Quick sample shot from todays shoot

You probably know all this anyway, but for other people reading, the white BG shots are looking like the BG is over lit - you are getting edge destruction/loss. You really need to try to keep it at no more that 1/2 to 1 stop 'blown'. Ie if you are shooting at f8 the BG should start to blow at about f11 to f16.

If you are using vinyl/paper try to borrow some special background reflectors. If you are using a hilite type thing try altering the lights illuminating it or if you are only using 1 light try using a 2nd light to 'do the other half'. You can then shoot the BG alone at f8, f11, f16, f22 etc and use the blinkies to get a feel for the eveness of the illumniation.

You will also get rid of a lot of the 'wrap' by getting the subject further away from the BG or masking off the bits of it that aren't actually in shot.

Having said all that, the shots themselves are great, personality, creativity and some good poses all come through strongly.
 
going back to the first photo in this thread, there is definately some sort of line going up from her right (our left) armpit to her white strap where the skin noticably changes colour. the mottled edge of it suggests to me its processing marks?
 
On Campelpaw's shot abve - the left looks significantly better than the right, although the composition is not great overall with all the wonky legs at the bottom of the frame.
 
ben.jpg
 
Its that time again, update time! One day ill stop doing one shot a day and just ****** finish the shoots processing! lol

6050655154_87dd35af90_b.jpg


Oh yeah 1st go on a tilt and shift lens hence the epic tilty shiftyness :p (everyone would on there 1st go ! lol, worry not the rest are not so DOF)
 
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Combat squirrel said:
Its that time again, update time! One day ill stop doing one shot a day and just ****** finish the shoots processing! lol

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6050655154_87dd35af90_b.jpg[IMG]

Oh yeah 1st go on a tilt and shift lens hence the epic tilty shiftyness :p (everyone would on there 1st go ! lol, worry not the rest are not so DOF)[/QUOTE]

To be brutally honest, I don't like it. It's over-saturated, all the detail in her face has gone (so much so that you can barely see her nose), and it just looks like Gaussian blur! However, as it's your first go with the lens, you shall be let off once better photos have been provided :D
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Camelpaw said:
To be brutally honest, I don't like it. It's over-saturated, all the detail in her face has gone (so much so that you can barely see her nose), and it just looks like Gaussian blur! However, as it's your first go with the lens, you shall be let off once better photos have been provided :D
Click to expand...

Well I rather liked it personally :p wanted dreamy, almost weddingy timeless beauty shot, she has amazing eyes also so wanted that to POP
 
Camelpaw said:
To be brutally honest, I don't like it. It's over-saturated, all the detail in her face has gone (so much so that you can barely see her nose), and it just looks like Gaussian blur! However, as it's your first go with the lens, you shall be let off once better photos have been provided :D
Click to expand...

I love it and I think you missed the point when you mention the detail on the face.

The point of the photo, to me, as it is brutally obvious from the photo is the eyes. The eyes and nothing but the eyes. For that reason, that works.

Combat squirrel, I think technically, your work is excellent. You know how to work a camera, you know how to take a photo and you know how to process. However, I am not in love with it because it doesn't tell me who you are. When i see a photo, it doesn't tell tell me your name unless i look at the left of it.

The photos are like, how do I put it, it needs heart. It is partly the processing, but partly the expression on the models. Often they look stiff (like the beach set), with the exception of the Ninja set and this one in particular because it makes me smile.

6043161032_da088d1103_b.jpg


But most of the time, your poses for them are dull, it comes across as you don't know how to direct them. Take a look at some fashion magazines and don't be afraid of imitating it. Don't be afraid of that, even Lara Jade openly admits having a scrap book of ideas that is basically pages from fashion mags. That is how she gets her ideas. You already got the model's time so make use of it. I think with a bit of experimentation in both direction and processing will take your work to another level.
 
Sorry dude, really don't like the face portrait, image looks compressed with a small in-focus band across the eyes, which don't for me "pop" but rather get missed as the result of the smudginess of the rest of the pic. Each their own though I guess.

Not sure what's filmic about the monochrome image there, her skin on the kegs in particular looks blotchy and may benefit from a coloured filter being applied pp to lessen that effect. Was there fake tan involved? As it looks to me like that may be contributing to the issue.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I love it and I think you missed the point when you mention the detail on the face.

The point of the photo, to me, as it is brutally obvious from the photo is the eyes. The eyes and nothing but the eyes. For that reason, that works.

Combat squirrel, I think technically, your work is excellent. You know how to work a camera, you know how to take a photo and you know how to process. However, I am not in love with it because it doesn't tell me who you are. When i see a photo, it doesn't tell tell me your name unless i look at the left of it.

The photos are like, how do I put it, it needs heart. It is partly the processing, but partly the expression on the models. Often they look stiff (like the beach set), with the exception of the Ninja set and this one in particular because it makes me smile.

But most of the time, your poses for them are dull, it comes across as you don't know how to direct them. Take a look at some fashion magazines and don't be afraid of imitating it. Don't be afraid of that, even Lara Jade openly admits having a scrap book of ideas that is basically pages from fashion mags. That is how she gets her ideas. You already got the model's time so make use of it. I think with a bit of experimentation in both direction and processing will take your work to another level.
Click to expand...

Thanks Raymond, great feedback. Totally think you hit the nail on the head as this weekends shoot was litterally 'lets try some shizz'. The reason being, I won't know what I like until I grab it, take it apart and play, put it back together again and note what feels right, if all that makes sense. I had a great time shooting it as did the models (the day I setup with the models, bought them a big box of food, treats and high energy drinks :p) put some loud tunes on and we just went to town, hence the totally mixed bag of stuff you see here. I've done it because i've been away from portraiture for so so long im not sure who I am with it anymore, I do have a 'signiture style' with events photographs (stuffs on my site/flickr) but portraits, not so much, hence the road of discovery. Good feedback and ill ponder that one :)


EDIT: Iv just pondered this some more while making a cuppa tea, the model who I have worked with most (Bethan girl jumping in pink) is the girl I most know and have produced these shots in the past as examples:

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6050848182_d8b16979a2_b.jpg


5072416526_be9553c409_b.jpg


They seem to have abit more soul / me in them processing and 'shot' wise

Of recent shoots I think this one is more my style / look also:

6030526066_322be63817_z.jpg


Anyways its all interesting to ponder.

EDIT2: Another portrait that defo 'fits' with what feels right in regards to the 1st 3 previous shots showing Bethan above:

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Im seeing a pattern here, sorry coffee fueled ponderments
 
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Combat squirrel said:
A shot from saturday, had a story of post world war 3 seen in my head at the time, sorry about the rubbish photoshop, not really a seasoned user of it:

6050515597_7a949c8f38_b.jpg
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Interesting shot, I like the style and the editing, although the girl in the middle of the destroyed building looking down spoils it slightly for me. The guys facial expression is spot on though for this photo for me personally. Colours are also really nice.

Best photo I've seen you do out of my own personal tastes is the blonde model sat on the rocks as the editing on that is something I'd try and do myself lol.
 
Love the 2nd one stufflol what filter is that ?



Ok here is the final set from my war scene:

Loan and barren earth walking survivors
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Loan and barren earth walking survivors
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Loan and barren earth walking survivors spot something
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To late
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Reflecting are they the last humans?
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Of course the 'to late' scene could be replaced with the origonal, here is an edited version of that with more mood:

6053189429_1f7694909f_b.jpg


Take out image, no death here :p :

6053736908_5251ae55d2_b.jpg
 
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