Beach sunrise shot with model

Critic and ways to improve it in post or next time out would be appreciated. Used a 24x32 softbox.

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Ooh! That's a lovely picture - well done.

David

Horizon looks tilted down on the right. The model's expression/dress doesn't seem to match the location.

I like it, though the model seems to be expressing that she's bumped her head.

The colors are very nice, and she is pretty.

Other than that, the shot needs a lot. The composition isn't very good, her feet are 'gone', the lighting on her face produces unflattering shadows, the tracks in the sand are distracting, and her pose is very stiff and unnatural. Sorry to be so critical, but with a nice sunset, a beautiful model, and the beach, I think you had a lot of opportunities there.

If I were you I would go back to the beach and roam around without the model. Think about what you would want to convey in your photographs, how you could combine the setting with a model, what poses would be most flattering, how your lighting could have been different, etc.

Jon C wrote in post #12884363
The colors are very nice, and she is pretty.

Other than that, the shot needs a lot. The composition isn't very good, her feet are 'gone', the lighting on her face produces unflattering shadows, the tracks in the sand are distracting, and her pose is very stiff and unnatural. Sorry to be so critical, but with a nice sunset, a beautiful model, and the beach, I think you had a lot of opportun

What is it about the composition that makes it not very good? What are the unflattering shadows and how would you position the light differently to avoid them?

I appreciate your comments?

SOLESUp-- never looked at it that way bit now that you mention it I agree. Thanks for your thoughts.

I'll not touch on the lighting issues as I have little experience with this sort of setup.

To me, the compositional issue is a combination of the background and the tracks in the sand. My eyes are drawn to the bridge by the tracks in the sand so my eye is pulled between the girl, who "should" be the subject, and the background, especially the left side of the frame.

I would be tempted to try moving a portrait orientation that retains less sand and only one tower on the bridge - perhaps move your whole setup nearer the water.

Well, in brief, when you bring a classy model to a shoot she is generally going to be the focus of the picture. When you just have her stand to one side, with a mass of chopped up, rutted sand dominating a fourth of the frame, and then the bridge with lights covering half the frame,... there is just too much going on. With her just standing there, your eye tends to move down her body, and with her feet gone it then gets grabbed by the sand. The ruts in the sand carry you away from her to the bridge. Once there, all the detail in the bridge holds you for a long time. So, the question is: Did you intend her to be the focus of the picture? If so, she has to be primary item in the picture that someone will look at. Her pose needs to be structured so that your eye moves from her face to her body and limbs, and her arms and legs should lead you around her body, and then back to her face. To do this, they have to be bent, not just rigidly straight leading down to the sand.

With regard to lighting, the model has a beautiful face, but with fairly harsh lighting you need to watch the shape of shadows. The shadow next to her nose is not flattering, so moving the light source around until you found a pleasing shape, or having her move her head a bit. A single, fairly bright light source can produce some really dramatic lighting, but is not as forgiving as having multiple lights to provide some fill. You need to be looking at what looks best on her face as you are taking the shots.

Thanks for the critique JoN i appreciate you taking the time.

I don't disagree with comments above but I would simply address the crooked issue ( I used the water line on the right) & de-emphasize the background more ...not dismiss it totally.

domat wrote in post #12884855
What is it about the composition that makes it not very good?

Good overall exposure, & it's an interesting image, but you need to tell us what the purpose of the shot is.
Is it your GF? Then I expect that she'll hate it because you didn't make her look good.
Something for a modeling "book"? As I said, an interesting image but I wouldn't cut off her feet.
Maybe a headache commercial? That might work.

So tell us why you shot it, & then justify why you shot it that way.

Just trying to make an interesting, pretty shot. Would be great for a headache ad The model is a model.