Comments on: How to Create Portraits with Drama http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:43:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: powerranger http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-52126 powerranger Thu, 28 May 2009 02:08:28 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-52126 <b> You enjoyed the information in the article, but found yourself with a strong, irrational desire to ‘flame it’. After some thought, you realize that 2nd person instructional articles sound somewhat pretentious and that just draws out the worst in you. You decide not to flame it however, because it is, in fact, a nice photo with an excellent description of the setup… and you’d just be a hater if you tried. Read more: http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama#ixzz0GlMlJndY&B<blockquote cite=""> LOL! reconjsh that was awesome...totally agree</blockquote></b> You enjoyed the information in the article, but found yourself with a strong, irrational desire to ‘flame it’. After some thought, you realize that 2nd person instructional articles sound somewhat pretentious and that just draws out the worst in you.
You decide not to flame it however, because it is, in fact, a nice photo with an excellent description of the setup… and you’d just be a hater if you tried.

Read more: http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama#ixzz0GlMlJndY&B

LOL!

reconjsh that was awesome…totally agree

]]> By: jeff http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-51123 jeff Sun, 17 May 2009 07:47:33 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-51123 i didn't mind about the 2nd person point of view. for a web copy it's engaging IMO. but i'm not so sure about the photo though. im not a professional as well but i just think that it's a bit overexposed. but still a great tip :) i didn’t mind about the 2nd person point of view. for a web copy it’s engaging IMO. but i’m not so sure about the photo though. im not a professional as well but i just think that it’s a bit overexposed. but still a great tip :)

]]> By: ernie http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-51020 ernie Fri, 15 May 2009 15:49:24 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-51020 hi ms. nicole, im also a wedding photographer here in the philippines and i inspiring your porfolio in your website. tnx for your sharing your skills of photography in this page... ernie mangoba erree's photography hi ms. nicole, im also a wedding photographer here in the philippines and i inspiring your porfolio in your website. tnx for your sharing your skills of photography in this page…

ernie mangoba
erree’s photography

]]> By: Desiree http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-51000 Desiree Fri, 15 May 2009 13:28:36 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-51000 Since when does the manner in which a writer chooses to express his/her ideas or experience become the main topic of critique? Whether a person writes in first, second or third person has nothing to do with their ability to shoot creative images. This is a Photography site, not a Journalism or English Lit class! Thanks to Christina's creative contribution and her willingness to step up and share her own experience and ideas. I feel her photo illustruated a nice use of contrasts with natural lighting, however she did leave me with a few questions as to exactly how she created the dramatic effect, more specifically, did she make and post production adjustments in Photoshop, and if so, what were they? Personally, I felt that the subject was lost in the overall composure of the photo, as my eye is more drawn to the size of the window and not the subject's face. Since this was supposed to be a portrait, I would have liked to seen more of the subject, perhaps crop in closer or landscape. That is just my personal preference and how I prefer to create my work. That is the beauty of formus like this -- you can see different styles of photography and how each person creates and exhibits their own personal flair. You can appreciate it without having to agree with it or adopt it as your own style. =) Since when does the manner in which a writer chooses to express his/her ideas or experience become the main topic of critique? Whether a person writes in first, second or third person has nothing to do with their ability to shoot creative images. This is a Photography site, not a Journalism or English Lit class! Thanks to Christina’s creative contribution and her willingness to step up and share her own experience and ideas.

I feel her photo illustruated a nice use of contrasts with natural lighting, however she did leave me with a few questions as to exactly how she created the dramatic effect, more specifically, did she make and post production adjustments in Photoshop, and if so, what were they? Personally, I felt that the subject was lost in the overall composure of the photo, as my eye is more drawn to the size of the window and not the subject’s face. Since this was supposed to be a portrait, I would have liked to seen more of the subject, perhaps crop in closer or landscape. That is just my personal preference and how I prefer to create my work.

That is the beauty of formus like this — you can see different styles of photography and how each person creates and exhibits their own personal flair. You can appreciate it without having to agree with it or adopt it as your own style. =)

]]> By: chi http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-50858 chi Thu, 14 May 2009 16:41:04 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-50858 sounds like a bunch of hs students in an english class =) ahhh. i remember those days. Some love it, some dont. It's just personal preference. It doesnt bother me one way or another. I just extract the information and apply it. The narrative is the same stuff I might say in my head while I'm shooting...haha not all of it, but some of it. Or the same stuff you find in seminar dvd's.. just not so dreamy. =) sounds like a bunch of hs students in an english class =) ahhh. i remember those days.

