Hello everyone! I am a long time reader of fstoppers but new to the community as I just joined. I started this BW portrait series with my iphone and wanted to share it with everyone here. It's an ongoing project and wanted to share it with some fellow photographers. Feel free to check my website below to see the full series. Also, I am always looking for more subjects so if anyone lives in Chicago that would love to chat about photography and possibly get their portrait taken please let me know. I hope you all enjoy
Jeffrey Biri
www.skateorialist.com
@skateorialist
altering life by holding it still.
Yup - they all look like snapshots taken with an IPhone.
These are very obviously not snapshots as stated by Mike Patrick. He has obviously taken light into account with the ring light creating a catch light in the eyes. In fact, I think the light on 1, 2 and 3 are great.
But I have a couple comments that I think could make the images better. One, I think you have the subjects too close to the wall behind them and it's casting a shadow behind them from whatever lights you are pointing at them. It's especially obvious in 2-5
Two, I'm not a fan of the crops. I think you should have either gone lower so that it cuts off just right above their waste. Don't be afraid to cut off a little bit from the top of their heads cus it doesn't take away from the image as evidence from Peter Hurley's portraits. Or what you could have done is come in closer so that the bottom is right below or above their shoulders.
Because of these two reasons it does give it a **SLIGHTLY** I do mean SMALL hint of a photobooth style.
I still think these images are very good and the photobooth thing could be what you're going for which is cool.
Awesome work here and glad to see stuff from another Chicagoan!
Thanks Salde for the great constructive criticism! really appreciate the words and I will definitely take them to heart. For my next few I'll try and pull them away a bit more from the wall and try different cropping. Again, thanks Salde!
Oh, I get it - so if one takes light into account, that then makes a shot a good shot? You were able to tell these were good shots by the reflection of the light in the eyes of the subjects? Who would have known it was that easy?
Just because you take light into account means nothing. It doesn't change the fact these shots look like snapshots. I think this is why real photography is losing much of its meaning. Standards are no longer what they once were, and if it's good enough to post on Facebook, it's good enough. These are not candid street photos - they're posed portraits, and the standards are different - or should be. Also, unless my comments are complementary, they're not "constructive?" If you want complementary instead of honest feedback, post your work on Pinterest. You won't get a bad comment no matter how hard you try on that site.
Compare your shots to those at the top of this page where the photographers have used models that care about what they look like, used their equipment in a learned and expert fashion, and spent considerable time in post processing, and draw you own conclusions. To me, they all look like mug shots. If that was the effect you were going for - you nailed it.
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I figure you posted your work on a site like this to get honest opinions, not fluff.
I dunno why you're getting all fiesty and defensive because of one comment. No one even said your comment wasn't constructive hah.
But I didn't say it was good BECAUSE he took into account light. What I did say was that it wasn't a snapshot because of that reason. Then I said that I thought they were good and I liked them. Two different statements and you combined them.
It's your opinion, think what ever you want but stop being such a Sassy Sally just because I had an opposing opinion.
Don't take it personally Saide. Your standards are your standards, and mine are mine. I stand by my comment. Just because you take light into consideration doesn't mean you won't get a shot that looks like a snapshot. Even a person with a point-and-shoot can take light into consideration and use an on camera flash - and STILL come out with a snapshot. It happens all the time.
Try not to be so sensitive. It's only photography.
It has nothing to do with whether you think the photo is bad or not. I'm just saying a snapshot is a photo without any thought into it correct? He took into account light therefore there was thought thus not a snapshot. Thats all i was saying to your original comment. Not saying anything about your standard of photography.
Maybe - maybe not. Some of the worlds best street photographers get great on the street shots with little thought or effort put into the individual shot - but they know what they're doing. Then again there are people that put tons of thought into what they're doing and have very expensive equipment, and they still get shots that look like snapshots. What I said is that the shots above "look" like they were taken with an IPhone, and they "look" like snapshots in my opinion. Most serious photographers try to avoid that look. No offense to Jeffery intended - just honest opinion.
Not that I think Wikipedia is authoritative, but it gives a good definition of a snapshot:
"A snapshot is popularly defined as a photograph that is "shot" spontaneously and quickly, most often without artistic or journalistic intent. Snapshots are commonly considered to be technically "imperfect" or amateurish—out of focus or poorly framed or composed."
While snapshots are "most often taken spontaneously and quickly" not all shots taken that way are snapshots. Here's proof: (I don't believe any of them us an IPhone.)
http://www.streethunters.net/blog/2014/03/26/10-most-influential-active-...
I guess we just differ in how we define "snapshot". Im going off of how FStoppers defines it. You have a different meaning of it which is fine. Lets agree to disagree and move on.
The
'' I think this is why real photography is losing much of its meaning. Standards are no longer what they once were, ''
''i do everything by the book and your terms have to be correct or else i will flame the shit out of your work''
'' I rant about your photo's and other peoples opinions then tell you to chill out because its only photography''
Guy
Santa is watching you.
Take a step back. And then another. The focal length is too short for headshots at intimate distances.