Portraits for class

AlTheKiller

Im taking an editorial class this quarter and our first assignment was to shoot an ambient light portrait series. We need 4 photos total. 2 outdoors, 1 shallow DoF and 1 deep. 2 indoors, 1 shallow and 1 deep. I liked these three photos for the outdoor shallow DoF but I need to bring it down to just one image. What do you guys think? Please feel free to critique as well.


Untitled by Shutter_Inc., on Flickr


Untitled by Shutter_Inc., on Flickr


Untitled by Shutter_Inc., on Flickr

divamum

#2

#1 doesn't work for me at all - too close-cropped, and angle from below is pretty much a nostril shot.

#3 is nice but, again, the crop is a bit awkward.

#2 is lovely

All that said, did you use bokeh brushes or do some cloning or something? Some weird repeated patters on the right hand side of 2 & 3.

jmphotocraft

Well I like 1 - I like the highlights on her hair and I like that you can't see the distracting tattoo. But I suspect you'll go with 2 and think me a prude. 3 is kind of an odd expression. I'd like to see 2 in color. She has nice skin and hair.

AlTheKiller

thank you both for the comments. No bokeh brush or anything. there was a tree/bush behind her and it was just the light coming through the branches and leaves. (on a side note, I wish texas had a prettier fall ) for the black and white photo, Ill end up re-doing it in color. I didnt like it when I first ran through the pictures in post but after looking back through them I did. It was late so I just converted to BW and adjusted contrast a little. I didnt even do any spot cleaning on her face or anything. lazy lazy lazy. Ill get after it today though.

also no reason to think youre a prude. tattoos are not for everyone

Bryce Wilson

AlTheKiller wrote: »

also no reason to think youre a prude. tattoos are not for everyone

Yup, they should be limited to Marines, Sailors and bikers!

I too really like number two, it's the strongest of the three in my eye. Would really like to see it in color.

Eustace2

My favorite of the three is also number 2, but in color. If number 1 were shot at a little higher angle, that would be my preference because I like that pose better.

zoomer

1 for me, crop the top down to just barely into the top of her head. Did you shoot these with a wide angle, 3 has some distortion than should be corrected.

kdotaylor

They're all quite nice, but I'm thinking #3.

AlTheKiller

zoomer wrote: »

1 for me, crop the top down to just barely into the top of her head. Did you shoot these with a wide angle, 3 has some distortion than should be corrected.

50mm on a d300.

zoomer

AlTheKiller wrote: »

50mm on a d300.

Must be my imagination then. 75mm should be fine.

AlTheKiller

heres the color version of the BW:


Untitled by Shutter_Inc., on Flickr

Eustace2

I like the color version much better. On my monitor, I would take the exposure down by .33 or .66, but that is a matter of taste. Nice shot.

kombizz

good portrait captures

tsardoc

Wow.. Gorgeous girl, nice expressions and good pictures.

jmphotocraft

Yep, color version for me, thanks!

AlTheKiller

thanks guys! the photos went over very well for my class. The teacher wants me to get more creative and to keep an eye on the hot spots.