Portrait - Critique, please?

[penelope_18]

I was looking for some feedback on this image! I'm trying to get more into portrait photography and would really appreciate it.

I'd like to get some feedback on the pose, the focussing and that sort of thing, please.

The only information I can give you is that it was taken with a Panasonic Lumix FS8.

[Tito87]

Please, read the forum rules. Folks will be more willing to help you if you follow the instructions. BTW, I like your shot a lot; I'd crop to portrait, not landscape. I don't think that all the branches in the background do much for the picture. Just my two cents.

[penelope_18]

Which rule did I not abide by? If it's the two image thing, that's because I wasn't sure if the link worked or not!

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by penelope_18

Which rule did I not abide by? If it's the two image thing, that's because I wasn't sure if the link worked or not!

EXIF and particular question.

#4 of the rules states:
"Please include the following information, if possible, with your image: EXIF info, type of camera, specific questions (What do you think? is not a specific question). A meaningful title, NOT "Critique Please", will also get your post noticed in a crowded section, as well as any additional information you can give about the conditions in which you shot."

[oldwolf]

This might help:

Critique Forum Rules

[penelope_18]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

EXIF and particular question.

#4 of the rules states:
"Please include the following information, if possible, with your image: EXIF info, type of camera, specific questions (What do you think? is not a specific question). A meaningful title, NOT "Critique Please", will also get your post noticed in a crowded section, as well as any additional information you can give about the conditions in which you shot."

I've edited my original post, but I can't change the title. Apologies, I must have missed that :\

[SusanH1970]

The composition could be better. She's cut off right below the bust and at mid-arm, and nearly dead-center. I'd like to have seen this taken from further back, and with less room on her right (camera left) and more on her left (camera right), giving her "room to look into".

It looks like a fairly wide angle was used - there's a bit of distortion that makes her look a little disproportioned.

The background is quite busy and she's got tree branches growing out of her head, but I know it can be difficult to get a shallow DOF with a P&S. Also, the corner of the bench or fence thingy on the bottom right is distracting.

Exposure and focus look good. Pretty model.

[penelope_18]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

The composition could be better. She's cut off right below the bust and at mid-arm, and nearly dead-center. I'd like to have seen this taken from further back, and with less room on her right (camera left) and more on her left (camera right), giving her "room to look into".

It looks like a fairly wide angle was used - there's a bit of distortion that makes her look a little disproportioned.

The background is quite busy and she's got tree branches growing out of her head, but I know it can be difficult to get a shallow DOF with a P&S. Also, the corner of the bench or fence thingy on the bottom right is distracting.

Exposure and focus look good. Pretty model.

Thanks! I've got another shoot sometime with her (no date as of yet) so it'll be great to have some better ideas for shooting (and I now have a DSLR too).

Yeah, she was sitting on the fence.

Thanks again I'll tell her you said that. (She's a friend and won't believe me that she is pretty!)