The Road Less Traveled

[anniehun]

... well, less traveled by me, probably very familiar to many of you. Below is a shot taken two days ago with my "most hired" model (the one who helps me out most frequently)... I normally like to bring out the softness and the natural look from her angelic face, keeping the innocence and youth in her portraits. This time I though I`d try something different reflected by the location and in PP.
Do you think B&W high contrast works well with the overall feel of the image? Is it OK to turn her away from the light thus look towards the darker end? Do you like the way it is composed? What would have made it better in general?
Thanks for any input, it helps me grow



Exif
Camera Nikon D60
Exposure 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 105 mm
ISO Speed 200
Flash No Flash

[anniehun]

Oops, no critiques on this one ... hm... is it that bad, that good or that uninteresting ...?...

[Photologyst]

I like the face, the idea.

However, she looks rather disembodied, like her head is cut off and on a plate. Can you crop it differently? A little more dramatic lighting would also be in order for me.

[Henry Wilt]

I have to say I agree with Photologyst regarding the crop and I'm afraid I don't know enough yet to comment on the lighting other than to say I love the way it is caught in her eyes.

[BigFuzzy]

There are two things that jump out at me on this one.
First is the crop (as mentioned by others).. I think it's too tight on the bottom.. I'd always choose to crop closer to the head than chin.. but that's me.

And the PP on the skin was very obvious to me. It's not that it's that bad or overdone, just obvious. To me, PP should be something subtle that adds or focuses an image (or part of it) and in this case, "skin smoothing" popped into my mind as a separate element instead of being an integral part of the image. Same with the eyes.. a bit obvious.

Pretty nice b&w conversion.

I like your use of DoF.. though I'd have composed a bit further out to get more of the wall (ie the crop issue above).

[anniehun]

Originally Posted by Photologyst

I like the face, the idea.

However, she looks rather disembodied, like her head is cut off and on a plate. Can you crop it differently? A little more dramatic lighting would also be in order for me.

Originally Posted by Henry Wilt

I have to say I agree with Photologyst regarding the crop and I'm afraid I don't know enough yet to comment on the lighting other than to say I love the way it is caught in her eyes.

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

There are two things that jump out at me on this one.
First is the crop (as mentioned by others).. I think it's too tight on the bottom.. I'd always choose to crop closer to the head than chin.. but that's me.

And the PP on the skin was very obvious to me. It's not that it's that bad or overdone, just obvious. To me, PP should be something subtle that adds or focuses an image (or part of it) and in this case, "skin smoothing" popped into my mind as a separate element instead of being an integral part of the image. Same with the eyes.. a bit obvious.

Pretty nice b&w conversion.

I like your use of DoF.. though I'd have composed a bit further out to get more of the wall (ie the crop issue above).

Aha!!! I see what you all mean and agree. I got inspired to redo it... (actually this one below was taken a sec later, as the originally posted was cropped like that on the spot...). So... I'm guessing something like this would work better... (?)...
Now that I look at it again... funny about this PP.. when viewing on my screen the skin softening blends in perfectly... as soon as I view it on DPS it obviously is too much, even now that I lightened it up significantly...
Thanks Guys, great to learn from you, always!

[snowfalldesigns]

The crop on the second is much better bu I really liked the high contrast on the first!

[johnree]

I favour the second image for cropping wise but i rather like the exposure in the original post.
The only thing i would recommend for next time is to focus directly into her eye when doing a portrait shot. if you zoom in on the large image on flickr you can see the eye isnt entirely in focus but rather the nose. Just my two cents

John Lee

[hyimted]

sorry for the slight thread-jack, but what is "PP"? people portrait?

as for the pics, i agree with what was already said. i like the contrast on the first better. maybe the top left of the forehead is a tad blown out. but the cropping is much more pleasing on the second shot.

[Photologyst]

Much improved!

Really compelling now.