Nicely done.
I would say my only critique is that they are a little "stiff" not stiff like un-natural ... just a bit plain on a few of them. You are at the point where you should be pushing big time.
I don't want you to take this the wrong way either. I guess I am just trying to say you are ready to go to the next level. Your exposures and everything else are perfect I just would have liked more creativity or something.
I have been giving myself the same talk lately so you are not alone!
Dope locations. Mediocre work. Why is she holding his leg in one. She should be doing something else. 14 you should have been further back. Shot it telephoto as well. 15 is best in show but the poses are way rigid. 13 could have been so much more. Did you get any others with the soap bubbles?
hardlyboring wrote:
Nicely done.
I would say my only critique is that they are a little "stiff" not stiff like un-natural ... just a bit plain on a few of them. You are at the point where you should be pushing big time.
I don't want you to take this the wrong way either. I guess I am just trying to say you are ready to go to the next level. Your exposures and everything else are perfect I just would have liked more creativity or something.
I have been giving myself the same talk lately so you are not alone!
Doug
Thanks Doug! I have been struggling with this and ways to push myself to the next level. I appreciate your honesty. What you have been doing to posh yourself? You can PM if you like.
Sam Hassas wrote:
Dope locations. Mediocre work. Why is she holding his leg in one. She should be doing something else. 14 you should have been further back. Shot it telephoto as well. 15 is best in show but the poses are way rigid. 13 could have been so much more. Did you get any others with the soap bubbles?
Cheers.
Thanks Sam! Notes taken on 1, 14 and 15. I have a series of bubble shots. Was there anything in particular you were looking for? Different pose?
Fantastic set! Processing is absolute perfection - wonderful color and contrast. Three, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, are my favorites. Images will have more impact if you edit to include only one type of image per set (e.g. don't include #1 if you are going to include #3, etc.) unless you have a substantially different angle or moment. Fourteen doesn't work but could have been fixed with a little footwork . Lower angle on #11 may help to accentuate the lines. Eight in my favorite of the set - the feeling is genuine and authentic. Well done!
I actually have been giving the "pushing myself" thing a LOT of thought.
This is our busiest year so far and on top of being full time photographers my wife and I also are teachers. This year has been my hardest year in school. Bad kids, way to busy with work etc. It has been a trying year and I am worn out quite frankly with wedding season just starting...
This is our last year teaching and we have only 11 days left in the classroom but it has taken its toll.
I find that lately because of my crazy schedule and the fact that I only sleep like 20 hours a week total my creativity has gone down the tube. Genesis was a big boast and an awesome time but I still struggle shoot to shoot with really pushing myself.
I used to list out shots I thought up, scout locations, and spend hours in the bookstore reading magazines (fashion etc.) for inspiration.
Lately I do not do ANY of that because I am soooo busy.
I tried incorporating more film into my work (besides my 4x5 stuff)...but the turn around time with the lab for color stuff is like 3 weeks and I do not have that much time. So that is pretty much done now.
I find that it is just a constant evolution and a constant trial and error.
For me the biggest help with inspiration is just to slow down and forget out life. Do something fun, adventurous, new. Lately I have not been able to do that.
My advice I guess would be this.... Ignore the first thing that comes into your mind when you setup a shot. You have already taken that picture. Move onto something else. Not necessarily a complete change of local ... maybe just a different angle etc. It is HARD to do. It does help though.
Other than that I would say just trust yourself and be confident that you are creative and can step it up!
Other things that may help:
Shoot with someone who you think is WAY better than you. It will push you really hard to do better and be more creative.
Put limits on yourself. For example: only take 2 lenses on an engagement session... or even 1 lens and 1 camera. You would be surprised how creative you have to get to make things work
martinezphoto - Thanks Mark! That has been one of my biggest improvements this year is perfecting a processing style. Notes taken on editing number of images in set and composition. I should of thought a little more. Good to know you saw where I was going with it.
charlandk - Thanks!
hardlyboring - Thanks Doug! That is excellent advice! I'm actually planning a camping/hiking trip next month and I'm excited to get out and clear my mind. I will keep you advice in mind when shooting. Also I like you idea of limiting lenses. It's one of the reasons I posted the "Engagement Shoots... What's in your bag?" thread. For the NYC trip I took the 24G, 35G and 85G. No speedlights or anything else. Sounds like I'm on the right track. I just need to try a little harder. Thanks for posting!
. Lower angle on #11 may help to accentuate the lines. Eight in my favorite of the set - the feeling is genuine and authentic. Well done!