Liza

Great photos and use of bokeh.

thenextguy wrote in post #12340152
Nice shots. 3 & 4 are my favorite.

I'm curious what others think of the bench in the foreground of the first shot.

I think it works because it becomes a line that leads you're eye into the frame and to the subject. I don't find it distracting because her white shirt is a lot brighter and it has a purpose (leading the eye into the frame). I like #1 and don't find the line created by the top of the bench distracting at all. In fact just the opposite, I think its an important design element.

Great series. A very few points of critique, though.

First, as to the bench in the first image, the leading lines are leading away from your subject to the unfocused part of the image. Having said that, the lines are also out of focus so it's not a deal killer. I'm not crazy about it but it doesn't distract too badly either, imo.

Her outfit in the first few shots is uncoordinated and distracting, imo. She's such an amazing model that she needs simplicity to go along with all that hair. Instead she has multicolored scarves, denim jacket, different colored skirt with a pattern on it and it all distracts from her beauty.

Otherwise, your work is solid as always and I ALWAYS enjoy seeing it!!

collierportraits wrote in post #12344770
Great series. A very few points of critique, though.

First, as to the bench in the first image, the leading lines are leading away from your subject to the unfocused part of the image. Having said that, the lines are also out of focus so it's not a deal killer. I'm not crazy about it but it doesn't distract too badly either, imo.

Her outfit in the first few shots is uncoordinated and distracting, imo. She's such an amazing model that she needs simplicity to go along with all that hair. Instead she has multicolored scarves, denim jacket, different colored skirt with a pattern on it and it all distracts from her beauty.

Otherwise, your work is solid as always and I ALWAYS enjoy seeing it!!

The dark metal bench back stops the line (faint implied line is there in that continues to the bright oof light but that just gives a real since of depth to the vanishing point which is right about there) which stops the eye right below her face and the face is what holds your eye. Also having the strong line of the sidewalk also leads to the vanishing point or right about where the bright oof spot is and that leads the eye across the image but again the face pulls you back.

anlenke wrote in post #12342228
I don't really care for it TBH. Because the black metal of the bench is so much lighter than the surrounding area of the photograph, I think it pulls too much for attention. I really like 2,3 and 4, the second being my favorite. They're all nice photographs, and the blur on that lens is something I love too, but it renders colors so well that I find my eye wanting to check them all out. At it's best, this lens is an isolator, similar to the 135L, and I'm not sure what it is, I think I'm just used to seeing you use that focal length, or maybe that separation is a little different in your strangers project? I'll have to think about it. I know my favorite shots with this lens are when I have a background that I can make, tonally, very even. Great work though man, you're really putting up nice stuff! I think the strangers project is helping inject a lot of personality into all your portraits.

Edit: LOVE the last one you just posted. That and 2 are my favorite.

Thanks for the comments – I hear ya about the 135L completely destroying the background. For this shoot, I wanted some type of identification of where she was instead of having the background a completely unrecognizable blur. I shot all at f2.0 for this reason. Both are awesome lenses, and actually more similar then different… just a different FL. I could of shot at f1.2 or f1.4 to get more separation, but I wanted more than an eyelash in focus, lol…

I’m not sure what it is about the bench shot, perhaps her calm but inquisitive expression… that and the one part of hair falling over her left eye… whatever it is, it just hit me as a favorite.
I think TMR (rob) posted this a little while ago, and I find it to be true. Even the best of the best photographs – if posted on a forum for C&C, people will nitpick. Overall, the bench shot just ‘struck’ me… so I like it, one of my fav’s from the set, along with others.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #12344732
I think it works because it becomes a line that leads you're eye into the frame and to the subject. I don't find it distracting because her white shirt is a lot brighter and it has a purpose (leading the eye into the frame). I like #1 and don't find the line created by the top of the bench distracting at all. In fact just the opposite, I think its an important design element.

