Friendd

I normally shoot with flashes for fill or rim, etc but decided to step out of that box and use reflectors and natural window light. It really makes you think how you want the subject to be positioned and how light falls on ones face.

Anyways, heres a quick portrait of a friend, window light camera left, white reflector for fill camera right.

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!!!

Lighting is nice but three things jump out at me.
1) Over exposed
2) WB seems off
3) Composition is bad.

Here is a quick edit to correct #'s 1 & 2.

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May I ask why the composition is flat out just 'bad'?

I wouldn't say that it's bad. I would just say that it is "different". Different than your typical portrait.

Works for me!

Works for me. Good shot.

good light. real clear

toldey wrote in post #4872983
(edited)May I ask why the composition is flat out just 'bad'?

Your subject position in the frame leads out of the picture rather than into it. It would have made a more pleasing photo for the subject to have been placed more to the left of the image which would draw the eye into the photograph. And remember, this is just my opinion. You are the photographer and if you and the subject like the image, then no other opinions matter.

Also, I might mention that I now realize that you did not ask for a critique but I thought that was want you wanted when you bumped the post. For that I apologize.

Hinson wrote in post #4874386
Your subject position in the frame leads out of the picture rather than into it. It would have made a more pleasing photo for the subject to have been placed more to the left of the image which would draw the eye into the photograph. And remember, this is just my opinion. You are the photographer and if you and the subject like the image, then no other opinions matter.

Also, I might mention that I now realize that you did not ask for a critique but I thought that was want you wanted when you bumped the post. For that I apologize.

I did want a critique but you didnt seem to say anything aside from the negatives and only the negatives of the photograph.

There is no set rule for how a photo should be composed other than to follow the basic rule of 3rds. I personally think it works well, sure the subjects head is towards the right side of the frame and sure our eyes read things from left to right but with his arm being in the lower left and foreground of the frame, I think it balances it out nicely. If his arm wasn't resting on the sofa and everything was leaning to the right than I would agree.

OK, composition is up to the photographer, but the image is too cool. Hinson's warm up works much better to my eyes. It also brings up the background a bit more which I like.

Great smile that involves his whole face, amazing white teeth.

Hinson wrote in post #4874386
Your subject position in the frame leads out of the picture rather than into it. It would have made a more pleasing photo for the subject to have been placed more to the left of the image which would draw the eye into the photograph. And remember, this is just my opinion. You are the photographer and if you and the subject like the image, then no other opinions matter.

I think that the composition could lead the eye out of the picture, but the fact that he's looking back at the camera anchors the viewer in the image.

toldey wrote in post #4874582
There is no set rule for how a photo should be composed...

See my signature.

I have given up on the rule of thirds. I still use it to a minor extent, but this is what I use if I'm concerned about sticking to rules on a particular shot:

http://www.diagonaalme​thode.nl/

The warmer version does look better IMO. There are other comp issues at play but I agree that the crop does not work. You have nice light, comfortable low key pose and the subjects face in the upper right quarter of the frame. It is just not visually pleasing to view.

So generally I agree with Hinsons comments. The subject is the dominate element in the image and the arm is just an OOF blur that also draws attention from the subjects face. If you had other elements in the image then maybe this crop would be OK, but in my opinion this is a redo.

I have to agree with Hinson and LBaldwin... Still if you're happy with this image, file our opinions under 'G' and move on... Thanks for sharing

I do however think that the pose and the comp do have a value in the commercial sectiom. If you were to drop off the book case to a neutral grey and add space for verbage or logo or tech info then that would be acceptable. In other words if you were shooting art work for an ad this would work great for a right facing page (L SIDE) or perhaps a back page ad. Perhaps try this shot as a main element in a advert mockup and see what happens. I had a shoot similier to that about 10 years ago, The AD insisted that we use a comp very similier to yours. I really hated it, it was not the least bit pleasing to my young eye. I was getting paid a princly sum for the shoot so I did what I was told. The ad was for a face cream - successful ad tho. The cream was pulled off the shelf after they found out it was no so good ----- for your skin.

But to the OP: keep shooting, and keep trying experiments. That is how we all learn what is pleasing or "correct". You still can break every rule of comp and bring home some wonderful image and some rusty tool like me will say ya did it all wrong ;->

Hey, no offense taken at all. Thats what forums are for..too learn from. Perhaps it would have been a more pleasing image with a different comp, perhaps I coulda done this to make it more appealing. I have tried many things in the past and being caught in this situation of making that decision of where to play the subject, I did my best with what I had as far as space, etc goes and it may not be aesthetically pleasing to all but with that being said, everyone has a different taste and not everyone will like what you put out. Thanks all for the comments though! Keep shooting all,