First Shoot Critique (one pic)

[Rico...RA]

I did my first shoot on this past saturday, been looking at Light Room for the past day and I'm loosing direction when it comes to editing, (i know one thing the focus needs to be sharper) here is the same picture twice let me know what you think...Thanks for the CC

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j173/chefy05/potn/Leak2.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j173/chefy05/potn/Leak1.jpg

[Flo]

Sorry but is totally OOF to me? I see you had the ISO at 800.wondering why so high?
The composition is awkward to me, the rose fills the fellows face, the Bg doesn't seem to fit the mood? I am assuming he is sitting on a white chair? Maybe would be better without such a large white mass with his white shirt, without the chair perhaps, maybe a stool?

Focus for sure is you immediate problem.

[swjim]

I agree with everything Gail said.

[Rico...RA]

Sorry but is totally OOF to me? I see you had the ISO at 800.wondering why so high?
The composition is awkward to me, the rose fills the fellows face, the Bg doesn't seem to fit the mood? I am assuming he is sitting on a white chair? Maybe would be better without such a large white mass with his white shirt, without the chair perhaps, maybe a stool?

Focus for sure is you immediate problem.

Thanks no need for the sorry im here for the honesty instead of just showing my roomate that thinks they all look the same, yes its a white chair, no real reason for the iso at 800 just a lack of knowledge.

[tonydee]

Well, given a shutter speed of 1/4s, 55m, f/5.6 (which I assume is about wide open for a presumably kit lens), no flash: the ISO 800 not only looks necessary but positively inadequate. Even using a tripod, you can't shoot at 1/4 of a second and know that your subject won't move, especially if his arm is outstretched and unsupported in holding that flower. You need more light! I don't like flashes (I have a good strong one, but it's heavy and bulky, and the 5D lacks any built-in), but I think this might be one of those times when it would have helped, but you could turn on every light in the room, and whatever you can carry, first, move near a window and/or wait for a better time of day.

Separately, agree with Gail re chair & background, but especially want to echo her point about the flower being in front of his face. That's just not nice! It's not romantic (which the photo is presumably meant to be). Hey, anyone who's actually been the recipient of a flower can step in and correct me, but I guess that the implied recipient doesn't ultimately want the rose... rather it's the person kind enough to give the rose that's the subject of returned affection. They don't have to be the explicit subject - the one in sharp focus - but they shouldn't be covered up like this either.

For all that, I really like the style you've achieved in PPing... that old time creamy look, and the subdued colour in the flower itself. Super.

Cheers, Tony

[Rico...RA]

Well, given a shutter speed of 1/4s, 55m, f/5.6 (which I assume is about wide open for a presumably kit lens), no flash: the ISO 800 not only looks necessary but positively inadequate. Even using a tripod, you can't shoot at 1/4 of a second and know that your subject won't move, especially if his arm is outstretched and unsupported in holding that flower. You need more light! I don't like flashes (I have a good strong one, but it's heavy and bulky, and the 5D lacks any built-in), but I think this might be one of those times when it would have helped, but you could turn on every light in the room, and whatever you can carry, first, move near a window and/or wait for a better time of day.

Separately, agree with Gail re chair & background, but especially want to echo her point about the flower being in front of his face. That's just not nice! It's not romantic (which the photo is presumably meant to be). Hey, anyone who's actually been the recipient of a flower can step in and correct me, but I guess that the implied recipient doesn't ultimately want the rose... rather it's the person kind enough to give the rose that's the subject of returned affection. They don't have to be the explicit subject - the one in sharp focus - but they shouldn't be covered up like this either.

For all that, I really like the style you've achieved in PPing... that old time creamy look, and the subdued colour in the flower itself. Super.

Cheers, Tony

Thanks Tony very helpful critique yeah the theme for the shoot was love sucks and i shot with limited lighting, funny thing about this one was we were setting up for another shoot and i just said hold the rose out so it was a hit or miss thing, thanks again

[DerekSimon]

Really OOF for me also. I think that maybe you need to work on shot composition before you really venture any further into processing and lightroom. The angle of this shot, with the rose covering his face, doesn't do much for me and considering how out of focus it is doesn't help. Sorry if it was harsh.

[MattMoore]

Too soft overall, too centered compositionally, and noise is noticeable.

[charl1e]

Agreed with the above comments. You should have his face be on the right third, and the rose on the left third. color on the edit is nice, but the flower needs to be more saturated. also, pick off some of lose extra leaves on the rose - they are distracting

[CJinAustin]

I think the rose should be in focus...