I could use some critique and suggestions on how to improve. This was my first portrait photo shoot since I mainly do landscape and real estate photography.
I could use some critique and suggestions on how to improve. This was my first portrait photo shoot since I mainly do landscape and real estate photography.
I am not an expert in this area but the closer images are better for me, the model is lost in the stairwell competing with the lines and architecture. Where she is silhouetted, artistically I like the images, is it portraiture if we don't get a clear view of the models features? I will look that one up.
Found this
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/portrait
You're right. I just liked the background and lighting on that stairwell but maybe it would have been better if she wore a white dress.
I wasn't sure if this can be considered portraiture but I did not know what else to call it.
For a lot people doing this type of stuff for the first time, what they really end up doing are just taking photos of someone attractive and letting their face do all the work instead of actually creating a compelling image. The first shot is very cool. Silhouette-ish, but still with enough detail in the shadows to make it more interesting than if it were a full blackout. Great use of the location.
Whether these are portraiture, I am probably not the one to make that call. But the first two are very compelling images none-the-less. If I were that dancer, I would be thrilled with these. The rest are ok too, but I feel they are little redundant compared to the first two.
Thank you! I think it were a full blackout the image would look flat. I have to give credit to the model too, she was very good and didn't need a lot of directing.
If this is your first attempt then bravo! I too prefer the first and second images out of all of them. Personally, if there was less competition from the shadows in the stairwell the eye would drawn much more to the model. Maybe some fill light in a similar situation, perhaps using a reflector?
Thanks! My mistake was forgetting to bring my lights. I definitely would've use an off camera light if I had one. I did have a reflector but I'm not sure there was enough natural light for it.
The first two are well done artistic images. I like the slight details in the model (especially the first). The others are more portrait, especially if you do as Steven suggests with using a reflector to lighten the model and show more of her detail.
I think the posing in the third one is less appealing (doesn't flow with the lines of the stairs).
Unfortunately there was really not a lot of light to use a reflector and I forgot my lights at home that night. The only light was the one right above the model. A lot of the images turned out blurry because I had to slow down my shutter speed to about 1/20 - 1/30
For pic #1, I'd crop tighter and increase the contrast to create an almost black frame around the subject in the window while retaining enough detail in her features to make a portrait. I love the gold light. Same for #3 and #4. I never go anywhere without my tripod :)
I like the concept in the stairwell but would have had my model use the rails by the bar like a balance bar in the studio and cropped tighter with keeping the diagonal lines of the handrails as a part of the composition.
You have a good eye for composition. I like the formality of the architecture contrasted with the fluidity of the dancer.