Thanks - I find the lines and perspective of the shot work... the darkness or boken in the foreground dont bother me one bit. I think her expression and the lines make the shot for me, personally. Not going to win any awards with it or anything like that, but I like it enough. Its a 'keeper' to me.

m.shalaby wrote in post #12344869
Thanks for the comments – I hear ya about the 135L completely destroying the background. For this shoot, I wanted some type of identification of where she was instead of having the background a completely unrecognizable blur. I shot all at f2.0 for this reason. Both are awesome lenses, and actually more similar then different… just a different FL. I could of shot at f1.2 or f1.4 to get more separation, but I wanted more than an eyelash in focus, lol…

I’m not sure what it is about the bench shot, perhaps her calm but inquisitive expression… that and the one part of hair falling over her left eye… whatever it is, it just hit me as a favorite.
I think TMR (rob) posted this a little while ago, and I find it to be true. Even the best of the best photographs – if posted on a forum for C&C, people will nitpick. Overall, the bench shot just ‘struck’ me… so I like it, one of my fav’s from the set, along with others.

Its my fav too.


If you just break it down to abstract shapes its an interesting design and works on the level too.

collierportraits wrote in post #12344770
Great series. A very few points of critique, though.

First, as to the bench in the first image, the leading lines are leading away from your subject to the unfocused part of the image. Having said that, the lines are also out of focus so it's not a deal killer. I'm not crazy about it but it doesn't distract too badly either, imo.

Her outfit in the first few shots is uncoordinated and distracting, imo. She's such an amazing model that she needs simplicity to go along with all that hair. Instead she has multicolored scarves, denim jacket, different colored skirt with a pattern on it and it all distracts from her beauty.

Otherwise, your work is solid as always and I ALWAYS enjoy seeing it!!

Thanks for your kind words
The bench shot seems to be a topic of interest… a love it or hate it. Well, that’s cool, at least its interesting. I personally like it a lot due to her expression and the lines for me, in my mind, compliment the photo. But I can see how its not everyone’s cup of tea.

A word on wardrobe - This was my first ever model mayhem shoot, so to not be too picky/demanding, I left it pretty wide open. So it is what it is... I actually kinda like how the scarf color blends in with some of the buildings.

m.shalaby wrote in post #12344901
Thanks for your kind words
The bench shot seems to be a topic of interest… a love it or hate it. Well, that’s cool, at least its interesting. I personally like it a lot due to her expression and the lines for me, in my mind, compliment the photo. But I can see how its not everyone’s cup of tea.

I have a very good friend that says she gets nervous if to many people like her work. Sometimes (not saying that applies here) people want images to look like what they want them to look like instead of what they are. Thats the safe thing. Many create images to try and please everyone and again thats the safe thing. When you try and please everyone you wind up not pleasing anyone. Rarely does anything creative or really good ever follow a safe route. Usually that safe route is mapped in pre conceived ideas and compositions. Just some food for thought; heres what a couple of the greats had to say on the subject of composition:

"When subject matter is forced to fit into preconceived patterns, there can be no freshness of vision. Following rules of composition can only lead to a tedious repetition of pictorial cliches." - Edward Weston

"There are no rules and regulations for perfect composition. If there were we would be able to put all the information into a computer and would come out with a masterpiece. We know that's impossible. You have to compose by the seat of your pants." - Arnold Newman

I think there is some very interesting things going on visually in #1 beside being a very natural and real feeling moment/portrait. Those lines are just part of it. Good job and you do seem to have a strong sense for design.

airfrogusmc wrote in post #12344972
I have a very good friend that says she gets nervous if to many people like her work. Sometimes (not saying that applies here) people want images to look like what they want them to look like instead of what they are. Thats the safe thing. Many create images to try and please everyone and again thats the safe thing. When you try and please everyone you wind up not pleasing anyone. Rarely does anything creative or really good ever follow a safe route. Usually that safe route is mapped in pre conceived ideas and compositions. Just some food for thought; heres what a couple of the greats had to say on the subject of composition:

"When subject matter is forced to fit into preconceived patterns, there can be no freshness of vision. Following rules of composition can only lead to a tedious repetition of pictorial cliches." - Edward Weston

"There are no rules and regulations for perfect composition. If there were we would be able to put all the information into a computer and would come out with a masterpiece. We know that's impossible. You have to compose by the seat of your pants." - Arnold Newman

I think there is some very interesting things going on visually in #1 beside being a very natural and real feeling moment/portrait. Those lines are just part of it. Good job and you do seem to have a strong sense for design.

