Hi Chris, The lens flair is nice although I don't like the inclusion of the grey building, which takes away the beauty of the sunshine and natural foliage. I think a smile might have matched the warmth of the sunlight and made the pretty girl look even more pretty. I think her right arm looks odd as it is so straight. You have lots of bright detail in her hair, being dark hair it is easier than with blonde hair but non the less you nailed it perfectly.
I think a much tighter crop would look better and may be a touch of Dutch would correct the leaning backwards, which doesn't work for me, altogether, these suggestions should add a sense of contact with the girl and a stronger image. Let me know what you think.
Thanks for the feedback. I try to stay away from too tight crops when shooting outdoors and using the environments (even when bokehed heavily) as an element of the photo. More environmental portraits just not entirely in focus backgrounds most of the time.
However, even in an environmental portrait, the point of the photograph is the portrait and the environment is the studio where the portrait is made. So the person is the main thing to make the best of, in my view. The environment should not detract, distract or compromise in any way the portrait. The environment is supposed to support and add to the image but the image remains one of the person, first and last. With a closer crop the face of the subject is easier to see, the distracting and ugly grey buildnig is controlled and the unfortunate leaning backwards and oddly straight arm are managed. The paving on the path is out and the foliage is there but not to the point where it detracts or dilutes the picture of the pretty girl. But that is my reasoning. You are of course free to disagree.
Hi Chris, The lens flair is nice although I don't like the inclusion of the grey building, which takes away the beauty of the sunshine and natural foliage. I think a smile might have matched the warmth of the sunlight and made the pretty girl look even more pretty. I think her right arm looks odd as it is so straight. You have lots of bright detail in her hair, being dark hair it is easier than with blonde hair but non the less you nailed it perfectly.
I think a much tighter crop would look better and may be a touch of Dutch would correct the leaning backwards, which doesn't work for me, altogether, these suggestions should add a sense of contact with the girl and a stronger image. Let me know what you think.
Thanks for the feedback. I try to stay away from too tight crops when shooting outdoors and using the environments (even when bokehed heavily) as an element of the photo. More environmental portraits just not entirely in focus backgrounds most of the time.
Fair comment if that is your style.
However, even in an environmental portrait, the point of the photograph is the portrait and the environment is the studio where the portrait is made. So the person is the main thing to make the best of, in my view. The environment should not detract, distract or compromise in any way the portrait. The environment is supposed to support and add to the image but the image remains one of the person, first and last. With a closer crop the face of the subject is easier to see, the distracting and ugly grey buildnig is controlled and the unfortunate leaning backwards and oddly straight arm are managed. The paving on the path is out and the foliage is there but not to the point where it detracts or dilutes the picture of the pretty girl. But that is my reasoning. You are of course free to disagree.