A male portrait from practicing student - would like opinions.

[nir3]

Hello,
I started photography about 4 months ago and I've been trying to learn as much as I can. I've only been able to do mostly landscape, still life, etc., however, I'm really wanting to do portraiture so I'm hoping I could get some advice & critiques concerning the job I've done.

Below, I've taken about 9 shots with a subject (embedded only one, and I provided a link to the others since that's what the rules say).

I know that most of the problem in these is overexposure of the sky and one is pretty dark, but other than those two obvious things I would really love to hear other people's comments!
I am concerned about posing, post processing, composition, just the obvious things.

PS: Do these look sharp enough for you guys? So many portraits I see on studio's web sites are so extremely sharp I don't know if it has to do with their lens (I have a 28-90mm 5.6 kit lens ) or post processing techniques - anyone have a clue? I actually had to sharpen every one of these!

These pictures were taken with: Canon 400D with 28-90mm f/5.6 lens. EXIF data is below.

1.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...t/IMG_9487.jpg
# Exposure Time = 1/2000 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = F4.5
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 200
#Focal Length = 50 mm

2.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...t/IMG_9557.jpg
# Exposure Time = 1/160 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = F8
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 100
#Focal Length = 62 mm

3.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...t/IMG_9550.jpg
# Exposure Time = 1/20 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = F4.5
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 100
#Focal Length = 47mm

4.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...t/IMG_9497.jpg
# Exposure Time = 1/400 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = F5
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 200
#Focal Length = 65mm

5.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...t/IMG_9495.jpg
# Exposure Time = 1/400second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = F5
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 200
#Focal Length = 64 mm

6.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...t/IMG_9486.jpg
# Exposure Time = 1/1600 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = F5
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 200
#Focal Length = 64mm

7.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...t/IMG_9469.jpg
# Exposure Time = 1/100 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = F4.5
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 200
#Focal Length = 35 mm

8.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...t/IMG_9463.jpg
# Exposure Time = 1/160 second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = F5.6
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 200
#Focal Length = 41 mm

9.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...t/IMG_9461.jpg
# Exposure Time = 1/100second
# Lens F-Number/F-Stop = F5.6
# Exposure Program = aperture priority (3)
# ISO Speed Ratings = 200
#Focal Length = 64mm


Thanks so much I hope I get to learn a lot to improve on my skills! Goodnight

[swilliams61]

I'm no expert by any means, but here's my two cents...
I really like the concept of all the poses, but the subject looks a little stiff. I've started taking portraits, and I scour the internet (and the homepages of all the great people on this site!) and look at professional portraits. More often than not, a slight tilt of the head, chin turned toward the shoulder, make all the difference in the world. (There's even a few links on this site on taking portraits). The main problem I see with the photo you've posted is the shadow over half of his face. #4 and #8 are my favorites; he looks relaxed and the color/lightin seems more natural.

[nir3]

Originally Posted by swilliams61

I'm no expert by any means, but here's my two cents...
I really like the concept of all the poses, but the subject looks a little stiff. I've started taking portraits, and I scour the internet (and the homepages of all the great people on this site!) and look at professional portraits. More often than not, a slight tilt of the head, chin turned toward the shoulder, make all the difference in the world. (There's even a few links on this site on taking portraits). The main problem I see with the photo you've posted is the shadow over half of his face. #4 and #8 are my favorites; he looks relaxed and the color/lightin seems more natural.

Yeah, we took these on the last minute and my hubby was kind enough to deal with my "directions" :-P
I've been wanting to get comfortable posing people I know before I deal with strangers.

Thanks a lot!

[Mr Guy]

Ok that's too much for me to look at all at once, but I promise I'll get back to them. Answering your specific question in the PS before I comment in general on the first three or four.

PS: Do these look sharp enough for you guys? So many portraits I see on studio's web sites are so extremely sharp I don't know if it has to do with their lens (I have a 28-90mm 5.6 kit lens ) or post processing techniques - anyone have a clue? I actually had to sharpen every one of these!

