Please grade my picture...

[maplerock]

I have been trying to improve as a studio portrait photographer so I can take my son's senior photos. Last week I posted some pics for your critique. I didn't get much feedback.

I have added a link to a new one below. I took philgabe's suggestions and used more sidelighting. I am pleased with the result.

I hope some of you will look at the new photo and tell me what you think. I wonder if the overall quality could have been improved if I shot it in RAW instead of JPEG?

Thanks for your input and suggestions!

Jerry


http://www.otherside.com/maple/der1.jpg

Canon D30
Tamron 90mm lens

setup:
aperture: f5.6
metering: evaluative
speed: 125
ISO 100
focus: manual
white bal: auto

[D30Photo]

I think overall the picture looked good. I don't know how different the photo would look with a different background and a separate background light.

I am supprise on the quality you get from shooting JPG. I never had such success. I am better at custom WB and RAW using Pekka LinearSharpen.

I do know how you feel sometime when you asked for input on your works and you end up with nothing. Most people are more interested in what camera, what lens type of questions.

Anyway...keep up the good work. Play around with your light setup. You might try to stop down 1/2 a stop on the side light to see how the white uniform turn out while a little shadow on the left side of subject's face would bring out his facial features better.

[Sheila]

Hi Jerry

Its an excellent portrait - well done. Regarding responses or critiques, few respond on this or any other of Pekka's forums so I eventually gave up.

Cheers
Sheila

[mrbobco]

hi...

i agree with what d-30photo said...it could use a little more shading on the face...i know that the all white suit is a pain from an exposure standpoint...so i agree...fool with the lighting a bit so you can bring out some of the facial features and avoid the bright "on camera" flash look...plus a light on the background would help the subject feel a little more three dimensional and avoid the "flash" look...

all told...an excellent shot (again considering the problems i've had with the d-30 when shooting subjects in all white or all black clothing....i'm pretty impressed there is at least a little detail in the white suit without the facial tones being too dark)

bob

[philgabe]

Jerry:

Your new picture is excellent--eyes are much sharper than before and the feel of the image is wonderful. I'm just throwing below a few more ideas to improve on it, take or leave any of them:

1. With many lenses f/8.0 to f/11 produce the sharpest possible result (I think f/8.0 works best with the majority of lenses). Perhaps if you move from f/5.6 to f/8.0 you may even have better overall sharpness of the portrait.

2. The contrast between the white uniform and the black background is very nice, but I agree with previous comments that it would be better to have more "separation" between background and subject to give more 3D-space feel.

3. I also agree with previous comments that the lighting can still be improved a little by having more shadows on one side of the face to bring out details in facial bone structure (for lack of a better word). In the portrait you posted I would have the main light on the right side of the face (when looking at the screen) and a fill on the left side that would be very probably something like 1:3 ratio with main. Ideally you should have more shadows on side of nose and extreme left side of face.

This being said, there's really no reason you should dish out the big bucks to have someone else take these pictures. They'll be awesome.

Cheers,

Philippe

[philgabe]

Jerry-

I forgot to suggest to always shoot RAW rather than JPEG for highest quality pictures. Even if the JPEG version looks very good, the RAW gives you more latitude to do post shooting editing and tweaking of the image and if you blow up the image for an enlargment print you will notice the difference between a RAW and a JPEG image (in terms of noise. The RAW remains butter smooth). Since you're really working hard to get the best result in light and overall quality, go with the RAW (the extra time to convert is well worth it).

Philippe

[mrbobco]

i have to second philippe...

raw is the best way to shoot...if for no other reason..to be able to adjust levels and be able to save without degrading the quality one more step...

(forgot to put that in my reply...busy morning here : )

bob

[maplerock]

Thank you for the responses. It helps to get pointers from people that know what they're doing!

I will try the suggestions and appreciate all comments!

Thank you...........

Jerry