Capturing Emotion...?

[ChrisAdval]

I was playing with directing a newbie model on portraying some emotion, let me know what you think overall but especially on the portraying the emotion is coming out.


Aya Stam 02 by Chris Adval, on Flickr[EXIF]

Camera Canon EOS REBEL T2i
Exposure/Shutter 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 48 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Exposure Program Manual
Metering Mode Spot
Exposure Mode Manual
White Balance Manual
Lens: EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

[tabula_rasa]

The mood I sense from this photograph is an overall feeling of "tired", with undertones of dejection.

[BigFuzzy]

This is one of the better images I've seen you take Chris.

Having said that, I don't get any particular sense of emtion, mostly because the pose feels.. well.. posed.
If I had to pick one, i'd pick "tired"

Couple of suggestions. While I like your creative crop, I would have done it the other way around. Granted her head/body cramped in the right side of the scene might help with some emotion, but I'm not getting it. I would have left space to the right or really played with negative space by minimizing her in the scene making her less significant.. IF that's something you were going for of course.

Also, it's always going to be really difficult to sell emotions when you can barely see the face. Body language, while massively important, isn't enough in this image in my opinion.

Still.. I think this is one of your better efforts at least on a technical level mostly due to the lighting. Well done. Now sell us on that emotion thing!

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

This is one of the better images I've seen you take Chris.

Having said that, I don't get any particular sense of emtion, mostly because the pose feels.. well.. posed.
If I had to pick one, i'd pick "tired"

Couple of suggestions. While I like your creative crop, I would have done it the other way around. Granted her head/body cramped in the right side of the scene might help with some emotion, but I'm not getting it. I would have left space to the right or really played with negative space by minimizing her in the scene making her less significant.. IF that's something you were going for of course.

Also, it's always going to be really difficult to sell emotions when you can barely see the face. Body language, while massively important, isn't enough in this image in my opinion.

Still.. I think this is one of your better efforts at least on a technical level mostly due to the lighting. Well done. Now sell us on that emotion thing!

Thanks Fuzzy, the emotion I was trying to capture was she was left at a alter or prom feel, some kind of sadness as the white space is on the left of the frame and she's somewhat looking back hoping for that person she's waiting to come by. I have a similar one, but its in portrait orientation with same goal of the emotion in mind and with a different wardrobe to help sell the prom angle.

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by ChrisAdval

Thanks Fuzzy, the emotion I was trying to capture was she was left at a alter or prom feel, some kind of sadness as the white space is on the left of the frame and she's somewhat looking back hoping for that person she's waiting to come by. I have a similar one, but its in portrait orientation with same goal of the emotion in mind and with a different wardrobe to help sell the prom angle.

I can see what you wanted. I think that adding even more negative space would help us feel her isolation.

As for the "looking back" thing.. that's hard to tell because we can't really see her eyes, so it's not obvious (to me at least) where she's looking. Looks as if she's looking down-ish.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

I can see what you wanted. I think that adding even more negative space would help us feel her isolation.

As for the "looking back" thing.. that's hard to tell because we can't really see her eyes, so it's not obvious (to me at least) where she's looking. Looks as if she's looking down-ish.

hows the expsurer/colors? this is my first full edit with my spyder 3 pro display calibration

[ChrisAdval]

here's the other photo, but similar...


Aya Stam 04 by Chris Adval, on Flickr

[ccting]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

I can see what you wanted. I think that adding even more negative space would help us feel her isolation.

WOW, a great use of negative space.. So... should she be placed on far right or elsewhere??
How about the color / tone for negative space that add to this mood?
I guess when i place her on far right, i should not cut any part of her..
I hope she will sit on floor.. sad people don't have time to find a chair to sit ;D, and they will not bother to sit anywhere..

I choose grey green .. or a dull color tone..

@ChrisAdval
It is a WOW photo for the 1st pic.. I hope i can get such kind of photo one day.. I love the lighting.
Question: the edge falloff is caused by lighting / lens or post production? if it is caused by lighting, how do you get it?

I believe the 2nd one does not suit the "Tiredness" or "sadness" because of the color of clothes..

Well, that's my own perception ;D

[Blackrose89]

Just a general "guideline" from what I have learned, when you have negative space you want the subject to be facing in the direction of the negative space. Not have their back against it!

[ccting]

Originally Posted by Blackrose89

Just a general "guideline" from what I have learned, when you have negative space you want the subject to be facing in the direction of the negative space. Not have their back against it!

ok... then I should place her @ upper left corner...with vertical frame.