Critique please.

crevest · January 27, 2014

Hi everyone,

I would like to start portrait photography and would like to have your opinion regarding the photos below:

This one is out of focus.

Too "blurry" ?

Thank you in advance

Cedric

Qarik · January 27, 2014

not sure what you are going for here but I will comment:

1) yes too blury
2) expressions are awkward
3) the lighting is odd in all three

So I assume you are beginner? Do this...find a background that is not distracting (brick/cement wall, a wood fence, a home interior, etc) that has good light. What I mean by good light is some diffused window light or cloudy day light. Pose your model with out any funny facial expressions and try to nail focus on her eyes with good exposure. Post process to give the image some pop (increase contrast, add sharpness, etc). then present those

EphTwoEight · January 27, 2014

Either trolling, or mocking us!

crevest · January 28, 2014

EphTwoEight wrote: »

Either trolling, or mocking us!

Neither. Your answser is however insulting without a doubt.
You should try to imagine that some people do not want to make clinical shots of pieces of meat.

Cedric
PS: I suggest you check out my photos from Morroco (I checked out yours...).

crevest · January 28, 2014

EphTwoEight wrote: »

Either trolling, or mocking us!

Qarik wrote: »

not sure what you are going for here but I will comment:

1) yes too blury
2) expressions are awkward
3) the lighting is odd in all three

So I assume you are beginner? Do this...find a background that is not distracting (brick/cement wall, a wood fence, a home interior, etc) that has good light. What I mean by good light is some diffused window light or cloudy day light. Pose your model with out any funny facial expressions and try to nail focus on her eyes with good exposure. Post process to give the image some pop (increase contrast, add sharpness, etc). then present those

Thank you for taking the time to answer. Keep in mind that those are outdoor and without flash. This is not a model either and could be considered candids.

And yes I am a beginner. I have never posted people's shots before.

Cedric

michaelglenn · January 28, 2014

1. Although the highlights are overblown, the colors don't really do it for me. This one in particular would look a lot better in B/W. Also what was the shutter speed you were using? Looks like you are suffering from some motion blur. Crank it up to 1/250+ and you'll be set.

2. The composition is fine, but check out the speckled light to the right. It makes the image a little distracting. Depending on the time of day, you're better off starting out in some shade and moving around the subject to "find the light". When you practice enough, you will be able to see how sunlight can fall on a subject nicely in a way which flatters them. Also, did you saturate the colors on her tongue? My eyes are drawn to it, but I see no significance or reason.

3. Not sure what she is doing. This shot looks like an attempt to capture a moment in her life. Something like this, you want to pull back a little wider, so we have more of an idea of what's going on. The skin is way too retouched as well. Watch out for the skin tone too. It looks way too orange and unnatural. When increasing contrast or saturation, skin tones tend to be affected..so you have to be mindful of this.

For all three shots, the facial expressions don't work here. Try capturing an emotion/smile/laugh etc. It all adds to making some really fine imagery.

What you can do is work on finding flattering natural light, capturing genuine expressions from your subject, and more careful editing. Your composition is there, but just keep practicing.

PS - You have some really solid landscape and nature photography!

crevest · January 28, 2014

michaelglenn wrote: »

1. Although the highlights are overblown, the colors don't really do it for me. This one in particular would look a lot better in B/W. Also what was the shutter speed you were using? Looks like you are suffering from some motion blur. Crank it up to 1/250+ and you'll be set.

2. The composition is fine, but check out the speckled light to the right. It makes the image a little distracting. Depending on the time of day, you're better off starting out in some shade and moving around the subject to "find the light". When you practice enough, you will be able to see how sunlight can fall on a subject nicely in a way which flatters them. Also, did you saturate the colors on her tongue? My eyes are drawn to it, but I see no significance or reason.

3. Not sure what she is doing. This shot looks like an attempt to capture a moment in her life. Something like this, you want to pull back a little wider, so we have more of an idea of what's going on. The skin is way too retouched as well. Watch out for the skin tone too. It looks way too orange and unnatural. When increasing contrast or saturation, skin tones tend to be affected..so you have to be mindful of this.

For all three shots, the facial expressions don't work here. Try capturing an emotion/smile/laugh etc. It all adds to making some really fine imagery.

What you can do is work on finding flattering natural light, capturing genuine expressions from your subject, and more careful editing. Your composition is there, but just keep practicing.

PS - You have some really solid landscape and nature photography!

Hi Michael,

First things first, thank you for taking the time to comment

I am a real beginner in portraits and the pictures above are more candids than portraits in the sense that I have no setup other than the camera itself and no imposed pose.

Regarding settings; they are as follow:

1) 50mm f2.5 1/40
2) 75mm f5.6 1/60
3) 50mm f1.8 1/40

1) Fully agree. It was way too slow and handheld. Focus is not right.
2) I have to try and practice a lot to find the correct light. I guess in this particular case a little fill light could have helped as well.
3) This one was taken early evening before dinner during "aperitif". I agree regarding the blur. The original is actually quite sharp, in focus and with a correct DOF so I will try to re-post process this one.