Sharp enough?

Yes. You did a good job focusing and giving nice bokeh for a casual style portrait.

Anyone have a clue?

Yes! You will ALWAYS have to sharpen to some extent. The only difference is a preference on how much, and whether you do it by hand or in the camera. If you shoot jpeg, every good DSLR will have some degree of control over how much the camera automatically sharpens jpegs, with some cameras giving more than others. If you shoot raw, no sharpening is done and it must be done in post processing, either manually or through automatic defaults in the conversion program. HOW sharp is a combination of personal style, lens choice, and quality of focus.


Ok, on to specific pictures. Keep in mind I'm going off my gut level feeling, I'm more used to working with semi-pro models than doing normal portraits, so I'm having to guess how I'd react, if I was a customer.

1: Cardinal sin #1 as well: Subject facing into too bright of a light, so he's squinting! Wrinkled brow! Possible solutions: Turn him more using a reflector and lens hood for glare, turn him and use a fill flash, use bright shade instead

Good composition, good color, good depth of field. Overall, I'd like it if it was me, but I wouldn't buy it because of the squinting.

Possible PP improvement: Search for the eyepop tutorial here and bring them out a bit.

2: (Street, side leaning) Squinting again! This time the squinting isn't as bad because the pose is very James Dean so the squinting works with it. As a casual faux candid portrait, I like it. What I DON'T like is the cars in the background, so a possible improvement is either a prop car (if you know someone with a fancy car you can use to cover everyone else's ugly cars) or finding an emptier street, or of course fun with photoshop magic to hide them.

3: (Looks like alley, head on, buildings on top right) Like the picture, don't like the crop. Half a hand is generally considered to be awkward. However, it'd probably work as an 8x10. Again, try popping the eyes. The sun behind him makes a great fill light. Possible post work: consider auto bracketing and combining exposures to bring the sky up a bit.

4: (Leaning on barn door) LOVE it. Love his attitude, love the modern rustic, love the colors. Pop the eyes a hair and you're done. Frame it, hang it in the hallway. Great soft shadows, great rim lighting, vivid colors, slightly off center subject, good depth, flattering angle.

5. (Peering in barn door) Would love it with a reflector for more fill light. He's a tad dark compared to the background so he gets a bit lost.

[nir3]

^^Wow, thanks SOO much for your in depth reply, it really helps me. Again, thanks so much!

Yeah I was getting a lil frustrated because of the whole sun issue, but since it was pretty random moment to ask "Hey you wanna be my model?" I did what I could
Yeah, the squinting was a bad on my part. Gotta find shade next time.

As far as your responses...
Yes, I need to buy a hood some time soon, especially since summer is coming and I'll have more opportunities. Also, thanks for the possible solutions to my issues. I think I need to practice with flash fill. I do not have a speedlight - only the flash from the camera, which I hate. I tried using fill flash at one point, and even had the exposure down on the flash, and all I saw was a blinking shutter speed of 200. I have to learn more about this issue.

Btw, sorry there were so many. It's just I really want to know what I'm doing wrong so I don't screw up even more!

I shot all in RAW which helped me with the white balance. The other poster said that in some the coloring wasn't natural - so, I have to figure some things out.

I would have loved to had an 85mm f1/2. Oh the possibilities
Once again, appreciate your in depth comments and possible solutions.

[OsmosisStudios]

I think the biggest issue is the bokeh, or lack thereof. None of your apertures are larger than 4.5, which is hardly wide open.

My suggestion to you is to get the canon 50mm f/1.8 lens, and use it at f/2.8 or so. Its a cheap lens, so it wont break the bank.

[nir3]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I think the biggest issue is the bokeh, or lack thereof. None of your apertures are larger than 4.5, which is hardly wide open.

My suggestion to you is to get the canon 50mm f/1.8 lens, and use it at f/2.8 or so. Its a cheap lens, so it wont break the bank.

Hi there,
yes I'm definitely planning on buying one of those next semester, I can't wait!