first portrait attempt

[Flashstan]

This is the result of my first true professional looking portrait attempt. The conditions were less than desirable. The wind was blowing between 15 and 20 mph so she "my daughter" had to look into the wind to keep her hair out of her face. It was around 4pm and the sun was in my face. I used the tree to block the harsh lighting and used 580 mounted on camera for fill light.


Please let me know what you think so that I can hopefully improve.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2885015698_28528dfe70_b.jpg

[Flo]

Very sweet daughter..do you think a little brightening would enhance the photo?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/emmaloudawg/2885015698_28528dfe70_b.jpg

[Flashstan]

I do now :)

thanks Gail

[Flo]

She looks like a willing model for you, look forward to more sessions;)

[Flashstan]

It's funny that you say that Flo, this one "my three year old" was on willing to do the fun stuff. :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2884830093_4b17616fdd.jpg

[Flo]

Cutie.....;)Nice and crisp shot this one.also could use a tweak in light?

[midnitejam]

The composition, the pose, the expression, and especially the beautiful subject is excellent. The lighting technique (flat) can still be rescued with post processing.

[Flashstan]

Flat, I see that (now) :oops:

Does this work or did I go to far? :confused:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2885713093_f246fb792a_b.jpg

[Flashstan]

O, thanks everyone for your replies and input.

[Cheese]

Please excuse me if I sound overly critical but I find something off balance about your daughters pose. This is probably a case of the location and the conditions but I thought I would mention it.
She seems to be leaning back against the tree and also leaning a bit to her right. If it wasn't for the tree being there I would say the image needs to be rotated to the right, but you can't do that cause then the tree would be tilted. Have you tried cropping the image at the top just above her head and at the bottom just below the lowest extent of her hair? In doing this the lean is less evident and you get a lovely portrait of your daughter.

Ron

[Flashstan]

Thanks for being critical Cheese, that is what I am asking for.

Learning as I am going.

This is a much improvement from the first image!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2885944655_fb8a73b2d1_b.jpg

[goforphoto]

I think you did well with this shot. My only suggestion would be to brighten it up just a tad, it is just a little under exposed.

[acchildress]

The bad conditions don't show in the photo. She seems relaxed and not bothered by the wind or the camera.

[LizB]

Hi, She's a pretty girl. I hope you don't mind me taking a try.

http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/ll458/Dreadgirl2/2885015698_28528dfe70_bWC.jpg

[milorad]

contrast should be used sparingly, I think -- I don't think there's anything wrong with the first image, and I think slight under-exposure can be a good way to maintain richness and add mood, rather than turning everything into "bright sunny day"

If it were me, I'd apply some selective sharpening to your original, maybe brighten the eyes a fraction, but I wouldn't do the whole image.

I also think the framing is a little too tight. Personally when my subject's head is turned in a particular direction, I prefer to position them in the frame, in the opposite direction to which their head is turned... In other words, facing left, subject weighted towards the right. Facing right, subject weighted towards the left.

I'd have left this a little wider on the right hand side. To fix it now, I'd crop more of the tree side only.

She's a really cute kid... no issues there, but maybe keep a hair brush in your camera bag for the windy days :)

All up, I think the only thing there to pick is nits.

[milorad]

since everyone else was doing it, and I was just talking about it, I figured I had better post what I meant...

see the post above for what I did.... as well as adding one of my old favourites, a dark brown circular gradient (off-centre) in soft-light mode, 50% opacity, for some vignetting around the background, which I think adds richness to the image without me touching the contrast slider.

Anyway... as all this is subjective, YMMV ;) certainly the other contrasty edits are more immediately flavoursome, but I think just dodging the eyeballs a bit here was plenty TBH.

[Flashstan]

Again, Thanks everyone for you suggestions and touch ups. This is what this forum is all about.

contrast should be used sparingly, I think -- I don't think there's anything wrong with the first image, and I think slight under-exposure can be a good way to maintain richness and add mood, rather than turning everything into "bright sunny day"

I do not know if this is good or bad but, I am all about the details, I tend to underexpose more often than not.

She's a really cute kid... no issues there, but maybe keep a hair brush in your camera bag for the windy days
My wife LOL - I told you to take a brush with you.

[chomish]

My attempt. if you dont mind.

[Flashstan]

Here is another try for me.

I took into consideration the suggestions that everyone had made and how your edits looked.

I am horrible at PP but trying to learn.:confused: The lightness on her face looks a little off to me. I am not jumping for joy over the edit, but I spent to much time on it not to post it.:rolleyes:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2902167236_858866c71f_b.jpg

[midnitejam]

This is my favorite of all the edits.



Thanks for being critical Cheese, that is what I am asking for.

Learning as I am going.

This is a much improvement from the first image!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2885944655_fb8a73b2d1_b.jpg