"capturing genuine expressions from your subject" that's the main point. I do not want to do clinical shots without any expression or feeling.

"more careful editing" need to learn and work on that as well as technique and lighting.

Thank you for the nice comment regarding landscape & nature

What do you thing about this one:

Cedric

crevest · January 28, 2014

N°3 reworked:

EphTwoEight · January 28, 2014

Marocco! Loved them!

crevest · January 29, 2014

EphTwoEight wrote: »

Marocco! Loved them!

EphTwoEight · January 29, 2014

I'd like to know more about that trip as well. Did you stay out in the desert? Did you home stay with any of the fine people out there? I can't wait to return. Its a beautiful country. And don't be discouraged to post some more, it was just weird, such a beauty with her tounge sticking out and making a funny face.

crevest · January 29, 2014

EphTwoEight wrote: »

I'd like to know more about that trip as well. Did you stay out in the desert? Did you home stay with any of the fine people out there? I can't wait to return. Its a beautiful country. And don't be discouraged to post some more, it was just weird, such a beauty with her tounge sticking out and making a funny face.

Went to Morroco three times. In my opinion the South is the best part. Kindest people, incredible scenery, food, ....

The pictures in this thread (and the desert one or here: http://www.in-perspectives.com/Morocco-photos/i-cKDds22 ) were taken either in Erg Chigaga, Iriki Lake, Aguinan or the Drah Valley.

We were based in Foum Zguid at the hotel Bab Rimal ( http://www.maroc-desert.com/hotel/ ). The host Naji and his family have been wonderful.

We travelled through a lot of stone desert and stayed in Rrg Chigaga one night (could not stay more because we were in the middle of the desert during ... summer...)

The best time to go there is April. Aguinane is wonderful. Truely a lost paradise (no real road, only accessible via 4x4 and you better not break your leg or anything).

A few years ago I also rented a buggy with a friend and we did a 5 days trip starting from Ouarzazate and avoiding paved roads.

As for the tongue sticking out; that's the face my wife does when she is bored with me taking photos

Have a nice day,

Cedric

EphTwoEight · January 31, 2014

Awesome!! I'll have to look into Aguinane next time. Loved Ourazazate, I could live there. Thanks!

And I bet you have have some stunning shots of your wife. She is beautiful! Look forward for more

Foques · January 31, 2014

i'm with EphTwoEight on this one...

Seeing landscape shots, it is hard for me to believe that these..portraits.. come from the same person..

crevest · February 1, 2014

Hi Foques,

I am barely starting to get interested in portraits. I feel much more comfortable with landscapes and nature.

Cedric
PS: Nice flickr collection

Qarik · February 3, 2014

uhh...you have some good dog portraits yet your human portraits look like you just picked up an SLR 5 min ago. good light is good light, focusing is focusing, processing is processing! there really is no difference

crevest · February 5, 2014

Reading a few posts above; I will quote the Oxford Dictionnary:

Critique: evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/critique

You will quickly notice that quite a few posts do not fall into that definition (which is after all the title of the thread).

So in my opinion, if someone asks for critique it is because he either needs advice or help (notice the please at the end of the title).
If we do not feel like helping or providing advice; the polite thing to do is simply to ignore the post.

On a side note, I see a lot of technically good shots; which I don't like because aesthetically they do not appeal to me. I guess we must remember that photography is an art (except if you work in a scientific department) and even for portraits; a bit of blur is sometimes more flattering than a "police shot".

Regards

Cedric

Foques · February 5, 2014

I don't know how one can critique a common sense (or a lack of there of).

you asked for people's opinions, they gave them to you. you don't like it, obviously.
Perhaps, your "style" is a new niche market in portraiture, but it seems that most of the people who'd commented toss your "artwork" directly to the bin.

I'm going to stop here.. I have a lot more to say, but mods won't like it...

crevest · February 5, 2014

Sad to see you still did not understand the definition of "critique" and the difference with "opinion" (which I did not ask for).

Saying this is shit (or should be thrown to the bin) is an opinion.
Explaining why is a critique (and saying because it stinks or su... does not count)

kdog · February 5, 2014

crevest wrote: »

Reading a few posts above; I will quote the Oxford Dictionnary:

Critique: evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/critique

You will quickly notice that quite a few posts do not fall into that definition (which is after all the title of the thread).

Cedric, while these guys may be a bit short on "tactfulness", they are giving you some solid advice. That's far, far better than posts that just say, "nice shot", or even worse yet just ignoring your post. One needs to develop a thick skin when you ask for critiques and try to take them in the good spirit in which they were intended. It's difficult, something I know from personal experience.

Critique please.

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