Finally detaching myself from taking "technically perfect" shots

Both great shots!!!

Like my saying, "Just because everyone eats McDonald's, doesn't make it gourmet, shoot what you like!"

I know you said you are trying to getting away from "the perfect" image", but still keep it in mind. #2 has a couple things that bother me, his dead center frame position, cropped off foot, and tilt of the pole.

#1 is amazing, don't change a thing.


(BTW, is that Brenda Song in #1?)

theantiquetiger wrote in post #16826670
Both great shots!!!

Like my saying, "Just because everyone eats McDonald's, doesn't make it gourmet, shoot what you like!"

I know you said you are trying to getting away from "the perfect" image", but still keep it in mind. #2 has a couple things that bother me, his dead center frame position, cropped off foot, and tilt of the pole.

#1 is amazing, don't change a thing.


(BTW, is that Brenda Song in #1?)

Thank you

Yea, #2 has a few things. The cropped out foot and I should've been a step over to my right to capture the full word up top. That would've also fixed the dead center staging haha.

#1 is an Australian model that was here a few weeks back at a shoot with Steve Bitanga @ Illest store in Costa Mesa. Rosie Ly. She told me to do some behind the scenes. Done and done

theantiquetiger wrote in post #16826670
#1 is amazing, don't change a thing.

Will disagree with you in that the entire left side of the image can be cropped and her face is dead center (same complaint you had about #2

Detaching yourself from taking technically perfect shots is a bad idea. In these two examples they didn't help you at all, you are still left with very dull, static images where the subjects are dead center and the balance is off. So if your goal was to be artistic and have stronger composition, I can't say you achieved this.

What you should be aiming for is technically perfect AND well composed shots. With practice the technicalities become second-hand and you can focus on composition. You should not sacrifice one for the other.

planet5D wrote in post #16827000
Will disagree with you in that the entire left side of the image can be cropped and her face is dead center (same complaint you had about #2

I actually only crop photos if they need to be sized to fit something. If I were to crop it, should I stick to a specific aspect ratio or freely crop to whatever may look best ?

thedcmule2 wrote in post #16827063
Detaching yourself from taking technically perfect shots is a bad idea. In these two examples they didn't help you at all, you are still left with very dull, static images where the subjects are dead center and the balance is off. So if your goal was to be artistic and have stronger composition, I can't say you achieved this.

What you should be aiming for is technically perfect AND well composed shots. With practice the technicalities become second-hand and you can focus on composition. You should not sacrifice one for the other.

I meant in context of redoing shoots until I get the desired outcome. The BW was a somewhat staged photo but he wanted to pose in the Osaka smoker squat instead. I can see where the composition goes wrong in that one. In the color photo, how would you crop it to give it more life?

I would not have cropped it at all, but if I was forced to use that angle with the model staring in that exact direction (im assuming shes looking at a mirror), I would recompose and position her on the left hand side of the frame and give her eyes space to look into, and I would also angle the camera down so there isn't so much space above her head (it's almost 1/3 of the photo worth of negative space).

By doing this, you remove the distracting black blob on the bottom left corner along with the slit of window at the edge that's not helping the picture at all. It also lets us see more of the store inside, perhaps more sneakers, clothes and skate decks. Then, we'll know exactly where she is, and we can see more of the environment shes in. Photography is the art of limitation, remove what isn't useful and add what detail is. Ask yourself if that entire left hand side of the photo is helping at all. That is how you step away from only focusing on technicalities and start focusing on creating strong moods in your work. Good luck.

thedcmule2 wrote in post #16827285
I would not have cropped it at all, but if I was forced to use that angle with the model staring in that exact direction (im assuming shes looking at a mirror), I would recompose and position her on the left hand side of the frame and give her eyes space to look into, and I would also angle the camera down so there isn't so much space above her head (it's almost 1/3 of the photo worth of negative space).

By doing this, you remove the distracting black blob on the bottom left corner along with the slit of window at the edge that's not helping the picture at all. It also lets us see more of the store inside, perhaps more sneakers, clothes and skate decks. Then, we'll know exactly where she is, and we can see more of the environment shes in. Photography is the art of limitation, remove what isn't useful and add what detail is. Ask yourself if that entire left hand side of the photo is helping at all. That is how you step away from only focusing on technicalities and start focusing on creating strong moods in your work. Good luck.

Got it. I'll take note as I have a shoot on Sunday and keep these things in mind. My mind is still locked in a virtual point and shoot cycle as that was all "event coverage" photography in relations to cars was for me. Have to shift gears when photographing people-- Thank you.

planet5D wrote in post #16827000
Will disagree with you in that the entire left side of the image can be cropped and her face is dead center (same complaint you had about #2

You and your rule of thirds! I feel the image works very well with her in the center because of all the stuff in the BG. It works in this image. Actually, in the second image, his face falls right on the cross hairs of the RoT's, but it still doesn't work. RoT's is a very good rule to follow when starting out, keeping your images well composed, but the rule is not set in stone.

theantiquetiger wrote in post #16827560
You and your rule of thirds! I feel the image works very well with her in the center because of all the stuff in the BG. It works in this image. Actually, in the second image, his face falls right on the cross hairs of the RoT's, but it still doesn't work. RoT's is a very good rule to follow when starting out, keeping your images well composed, but the rule is not set in stone.

I agree that the rule should not be set in stone - but the vast majority of the time it works and it works for pros as well as those starting out.

for the first image, please tell me what is redeeming about the blank white wide pillar on the left.. and the black bag in the bottom of the frame and the little protrusion of the counter... those things are useless to tell the story of this young lady and in fact, they detract a whole bunch.

Sure, the stuff to image right tells a big part of the story and is valuable, but the left is just a total distraction.

thedcmule2 wrote in post #16827063
Detaching yourself from taking technically perfect shots is a bad idea. In these two examples they didn't help you at all, you are still left with very dull, static images where the subjects are dead center and the balance is off. So if your goal was to be artistic and have stronger composition, I can't say you achieved this.

What you should be aiming for is technically perfect AND well composed shots. With practice the technicalities become second-hand and you can focus on composition. You should not sacrifice one for the other.

AMEN!

Nothing to comment about, as you achieved your goal, as neither are "technically perfect"

thedcmule2 wrote in post #16827063
Detaching yourself from taking technically perfect shots is a bad idea. In these two examples they didn't help you at all, you are still left with very dull, static images where the subjects are dead center and the balance is off. So if your goal was to be artistic and have stronger composition, I can't say you achieved this.

What you should be aiming for is technically perfect AND well composed shots. With practice the technicalities become second-hand and you can focus on composition. You should not sacrifice one for the other.

I couldn't disagree more. You would tell Earnst Haas to shoot at a faster shutter speed so the bullfighter pictures showed no motion blur? Then they would be just another pic of a bullfighter.

Same here the OP achieved what he wanted to, something different. I like #1, the background lines support the center composition.

breal101 wrote in post #16828297
I couldn't disagree more. You would tell Earnst Haas to shoot at a faster shutter speed so the bullfighter pictures showed no motion blur? Then they would be just another pic of a bullfighter.

Shutter speed is a completely personal and creative choice. Did I ever say no motion blur was technically correct thing to do? NOPE! You are disagreeing with something I never even said or implied.

breal101 wrote in post #16828297
something different.

Not really. Let's stop sugar coating it.