Zhanna - Brutal CC Please

[Raginl3ull]

Hi Guys,

Would greatly appreciate any and all feedback on my recent work with Zhanna. Brutal Critique is more than welcome! Thank you all! :D


1.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2527/4119293735_25628bb47d_o.jpg

2.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2670/4120069656_bc00d54e0b_o.jpg

3.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/4119293917_0a15b448c0_o.jpg

4.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2538/4120069496_54e3e7d247_o.jpg

5.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2733/4120069590_1feb267631_o.jpg

6.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/4120069712_032ecc9a8d_o.jpg

[Amamba]

You wanted brutal critique... have it ! I am an amateur so my opinions are just that ;)

#1, 2, 3 - the skin (and makeup) tones look gorgeous on my maybe not quite calibrated monitor. The back lighing though is a killer... it makes hair look unnatural, and the worst part it makes her arms look hairy, like she's some kind of a hobbit mutant... especially in #3. The b/g could be different, too, since this is obviously a staged photo.

#4 and so on... first thing that comes to mind is "Revenge of the Living Dead". Sorry, I just don't get the death ray effect. #4 could be a very decent photo otherwise.

[mikekelley]

Way, way, too much hairlight. You want to kiss the hair, not blast it.

#4...don't ever light from below

1, 2, and 3 would be great if the hair light was under control.

[Raginl3ull]

You wanted brutal critique... have it ! I am an amateur so my opinions are just that ;)

#1, 2, 3 - the skin (and makeup) tones look gorgeous on my maybe not quite calibrated monitor. The back lighing though is a killer... it makes hair look unnatural, and the worst part it makes her arms look hairy, like she's some kind of a hobbit mutant... especially in #3. The b/g could be different, too, since this is obviously a staged photo.

#4 and so on... first thing that comes to mind is "Revenge of the Living Dead". Sorry, I just don't get the death ray effect. #4 could be a very decent photo otherwise.


Awesome thank you sir!! This is exactly what I needed to hear. I'll be sure to keep in mind to not blast the rim light so much and be more cognizant of hairy arms.

#4 LOL...we found a light blasting a purple light against a building wall and thought it provided for dramatic effect. Glad to hear that some may find it ineffective. I'll definitely keep this in mind moving forward.

Thanks again, much much appreciated! :D

[Raginl3ull]

Way, way, too much hairlight. You want to kiss the hair, not blast it.

#4...don't ever light from below

1, 2, and 3 would be great if the hair light was under control.


Thank you mikekelly! #4 - you got it, no more lighting from under below :D


I really like the hair/rimlight effect, but now I realize I need to be cognizant of how much is being applied. Thanks again for the honest feedback! :D

[Flo]

Gorgeous model, and your detail in the face etc is fantastic. Agree about the hairlight though;) She looks very comfortable infront of the camera.

[Raginl3ull]

Gorgeous model, and your detail in the face etc is fantastic. Agree about the hairlight though;) She looks very comfortable infront of the camera.


Thank you Flo! :)

[SJC from VT]

Absolutely agree with everything already said. Aside from that well done. The first 3 are so clear, wish I could do that well.

[JimMcrae]

I won't mention the points already mentioned by others but the facial tones in 1, 2 and 3 are gorgeous!

The "hobbit mutant" remark caused me to spit a mouthful of tea over my keyboard... :)

[AlexMoPhotography]

You might want to fix the skin tones on her arms in the first 3 photos.

In #4, the natural light in the background somehow makes the blue look very strong. You should let the background be completely black so it looks more focused artistically.

Other than that, good job getting her eyes in focus as much as possible.

[Jeff Colburn]

I liked the photographs, and the model is beautiful. I agree about the hair light, and I wasn't crazy about how the back light gave a halo effect to her clothes. On the first photograph, the way she is holding her right hand, her nails look so short it almost looks like she bites them, and she was squeezing her arm a little to tightly.

Keep up the good work.

Have Fun,
Jeff

[Raginl3ull]

Absolutely agree with everything already said. Aside from that well done. The first 3 are so clear, wish I could do that well.


Thanks SJC for your feedback! :)

[Raginl3ull]

I won't mention the points already mentioned by others but the facial tones in 1, 2 and 3 are gorgeous!

The "hobbit mutant" remark caused me to spit a mouthful of tea over my keyboard... :)


Thanks JimMcrae, and yes the "hobbit mutant" comment made me laugh also LMAO :lol:

[Raginl3ull]

You might want to fix the skin tones on her arms in the first 3 photos.

In #4, the natural light in the background somehow makes the blue look very strong. You should let the background be completely black so it looks more focused artistically.

Other than that, good job getting her eyes in focus as much as possible.

Thanks AlexMoPhotography! I'll definitely keep the skin tone on other body parts in mind more while touching up moving forward. I can see what you're talking about in #4, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks again for your honest feedback! :D

[Raginl3ull]

I liked the photographs, and the model is beautiful. I agree about the hair light, and I wasn't crazy about how the back light gave a halo effect to her clothes. On the first photograph, the way she is holding her right hand, her nails look so short it almost looks like she bites them, and she was squeezing her arm a little to tightly.

Keep up the good work.

Have Fun,
Jeff


Thanks Jeff! Definitely toning downt he hair/rim light for future shoots, and now that you point it out, I can see the her grip in #1 being a tad tight and the short nails lol. :lol:

[joedlh]

With a model like this, it would be difficult to take a picture that wasn't perfect. Let me try to find something wrong in them, however.

I think the light in the first three is too dead on. This might be a point of personal style, but I would like to see a little less light on one side or the other. I think it would bring out more of her facial contours and, if one could imagine, further enhance an already striking beauty. There's something about her hair in these three too. I'm sorry to say that it looks oily in my monitor, especially at the top of her head.

I think #4 is a great shot, if quirky. The blue light works for you. I don't care for #5. Parts of her face and neck are blown out. The camera's point of view makes her neck look too thick. #6 has blown out highlights too. I don't think the blue cast is helping here either.

[Amamba]

Thanks JimMcrae, and yes the "hobbit mutant" comment made me laugh also LMAO :lol:

Glad you guys liked it ;) I was concerned that perhaps my remark was a bit too cruel, of course I didn't mean to offend anyone, she's a very pretty girl.

Anyway, I returned to the thread to make another point but I see that someone already beat me to it... I wanted to say that I gave you critique because that's what you asked for, but I wish I would get photos of such quality. The sharpness and color rendition in the first shot is amazing. What lens did you use ?