Some love it, some dont. It’s just personal preference. It doesnt bother me one way or another. I just extract the information and apply it. The narrative is the same stuff I might say in my head while I’m shooting…haha not all of it, but some of it. Or the same stuff you find in seminar dvd’s.. just not so dreamy. =)

]]> By: Lisa http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-50845 Lisa Thu, 14 May 2009 15:54:54 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-50845 I also appreciate the article and the author's willigness to share. I also agree that the "How to. . " was a bit lacking. Early in the article she gives her settings, which is definitely appreciated. But towards the end of the article she writes: It takes a few more test shots than before, but once again, you come out with the image you dreamed about. The lighting is exquisite. The pose perfect. The mood dramatic. And the contrast to die for. Ok, what happened during the "few more test shots"? I would like to know what was tested/changed during these shots - camera settings, pose, position of the chair, etc? I also appreciate the article and the author’s willigness to share. I also agree that the “How to. . ” was a bit lacking. Early in the article she gives her settings, which is definitely appreciated. But towards the end of the article she writes:

It takes a few more test shots than before, but once again, you come out with the image you dreamed about. The lighting is exquisite. The pose perfect. The mood dramatic. And the contrast to die for.

Ok, what happened during the “few more test shots”? I would like to know what was tested/changed during these shots – camera settings, pose, position of the chair, etc?

]]> By: Nathan http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-50733 Nathan Wed, 13 May 2009 18:08:51 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-50733 I appreciate Christina's willingness to share her experiences. And I thought the example shot was really good. But I had to re-read the article a few times to get the setup. I guess I was expecting something a bit different, with the title being "How to..." The second person narratives feel much less instructional and "how-to," and more... well, narrative. Just my two cents. I appreciate Christina’s willingness to share her experiences. And I thought the example shot was really good. But I had to re-read the article a few times to get the setup. I guess I was expecting something a bit different, with the title being “How to…” The second person narratives feel much less instructional and “how-to,” and more… well, narrative. Just my two cents.

]]> By: Robin Ryan http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-50666 Robin Ryan Tue, 12 May 2009 20:15:11 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-50666 I kept waiting for this story to turn into some sort of Penthouse Letters excerpt... the writing style threw me off big-time. My only issue would be that telling people to use f/2.8 is problematic. It has its time and place, no doubt, but whether is creates the perfect bokeh or ruins your shot by blurring too much will depend hugely on the focal length. Not to mention that the best image quality is usually found in the f11-f16 range. But sure, if you want bokeh, that's too high, but f/2.8 doesn't leave much room for error, and nothing sucks like going to your proofs later to see that all the eyes are slightly out of focus. Take this shot, for example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinryan/3524934203/ The hands behind her chin and her necklace are out of focus, and that was with a 35mm lens. Since I was up close to her, this gave me about 1/2 foot of DOF. If I had been using f/2.8, I would have had 3 inches. 3 inches of depth of field. Not much room for error. 3 more examples of attaining bokeh (and even blur) without dropping below f/4 http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinryan/2722983957/in/set-72157601769220969/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinryan/2998025462/in/set-72157601769220969/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinryan/2692222401/in/set-72157601769220969/ hope this is helpful I kept waiting for this story to turn into some sort of Penthouse Letters excerpt… the writing style threw me off big-time.

My only issue would be that telling people to use f/2.8 is problematic. It has its time and place, no doubt, but whether is creates the perfect bokeh or ruins your shot by blurring too much will depend hugely on the focal length. Not to mention that the best image quality is usually found in the f11-f16 range. But sure, if you want bokeh, that’s too high, but f/2.8 doesn’t leave much room for error, and nothing sucks like going to your proofs later to see that all the eyes are slightly out of focus.

Take this shot, for example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinryan/3524934203/
The hands behind her chin and her necklace are out of focus, and that was with a 35mm lens. Since I was up close to her, this gave me about 1/2 foot of DOF. If I had been using f/2.8, I would have had 3 inches. 3 inches of depth of field. Not much room for error.

3 more examples of attaining bokeh (and even blur) without dropping below f/4
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinryan/2722983957/in/set-72157601769220969/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinryan/2998025462/in/set-72157601769220969/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robinryan/2692222401/in/set-72157601769220969/

hope this is helpful

]]> By: Stephanie Stewart http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-50660 Stephanie Stewart Tue, 12 May 2009 18:45:53 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-50660 I liked the ideas and the train of thought in this post. I think the 2nd person narrative is interesting, maybe not for every post, but at least it's something different, and one can imagine themselves in this situation. Visualizations helps me prepare for my shoots, so I found this helpful. Thanks, Christina! I liked the ideas and the train of thought in this post. I think the 2nd person narrative is interesting, maybe not for every post, but at least it’s something different, and one can imagine themselves in this situation. Visualizations helps me prepare for my shoots, so I found this helpful. Thanks, Christina!

]]> By: Linas http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-create-portraits-with-drama/comment-page-1#comment-50658 Linas Tue, 12 May 2009 17:37:24 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=5797#comment-50658 Wow, Scott, great criticism. I myself find this photo a bit overexposed. More, I would like to add a little tip - don't touch your model - it doesn't matter if you're male or female, ask him to do this or that, it will feel better in long-time run. Some people are very sensitive with their personal space. Wow, Scott, great criticism. I myself find this photo a bit overexposed. More, I would like to add a little tip – don’t touch your model – it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, ask him to do this or that, it will feel better in long-time run. Some people are very sensitive with their personal space.

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