First "Real" Portrait Attempt

[TBrown00]

Something about this picture is bugging me, but I can't seem to figure it out. I think it might be that it feels too constricted since the subject doesn't have any space around him in the frame and I cut his left arm off? Or maybe it's his expression in this one? He had a happier looking face in the others. I'm looking for anything on the composition as well as the background. Seeing backgrounds is something I'm trying to improve on. I moved my friend over so this was the background instead of something else - I'm wondering if the green behind his left shoulder is distracting at all? I haven't done a "real" portrait shoot before, but it's something I want to start doing so all critique is welcomed. Thanks in advance!

This was impromptu because I had gone on a hike with my friend and decided to take a few portraits in the middle of it.

EXIF:
Camera: D700
Focal length: 200mm
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter: 1/320
ISO: 3200
Taken in aperture priority with manual setting of ISO.
No flash
I think WB was set to Cloudy, but it could have been Shade.

[Peapod Photo]

I kinda think you just need some interesting/more dramatic sort of lighting going on to make it more interesting. Without it, it kind of just looks rather flat...

[kristenh]

Well, i'll take a stab at it. if you look at the shots you liked on your flickr photostream, all the ones you liked (and i agree) had him off center, while this one is just smack dab in the middle- that is less interesting to most viewers. the other thing that makes this one less good is that his eyes are in deep shadow, where some of the nicer ones on flickr have catchlights in his eyes. and i don't think you can rule out the importance of at least having a pleasant expression

i'm wondering if you could have used a slower shutter speed and lowered your iso. he seems like a nice cooperative subject who doesn't need such a fast shutter speed. the background doesn't bother me at all, and i think he stands out nicely.

of the flickr images, my favorite is the second newest one.

[zona5101]

Peapod has it - lighting. The lighting is flat, it also has put a shadow in the eye/eye socket resulting in dark sullen eyes. It makes it rather ominous...

[Laurenbiz]

I do agree that the lighting seems 'blah,' and also the cropping is very tight. He seems squished, to me, in the frame.

Also, no one else has mentioned this - but I feel distracted by his many colorful, patterned garments.

[TBrown00]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I agree with you on the lighting and his eyes. Lighting is definitely one of my weaker areas that I want to work on. I'm going to look at a few classes and work on this over the next few months.

As for lowering the ISO, I wanted to keep it at 1/250 or faster since I was shooting at 200mm and I try to avoid using VR if possible. Also, I don't think ISO 3200 looks that bad on a D700. I suppose I could have gone to 1600 or lower and used VR in this situation though.