Thanks
I hear exactly what your saying and completely I agree with those quotes.

Take shot # 4 for example…. I guess you see my vision for perspective/design here again – and to me is again one of my favorites.

I’m sure most would say the lines are leading away from the subject and therefore not proper – but to me, I just like the photo.

When going through them after the shoot, that one ‘hit’ me and had ‘impact’ visually to me. Geometrically? The semi-candid? The lines and perspective of distance of the sidewalk? All of the above? Not sure, but whatever it is, the photo just struck me as a keeper. I had a feeling I would like that one when composing it but it came out better than I thought when actually seeing it on the screen. A keeper to me, but I’m sure some would say its improper.

I guess whats why photography is so great. There’s rules, and rules are meant to be broken. When rules are followed, you can get great results. When they are not, you get ‘interesting’ results. And ‘interesting’ is always going to be a “love it or hate it” thing.

m.shalaby wrote in post #12345056
Thanks
I hear exactly what your saying and completely I agree with those quotes.

Take shot # 4 for example…. I guess you see my vision for perspective/design here again – and to me is again one of my favorites.

I’m sure most would say the lines are leading away from the subject and therefore not proper – but to me, I just like the photo.

When going through them after the shoot, that one ‘hit’ me and had ‘impact’ visually to me. Geometrically? The semi-candid? The lines and perspective of distance of the sidewalk? All of the above? Not sure, but whatever it is, the photo just struck me as a keeper. I had a feeling I would like that one when composing it but it came out better than I thought when actually seeing it on the screen. A keeper to me, but I’m sure some would say its improper.

I guess whats why photography is so great. There’s rules, and rules are meant to be broken. When rules are followed, you can get great results. When they are not, you get ‘interesting’ results. And ‘interesting’ is always going to be a “love it or hate it” thing.

Rules usually mean safe. Greatness in anything creative is rarely achieved by being and doing whats safe.

Yes #1 and #4 are my favs and yes #4 its about the way the image is put together that re-enforces and works with everything in the frame. The way her gaze is towards the vanishing point and how the color in that area is warm and very similar to her scarf. Just the right amount of cool green to balance the warm tones in the frame. Good photos are always about more than the obvious. Again, nice use of space and like a much smarter man than I am and certainly one great photographer once told me and is really the only rule a visual artist should use in my opinion:
"Either everything in the frame is helping your visual statement and if everything in the frame is not helping it, then those elements are hurting it." I think in both #1 & #4 you have the elements in the frame supporting your visual statement.

^ well anyway, all the philosophy aside, I'm overall happy with the shoot for my first model shoot.

m.shalaby wrote in post #12348955
^ well anyway, all the philosophy aside, I'm overall happy with the shoot for my first model shoot.

And your and her opinion is most important. You did really well Matt. I guess what I wanted to say too in my first comment that didn't come out very clearly was that, by not using the 135 and nuking the BG , you leave more of the environment, which is fine, but it makes a connection with the subject and makes it an environmental portrait so I start thinking about the connection between the subject and her environment. Not a critique of any kind, just saying where my head goes...

anlenke wrote in post #12349114
And your and her opinion is most important. You did really well Matt. I guess what I wanted to say too in my first comment that didn't come out very clearly was that, by not using the 135 and nuking the BG , you leave more of the environment, which is fine, but it makes a connection with the subject and makes it an environmental portrait so I start thinking about the connection between the subject and her environment. Not a critique of any kind, just saying where my head goes...

yeah, i got ya totally in your first post. that was what I was going for for this series... more an enviromental portrait session

this is my first time working with a MM model so I'm overall happy w/ the results....
I sometimes expect too much of myself and have to realize I've only been doing this seriously for 4 months...

m.shalaby wrote in post #12349334
I sometimes expect too much of myself and have to realize I've only been doing this seriously for 4 months...

I hear you there. When I'm done with school, I'll finally have a chance to pursue this full time, and I can't wait. You're doing brilliantly; keep it up man.