Author Topic: Portraits for critique  (Read 4471 times)

Somnath Goswami

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Portraits for critique
« on: August 19, 2015, 06:19:32 »
Critique for portrait. I am enclosing two shots which sort of epitomises my portrait shooting style. Ambient light , close face shots or a bit far off head and shoulder ones. Please point out obvious mistakes because I have a trip to high hills soon and would meet these folks again and don't want to repeat my mistakes.







Another point to clarify is often my friends tell that both the eyes MUST be LEVEL and in PERFECT FOCUS. Sometimes I break that rule and PERSONALLY LIKE one eye to be OOF. Please enlighten



It is amazing to exploit the advantages of the great wealth of knowledge of you here. AWESOME is my experience.

Thanks in advance
regards
Somnath :D

elsa hoffmann

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2015, 07:14:24 »
Somnath,
It's not so easy to comment since I don't know what the first gentleman really looks like.
I find his face a bit too contrasty - but perhaps that is what he looked like?
The background is quite light - and I would have perhaps tried to darken or de-sat it slightly just so the focus is more on his him.
The eye is usually drawn to the lighter parts of an image - and thats what I found happening here for me. 
Maybe even some vignetting?
Second image - once again I don't know what the starting point was - how dark the skin is.
But I do like the outcome a lot - works for me.
Third image - it is beautiful and what makes it is the fact that you captured her essence. That trumps all.
In some images it works well if only one eye is sharp - I would however not apply that as a rule.
But obviously that is my opinion and interpretation.
Composition on all three images are good for me.
I believe you did really well with these - and any changes I would have made would have been in post production.
You can go shoot more with confidence.
"You don’t take a photograph – you make it” – Ansel Adams. Thats why I use photoshop.
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Somnath Goswami

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2015, 07:20:57 »
I find his face a bit too contrasty - but perhaps that is what he looked like?
You can go shoot more with confidence.

Thanks Elsa for your detailed critique. A real help for me. One explanation that I seek more is about the words in bold. How important it is to stay faithful to the "actual" look? Please let me know about what you think. I am not a documentary photographer and please factor it in.

Regards
Somnath

Somnath Goswami

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2015, 07:27:12 »
I find his face a bit too contrasty - but perhaps that is what he looked like?
You can go shoot more with confidence.

Thanks Elsa for your detailed critique. A real help for me. One explanation that I seek more is about the words in bold. How important it is to stay faithful to the "actual" look? Please let me know about what you think. I am not a documentary photographer and please factor it in.

Amazing works in your website. You are a champion in your craft , RESPECT.

Regards
Somnath

elsa hoffmann

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2015, 07:27:52 »
Somnath - I am not a purist - so for me anything and everything goes.

Two options -

1. you either edit to stay true to what he looked like
2. or you edit it to look like you want it to look like.

Me - I edit to make it as I want it.

My comment was based on the assumption that you wanted to stay true to the original - so for crit purposes - I that would be my first comment.

So - for me it isn't important to stay faithful to the original at all. Anyway - I like photoshop too much :)
"You don’t take a photograph – you make it” – Ansel Adams. Thats why I use photoshop.
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Somnath Goswami

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2015, 07:31:19 »
Somnath - I am not a purist - so for me anything and everything goes.

Two options -

1. you either edit to stay true to what he looked like
2. or you edit it to look like you want it to look like.

Me - I edit to make it as I want it.

My comment was based on the assumption that you wanted to stay true to the original - so for crit purposes - I that would be my first comment.

So - for me it isn't important to stay faithful to the original at all. Anyway - I like photoshop too much :)

Thanks a lot Elsa :-) . Your work is amazing. RESPECT.

Cheers
 :)

elsa hoffmann

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2015, 07:34:16 »
Thank you - you are very kind.
"You don’t take a photograph – you make it” – Ansel Adams. Thats why I use photoshop.
www.phototourscapetown.com
www.elsa.co.za. www.intimateimages.co.za

Frank Fremerey

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2015, 08:43:01 »
very clean cut technically well balanced shots.

With age I started to prefer portraits with more context though. My taste.
You are out there. You and your camera. You can shoot or not shoot as you please. Discover the world, Your world. Show it to us. Or we might never see it.

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Jakov Minić

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2015, 10:33:12 »
frankly speaking, i totally agree with Elsa!
the first one is too saturated for my liking.
the other two are really good!
Free your mind and your ass will follow. - George Clinton
Before I jump like monkey give me banana. - Fela Kuti
Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem. - Woody Allen

HCS

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2015, 11:57:03 »
Well ... listen to Elsa, obviously.

The way i feel about rules is the same way as many express on this forum, they are meant to be broken. So, both eyes in focus, yes, for formal portraits. For other types, i support your breaking the rules. I also really like the third portrait, it captures her joy and isn't "boring" in order to have both eyes in sharp focus. I like the other two also BTW, i wouldn't change a thing about them. I do support Frank's wish for more context though.

I'd say you already know quite well how to shoot portraits (and other types of photo) and you have enough baggage to start playing around with the rules.
Hans Cremers

Somnath Goswami

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2015, 16:45:02 »
Thanks Frank, Jakov and HCS. I have noted your observations. Thanks for the encouragement too  :)

Cheers
 :)

armando_m

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #11 on: August 19, 2015, 20:52:45 »
#1 nice light and composition , and I like how relax he looks in front of the camera, the face is well exposed so I do not mind the background been brighter

#2 impressive contrast , very nice close up, wish I had taken an image like this

#3 playful , well done !

Armando Morales
D800, Nikon 1 V1, Fuji X-T3

Somnath Goswami

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #12 on: August 20, 2015, 11:44:30 »
#1 nice light and composition , and I like how relax he looks in front of the camera, the face is well exposed so I do not mind the background been brighter

#2 impressive contrast , very nice close up, wish I had taken an image like this

#3 playful , well done !

Thanks Armando :-)

LandNSea

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #13 on: August 24, 2015, 05:24:13 »
Somnath,


I enjoyed viewing your portraits - to my lights, they are effective and well executed ... but with the following in mind -

(I am a generalist photographer,  enjoy doing environmental portraits but i will give my 2 cents worth))

#1  I love the portrait but the contrast between background and  subject is just a little too strong for me

# 2  Love the portrait and your pp.  Perfect for this subject.

#3  To be honest, i find the flower distracting - my eyes keep going to the flower and not the subject.  The colour of the flower in this context doesn't work well with me !


AndyPS

Somnath Goswami

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Re: Portraits for critique
« Reply #14 on: August 24, 2015, 06:15:28 »
Somnath,


I enjoyed viewing your portraits - to my lights, they are effective and well executed ... but with the following in mind -

(I am a generalist photographer,  enjoy doing environmental portraits but i will give my 2 cents worth))

#1  I love the portrait but the contrast between background and  subject is just a little too strong for me

# 2  Love the portrait and your pp.  Perfect for this subject.

#3  To be honest, i find the flower distracting - my eyes keep going to the flower and not the subject.  The colour of the flower in this context doesn't work well with me !


AndyPS

Thanks for your views Landsnea, it is fascinating to know how different folks look at one thing from different POVs

Regards
Somnath