffed" in there, next time I'll give my subject more room! Lee, I try to work on my composition the most. I try to avoid placing my subject smack in the middle as much as possible. Aleix, you are right on... Lighting has been my biggest challenge and although I tried to warm it up a bit in post processing, it still looks like white light. I will check out those links you suggested and give gels a whirl!