First try at a portrait...

Nice job! Which lens did you use?

CoRNDoG R6 wrote in post #15292733
Nice job! Which lens did you use?

It was my Sigma 70-200mm HSM OS

I second that nice job

Did you almost get beat up for taking this shot? j/k I like the colors and the rim light on the hair. Only thing I can point out is a different crop, maybe?!? Less background on left side?!?

CoRNDoG R6 wrote in post #15292853
Did you almost get beat up for taking this shot? j/k I like the colors and the rim light on the hair. Only thing I can point out is a different crop, maybe?!? Less background on left side?!?

No my daughter was nicer than the biker . I struggled with the right crop on this, howuch tighter should I have gotten?

I would have moved the cam right just a touch so that her back was also included in frame. Color and sharpness look spot on

Nice job on this one. Next time I'd have her turn her shoulders more toward camera, about 45 deg. or so.

battleborn_nevada wrote in post #15292677

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/22342435@N06/8​222623400/
Portrait by Battle Born Photography, on Flickr

Let me know where I can improve...

You need to print and frame that one, great shot.

Try and photoshop out the left ear. In general I only show 1 ear in portraiture.

Try Crop the left and just above the pocket which is a bit dominating.

Great Monalisa though.

chrnat wrote in post #15294919
Try and photoshop out the left ear. In general I only show 1 ear in portraiture.

Try Crop the left and just above the pocket which is a bit dominating.

Great Monalisa though.

Seriously?

I'm sorry but that just seems ridiculous to me. If you think it would look better without that ear in the shot, then why not suggest re-shooting (or next time trying) with the hair not tucked behind the ear? That is a posing consideration rather than a technical one after all. In which case, fair comment.

but to try 'photoshop out' the ear entirely, what is that going to teach a (presumably) newcomer to photography? That 'mistakes' or shortcomings should be fixed by software in post-production? Aside from the fact that teaches the wrong mindset (there's nothing wrong with using photoshop/PP but it's not good to rely on it to fix mistakes that can be learned and otherwise avoided). Have you even thought about how you would clone out the ear without making it obvious and ruining the photo? Because of the way the rest of the hair falls naturally around the ear, it's going to take a LOT of work to remove the ear and make it look natural.

Now please don't take this too personally chrnat, I don't mean to chastise you, but I just don't see much value in your suggestion and what's more I think it will have a negative effect for the reasons mentioned.

As an exercise in cloning in itself it could be good practice, but in terms of improving one's photography I think that would be the wrong approach. Also your suggestion assumes possession of photoshop, which is not always the case.

My comments on the picture? Technically it's very good, focus is good and sharp, DOF is good, colour balance seems good. Personally I would have framed it either slightly wider or more to the right to fit more of her back in, and yes perhaps a bit more rotation in the shoulders, but other than that it looks pretty good to me.

yes, it might have looked a bit nicer without the ear exposed (although that's entirely subjective, it's not as if they are big and ugly ears), but I think there's more value in considering that next time and trying to improve the general compassion and framing than moving the pixels around.

Nice shot!

Arum

Please stick to criticising the photos not other people.

chrnat wrote in post #15307521
Arum

Please stick to criticising the photos not other people.

Ok maybe that's a fair comment and I apologise if I was a bit harsh, but I do think all the points I made are worth thinking about.

I like the camera right ear, I think it provides a line to the eyes and enhances the shot...

Great shot btw!