First Request For Critque! Portraiture....

[boogiemomma]

This is my first attempt at requesting for a critique and have just joined the site today after lurking around the site...

I am new to photography but am looking to refine my skills, learn more of a professional approach and of course, overall technique. I am open to constructive critisim, otherwise I would not be posting.

As for specs on what I did here... I only have the Canon Rebel xsi and the kit lense, which is 18-55. It was night time & only used the lighting from the porch lights, while using the AV setting. I believe I used 800 or 1600 ISO and the lowest Fstop... I believe was 4.5 for the AV setting. (Please keep in mind I am still learning definitions, lingo and overal appropriate terms for these functions...I apologize in advance)

I also did some editing but limited to clarity, saturation/color filters, rounding the edges, and adding the text.

I am not 100% satisfied and any input on clarity, lighting, or anything else anyone can identify as a need to tweak, alter or otherwise dismantal my photo is welcome and expected.

Thank you ahead of time for any suggestions, critiques and commentary.

[rachb]

Welcome to the forums! First, your subject is beautiful. I wish I could see more of her hair, though.. that's the first thing that I focused on (lack of lighting led to hair receding into the background). The second thing I focused on was the rounded corners. I think if you want viewers to focus on her face, you need to keep the corners squared. Now the positive: the pp gives her a very dreamy look, which definitely adds to the emotion of the photograph. And the coloring looks good- especially on her lips. Overall, with a few tweaks (mostly on the pp side) this is a nice photos!

[boogiemomma]

Originally Posted by rachb

Welcome to the forums! First, your subject is beautiful. I wish I could see more of her hair, though.. that's the first thing that I focused on (lack of lighting led to hair receding into the background). The second thing I focused on was the rounded corners. I think if you want viewers to focus on her face, you need to keep the corners squared. Now the positive: the pp gives her a very dreamy look, which definitely adds to the emotion of the photograph. And the coloring looks good- especially on her lips. Overall, with a few tweaks (mostly on the pp side) this is a nice photos!

Thank you rachb for your response. I may sound like a complete idiot but please tell me what pp is so I can see what I can do to tweak the photo in the direction you have suggested. I also agree w/the focal point & the rounded edges - thank you. As for her hair, unfortunately due to using out door porch lighting & nothing else, when I increase the highlight it washes everything out & gets grainy

[Hill Country Hack]

Welcome to DPS and taking the leap to post a photo for critique. To answer your question, PP= post ptoduction (editing).

I agree with rachb on her assessment. I would have preferred her eyes a bit higher in the frame. Take a look in fashion magazines and you will find in a vast majority of the shots the model's eyes are in the top third of the frame. Google "rule of thirds" or check out the tutorials on this site. There is loads and loads of very useful information.

How about trying a more square or rectangular (with the longer ends in the vertical) crop. The asymmetrical framing draws my eyes to the empty space.

A beautiful model and a good shot. Read up on your camera and what the settings do and continue to practice.

[boogiemomma]

Hill Country Hack - Thank you for your response, as well.... Unfortunately I have not looked into the rule of thirds but I will now. I've heard of it by glancing at different articles but didn't look into it at all. I appreciate your input all around & will definitely keep searching around & look at the tutorials.

[graciousness]

Hello and welcome!

Just to add to what the others have said, on my monitor, the focus is just a little bit soft around her eye area. I think this could improve a little with a little bit more sharpening.

What I've also noticed is that the catchlights. There are two spots on her eyes - the one above around 1 o'clock is good, but the one below is not. When you capture catchlights (the highlight on the eyes to make them look more 3 dimensional), you want to make sure that there aren't two as this is unnatural. Easily fixed, though, with post processing and just removing the ones on the lower part.

There's a weird silhouetted rectangular black object in the lower front of her on the left side - what is that? Whilst it's not that distracting, it's still quite noticeable and probably shouldn't be there.

What a great job you've done, though, for a start! So well done! Looking forward to seeing more

Cheers,

Grace

[boogiemomma]

Graciousness - Thank you for your reply I had to do minor corrections around her eyes which maybe why it is softened... Unfortunately I am only using the basic editing software that came with the computer & also picnik.com. I do not have photoshop & cannot afford it at this time. I am not trying to charge anyone for photography at this point & wont do that until I am, one better, 2, familiar with photoshop and can produce more professional-esk photos. All in time, I presume.

I was unfamiliar about the catchlights in her eyes... but now I know! This is all very helpful. I will see what I can do to alter that with the editing software I am using - eeek.

As for the silhouetted rectangular black object in the lower front of her on the left side, well she was holding a black parasol.... Due to the lighting it was blacked out completely and sorta bledned with her hair due to it being thinner but not brown.... If that makes sense.

Lastly, thank you! I've been practicing but I am still uncertain as to exactly what I am doing and terms for many of the things lol.