Senior Portrait Session- Head shot

[astjohn7065]

Here is another photo from the same session that I posted earlier. Again, I would love feedback on lighting, post-production, and anything else you might see in the image.

EXIF
Exposure: 1/500th sec at f/2.8
ISO: 100
Focal length: 50mm
Exposure compensation: 0 EV
Flash did not fire

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by astjohn7065

Here is another photo from the same session that I posted earlier. Again, I would love feedback on lighting, post-production, and anything else you might see in the image.

EXIF
Exposure: 1/500th sec at f/2.8
ISO: 100
Focal length: 50mm
Exposure compensation: 0 EV
Flash did not fire

Again, not a bad shot technically, the forehead by the hair part seems a little hot, but it's not too bad. The shadowing on the right side of the face could use a little gentle fill, but that's being a bit picky i think..focus seems good, and again, nice use of a thin DoF...

However...

the framing and rotation is positively making my head ache.

I"m not a fan of stylized tilt, but this goes beyond that I"m sorry to say. I have to put my head at 45 degrees to even feel like I"m looking at it in a workable orientation. As it is, it would look better as a portrait oriented image, but hen the brick wall is wacked out.

Hopefully this is something you can take a look at, because otherwise, its a nice shot.

By the way, despite how it may appear, I"m definitely not old-school when it comes to composition, but both of these images are being brought down, in my opinion, by the framing and composition, because technically, they're otherwise delightful.

[astjohn7065]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Again, not a bad shot technically, the forehead by the hair part seems a little hot, but it's not too bad. The shadowing on the right side of the face could use a little gentle fill, but that's being a bit picky i think..focus seems good, and again, nice use of a thin DoF...

However...

the framing and rotation is positively making my head ache.

I"m not a fan of stylized tilt, but this goes beyond that I"m sorry to say. I have to put my head at 45 degrees to even feel like I"m looking at it in a workable orientation. As it is, it would look better as a portrait oriented image, but hen the brick wall is wacked out.

Hopefully this is something you can take a look at, because otherwise, its a nice shot.

By the way, despite how it may appear, I"m definitely not old-school when it comes to composition, but both of these images are being brought down, in my opinion, by the framing and composition, because technically, they're otherwise delightful.

I really appreciate your feedback. Any tips on where to learn better composition?

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by astjohn7065

I really appreciate your feedback. Any tips on where to learn better composition?

Learn the basics from articles/books... just an idea of what they're about (rule of thirds, leading lines etc), then spend a lot of time looking at other people's work on Flickr, 500px, websites of established photographers (i.e. those who obviously have a successful business).. you'll pick out recurring elements that you can apply to your own tastes...

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Again, not a bad shot technically, the forehead by the hair part seems a little hot, but it's not too bad. The shadowing on the right side of the face could use a little gentle fill, but that's being a bit picky i think..focus seems good, and again, nice use of a thin DoF...

However...

the framing and rotation is positively making my head ache.

I"m not a fan of stylized tilt, but this goes beyond that I"m sorry to say. I have to put my head at 45 degrees to even feel like I"m looking at it in a workable orientation. As it is, it would look better as a portrait oriented image, but hen the brick wall is wacked out.

Hopefully this is something you can take a look at, because otherwise, its a nice shot.

By the way, despite how it may appear, I"m definitely not old-school when it comes to composition, but both of these images are being brought down, in my opinion, by the framing and composition, because technically, they're otherwise delightful.

+1 on what Steve said. Nice shot overall, and a little less tilt would make the shot even better. There's always room for improvement, but I'd have to say you are on the right track

[oldwolf]

Have to agree with Nire.

I like a little tilt to the picture some times but this just seemed way too much tilt.

[Carlos Santos]

This image definitely makes you tilt your head lol. This extreme tilt doesn't work for me. You should be attrected by the model's wonderful eyes but that's not what happens here. Why 1/500 of a sec? What was this image lit with? Try to think whenever possible why you choose the settings you choose and what is the effect it causes at the image.

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by Carlos Santos

Why 1/500 of a sec?

So he could open up to 2.8 in that situation? Just a guess.

[astjohn7065]

Originally Posted by Rentham

So he could open up to 2.8 in that situation? Just a guess.

Exactly right. The image was taken using natural sunlight, downtown at around 11 a.m. The model was positioned in a fire escape stairwell allowing for the sun to light her the way it is in the photo. I wanted the shallow depth of field, so I opened the aperture to 2.8 and in turn had to speed up the shutter.

[Jeremy Tan]

Dang, I have so much learning to do before I can take shots like this! Great headshot! The miss is really, really pretty.

This is just a minor detail, but I couldn't help but notice the strange object attached to the brick wall. My eye kind of veers of in that direction just because it's there.

Also, I neck went "crack" when I angled my head to look at this picture, haha. It's not too bad though. Maybe 15 degrees ccw.