Portraits for critique

[Somnath Goswami]

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

[elsa hoffmann]

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.

[Somnath Goswami]

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]

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]

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

[Somnath Goswami]

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]

Thank you - you are very kind.

[Frank Fremerey]

very clean cut technically well balanced shots.

With age I started to prefer portraits with more context though. My taste.

[Jakov Minić]

frankly speaking, i totally agree with Elsa!
the first one is too saturated for my liking.
the other two are really good!

[HCS]

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.

[Somnath Goswami]

Thanks Frank, Jakov and HCS. I have noted your observations. Thanks for the encouragement too 

Cheers
 

[armando_m]

#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 !

[Somnath Goswami]

#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]

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]

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