Janine's Headshot

[ChrisAdval]

Janine G. 01 by Chris Adval, on Flickr [EXIF]

Camera Canon EOS REBEL T2i
Exposure/Shutter 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/1.8
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 800
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Metering Mode Spot
Exposure Mode Manual
White Balance Auto
Lens EF50mm f/1.8 II

Similar as my other photo I submitted recently here, same event and place from MissVoodoo's photoshoot. Little post was done, upped the contrasts, used ambient lighting only for this shot (window) and wanted to include a cool different background using pool balls on the pool table. In post I also used a smoothing skin technique I've mentioned in before/after forum topic I made a while ago. Also note I'm not super experienced using ambient lighting. Looking for overall critique of the photo.

[Tito87]

Of all the shots you have posted, I like this one the most. The only thing I'd say is that I find the cue ball a little distracting--I try to look at the girl, and it keeps drawing my eyes away from her.

[Lolkat]

Yes, I have to agree, out of the shots I've seen of yours, this is the best and most engaging. The only thing, for me, is the background. the highlight of the railing and the cue ball are distractions. But the lighting on the model's face is so beautiful! Also, I wonder about cloning out that little piece of hair right below her jaw line.

[bigjonathand]

I like the use of the billiards table as the background, but I'd actually close the aperture down to f/4.5 or so to let some of the detail of table and balls show through. As it stands now, the billiards table isn't really identifiable unless one examines it with care. The viewer should not be forced to strain to 'figure out' the context of the image.

Also the image is segmented nearly in half with your foreground and background - creating a strong vertical line which feels (at least to me) a little too 'square'. I'd work with the composition to either tighen to a headshot or widen to include the back of her shoulder and head to give more depth to the right of the frame.

My last observation is that the skin-tones (especially around the shoulder area) look entirely too cool (blue-ish). I'd perform a custom white-balance before taking the shot to ensure your subject's flesh looks healthy and radiant.

As always, take my opinion with a grain of salt ... it is only an opinion.