Tremayne's Graduation Shoot

This past weekend I was honored when asked by our Student Body President here at East Carolina University in NC to take his graduation photo's Friday and Saturday. I did all the commencements he was a part of and a shoot with his family and friends and his party Saturday night.

Let me know what you guys think! This was my first Graduation Set.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/31268598@N07/5​711858842/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/31268598@N07/5​711303619/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/31268598@N07/5​711305479/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/31268598@N07/5​711866560/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/31268598@N07/5​711867858/

#1 is the best of the set...love the emotion displayed. Never pose a subject close to a wall unless you're taking a mugshot or making a hostage video.

A very good friend of mine is chairman of the Dept. of Sociology at ECU.

PixelMagic wrote in post #12392459
Never pose a subject close to a wall unless you're taking a mugshot or making a hostage video.

A very good friend of mine is chairman of the Dept. of Sociology at ECU.

Huh??????

Can you explain please?

What do you need explained?

What don't you like about the wall background?

Well atleast thats what I am wondering just to get anothers perspective, not to be argumentative. Like I said I am open to C&C and the more the better!

-Drew

Drew, the wall dominates the photos and detracts from the subject; especially in the second photo where it is in sharp focus. Perhaps you could have used a shallower DOF to blur the background slightly as in the third photo.

It generally isn't a good idea to pose a subject right next to a wall because they can introduce their own problems. If shooting with on-camera flash, for example, the shadow would invariably fall on the wall rather than out of the frame. Or a color cast can be introduced by the flash reflecting from the wall. If I have to pose someone near a wall I try to get at least 8-10 feet of separation and not position them right against the wall.

Ok got it. I do like how I was able to get some Bokeh in the 3rd shot and definitely see how that would have helped the others.

Thanks Pixel!

I can FEEL mom's pride in the 3rd shot. I like it!

I think the PP on these make them surreal in a bad way. I think you shuold take back on the clarity or sharpness or whatever it is that makes them look like there in a comic bookish. I dont know what it is but its a lil too much for my taste but this is jus my opinion.

Wow, what a blast of purple! Very cool.

My money is on #1

PixelMagic wrote in post #12392459
#1 is the best of the set...love the emotion displayed. Never pose a subject close to a wall unless you're taking a mugshot or making a hostage video.

I think your take on this is incorrect. The brick wall in these photos provides a really nice contrast to the persons in the photo and it looks great.

The series overall is great.

kuraz wrote in post #12393973
I think the PP on these make them surreal in a bad way. I think you shuold take back on the clarity or sharpness or whatever it is that makes them look like there in a comic bookish. I dont know what it is but its a lil too much for my taste but this is jus my opinion.

+1 Totally agree! Looks like you used Topaz Adjust or something. Doesn't work at all imho!

Great shots! If they were my photos i'd fix the slightly angled photos of #2 and 4

Well, you're certainly entitled to your opinion as I am to mine.

If you re-read the first post you'd see the that the OP was asked to shoot these photos over a two-day period. I'm willing to bet he had a wide choice of unique backdrops on campus rather than a nondescript brick wall.

They are great if you're going for the "snapshot" look.

JTX wrote in post #12396301
I think your take on this is incorrect. The brick wall in these photos provides a really nice contrast to the persons in the photo and it looks great.

The series overall is great.

I like 'em!

I understand why you cropped the last one as you did (to include the integral part of the grraduate pointing skyward)...but man, that kid's face behind him is distracting. Especially since he is looking right at the camera. Not sure what to do about it however. Maybe masking and blurring the background a little more?