First portraits

DanielB · April 23, 2006

okay so me and my brother went driving around looking for places to do his Sr. Portraits... just so happens we come into the older part of town with nice buildings, parks, huge trees hanging over the roads and we find all the places we need

heres just a few from the outing... more to come once his gf can get off work.

any C&C is welcome because i'm going to be doing these for about 4 other people for Sr. Portraits and i need all the pointers i can get...

He brought a friend...

thanks,

Daniel

DavidTO · April 23, 2006

Aside from the belly, which I find distracting, I like the first two quite a bit. Nice work!

DanielB · April 23, 2006

DavidTO wrote:

Aside from the belly, which I find distracting, I like the first two quite a bit. Nice work!

thanks

his idea on the belly... he wanted to show off his Tattoos

DavidTO · April 23, 2006

A) It doesn't show off his tats.

I'm grateful it doesn't. That shot of his tats is TMI, IMO.

gluwater · April 23, 2006

Good shots Daniel and I agree with David. It's been a while since I was in HS but aren't Sr Portraits usually closer crops?

gus · April 23, 2006

DanielB wrote:

thanks

his idea on the belly... he wanted to show off his Tattoos

I feel somewhat grubby...i though that was a chicks belly

DanielB · April 23, 2006

humungus wrote:

I feel somewhat grubby...i though that was a chicks belly

DanielB · April 24, 2006

gluwater wrote:

Good shots Daniel and I agree with David. It's been a while since I was in HS but aren't Sr Portraits usually closer crops?

normally... but he wanted something different... besides, we're going back out this thursday to the same area*ish* with his gf so i can get some more closer shots.

Kodachrome · April 24, 2006

DanielB wrote:

okay looking for places to do his Sr. Portraits... just so happens we come into the older part of town with nice buildings, parks,
any C&C is welcome because i'm going to be doing these for about 4 other people for Sr. Portraits and i need all the pointers i can get..
Daniel

...just my .02

Make a reflector out of some cardboard and tinfoil...surprizing how much a little bounce light like can wake up a photo...also many young folk have the ball caps which can make for a challenge to light...with a reflector no problem...unless your shooting day turns out to be rain...ugh!

...I have my reflector on a tripod with a ball head...could not live without it.

...you might want to put on some neutral density so you and open up the apature and get some of that forground and back ground out of focus...I finding it hard to fix my eye on the subject.

DanielB · April 24, 2006

Kodachrome wrote:

...just my .02

Make a reflector out of some cardboard and tinfoil...surprizing how much a little bounce light like can wake up a photo...also many young folk have the ball caps which can make for a challenge to light...with a reflector no problem...

i'm gettin some foamcore for the next go.

W.W. Webster · April 24, 2006

DanielB wrote:

okay so me and my brother went driving around looking for places to do his Sr. Portraits

The purpose and normal expectations of 'senior' portraits are entirely 'foreign' to me, so I can only judge these as portraits in their own right.

On this basis, IMHO you've done a great job. You've taken obvious care to think through the settings, positioning and composition of these shots really well and the results speak for themselves - formal shots, but still relaxed and 'natural', and definitely among the better portraits typically posted in these forums. Well done Daniel, your photography is racing ahead in leaps and bounds!

DanielB · April 24, 2006

W.W. Webster wrote:

The purpose and normal expectations of 'senior' portraits are entirely 'foreign' to me, so I can only judge these as portraits in their own right.

On this basis, IMHO you've done a great job. You've taken obvious care to think through the settings, positioning and composition of these shots really well and the results speak for themselves - formal shots, but still relaxed and 'natural', and definitely among the better portraits typically posted in these forums. Well done Daniel, your photography is racing ahead in leaps and bounds!

thanks ross

LeDude · April 24, 2006

here's a thought... try doing something with a non-band/artist tee

matisyahu's cool and all, but what happens if the cat sells out down the road and is best known for being completely lame... a cardinal rule, generally learned in college: maintain positions of complete future deniability

DanielB · April 25, 2006

LeDude wrote:

here's a thought... try doing something with a non-band/artist tee

matisyahu's cool and all, but what happens if the cat sells out down the road and is best known for being completely lame... a cardinal rule, generally learned in college: maintain positions of complete future deniability

lol my moms making him go back out again for some of the same shots but in kahkis and a polo. he's gonna hate it.:D

gtc · April 25, 2006

goodstart
hi daniel

a good start

maybe try getting a little closer
and shooting from above-below isn't usually all that flattering.

also maybe ,as he is your brother,sneak in and get a shower shot-always good fun!

ian408 · April 25, 2006

DanielB wrote:

lol my moms making him go back out again for some of the same shots but in kahkis and a polo. he's gonna hate it.:D

In some sense, Maty's already sold out

But I think he's pretty cool.

Anyway, I was going to suggest that the T-shirt gives a certain sense of
time. When your bro looks back, he'll remember the music as well as a bit
of his time.

What you can do as the photographer is make sure he gets that plus
some "safety" shots. Those that your mom probably wants. He can change
up the wardrobe for a few. Alternatively, you can make some head shots
or pose him so the wardrobe isn't quite as prominent. Give him some variety
too. With glasses, without. Baseball cap, no baseball cap.

You get the idea.

Accepting that you need something to fix the shadow created by his hat,
I think you picked some creative poses. Not bad.

saurora · April 25, 2006

I really like what you're coming up with so far, Daniel. The only problem I have with this kind of portait, is I am always disappointed not to see those all-important windows of the soul.....the eyes. Can you somehow work some eye contact in their somewhere??? Otherwise, I think your black and whites are terrific!!!!

DanielB · April 25, 2006

thanks greg, ian, and saurora. your feedback is always appreciated

OneWayMule · April 26, 2006

These are good for your first try daniel but here are some things to ponder on:

- every shot you showed has the subject's face in the shadow - was this intentional? If not than you really need to watch where the main light is coming from. Quality of light also matter and, here, it seems to be too harsh for good portraits. I'm sure he'd much rather have edgy, sharp shots like those of bands but you really gotta work the light. Reflectors do wonders.

- in every shot, his eyes are both far away and looking away. This would work but only if the framing is interesting or the surrounding areas has something meaningful.

Is there anything the subject sitting on a parkbench w/ trees behind him add to his character? Or sitting on stairs or standing next to a door with a reflection of his friend? It has to tell some kind of a story and i dont know if any of these really do that (except maybe his t-shirt)

Check out this guy's website... he's 15 years old and his talent far exceeds his age.
There's mood and emotion in his images you can almost feel.

http://joeyl.com/index.html

First portraits

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