What’s Your Preference?

JFisher14 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 02:14 AM

Trying to learn portrait photography. I really appreciate any thoughts - everything is helpful.
Please tell me what you like or dislike about this. I took this indoors next to the window (using the outside to provide the light for the picture). I think the dog is a little overexposed.

This is a great website. Thank you in advance for you help.

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Mad Ged · #2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 02:19 AM

It is a lovely picture of your daughter & dog but I don't think it is over exposed, in fact the only problem with the picture is that it looks too dark to me.

I don't know if this is because of a difference in monitors but I don't see any evidence of over exposure.

The composition & cropping look great to me. Well done.

Cheers,

Gerard

ncbcymtechie · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 07:30 AM

I think everybody is exposed just fine. Heck, I think this is a great shot.

If you want me to nitpick... eh, I've got nothing. Maybe something about her hair fading into black, but I think that's pretty cool, stylistically speaking. So yeah, I've got nothing.

One quick note is that the side lighting from the window, while it worked in this case, may not always work. So try experimenting with a reflector (like a large piece of white foam or foil wrapped over cardboard) to see if you can shed light (haha) on the other side of a subject's face. If you're interested, a tough but extremely worth it book I read over Christmas was "Light—Science & Magic," which is about lighting in photography. It's got a section on portraits, but only after all the basics and theory and such. Highly recommended if you want to learn about lighting.

Really, excellent work!

JFisher14 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncbcymtechie

I think everybody is exposed just fine. Heck, I think this is a great shot.

If you want me to nitpick... eh, I've got nothing. Maybe something about her hair fading into black, but I think that's pretty cool, stylistically speaking. So yeah, I've got nothing.

One quick note is that the side lighting from the window, while it worked in this case, may not always work. So try experimenting with a reflector (like a large piece of white foam or foil wrapped over cardboard) to see if you can shed light (haha) on the other side of a subject's face. If you're interested, a tough but extremely worth it book I read over Christmas was "Light—Science & Magic," which is about lighting in photography. It's got a section on portraits, but only after all the basics and theory and such. Highly recommended if you want to learn about lighting.

Really, excellent work!

Wow - thank you for your help. The book your referenced is exactly what I am looking for. Also, thank you for your encouragement.

Benji · #5 (**permalink**) 01-05-2010, 03:40 PM

The dog is casting a shadow across the face of your daughter. This is a no no in portraiture. The eyes of the dog and the eyes of your daughter are straight across from each other which is a no no. The dog's right front leg looks strange jutting out of your daughter's chin. All three of these problams could have been taken care of by lowering the dog down about six inches. A great idea though.

Benji