Larry, I like the second shot of Aya. I definitely like the perspective (shooting from the ground up) and I like the effect of the tilted frame. You have a beautiful model to work with and she pays attention to important details (such as her nail polish matching her outfit); but another detail that might have improved this shot would have been to wipe off her boots prior to the shot. Just a thought.
The first shot is nice too, but I agree with eric that the ever-so-slight tilt of the horizon does not look intentional and is mildly distracting.
Overall, I do like these shots though.
Dave I.
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Had to edit this post as I saw that somebody already pointed out the dirt on the boots in one of your earlier posts of Aya. It is still something that you might keep in mind, on additional shoots. Cheers.
Edited by David Israel on Apr 13, 2008 at 08:30 PM GMT
i think you can see her underwear. it that intentional?
and the red metal square should have been eliminated.
#2
it's a good start, but keep at it. when you post verticals this big, i can't see the whole thing on my laptop at once, so the viewing experience is compromised.
Ask yourself - WHY am I making this particular shot ? What is the purpose of it?
Yes - she is very attractive and erotic. But the images are NOT complimentary and do not "say" anything - except that you are "straining" because you have nothing to say.
Try writing down before each session WHY you are making the images. Do you want to impress us here ? Do you want to impress the model - if so, why ? Do you want to practice some particular type of photography ? If so what ? And why ?
DO NOT SHOW THESE WRITTEN NOTES ON WHY you are making images to ANYONE - EVER. BE AS HONEST WITH YOURSELF AS YOU CAN.
If you do not KNOW why you are making an image the very best you can hope for is basically a lucky snapshot.
ANY reason is an acceptable one (tho you might not want to tell us, or her, what it is. BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE A TARGET in mind, to be making an image for a reason.
It is perfectly OK to make an image just for erotic reasons. It is equally OK to pretend you have an art director outlining what you are trying to accomplish.
BUT if you shoot without a reason you will never get anything of value. At the very least try to shoot an image of this girl to copy the feel of someone else's work. Do not try to copy a SPECIFIC image (or at least I hope you are able to move beyond this quickly). Take a fashion magazine and imagine what the directions given by the Art Director for a given shot were. Then shoot one of your own.
The girl is very sexy and if she is willing you can copy images from Playboy or similar magazines. But again you should PLAN what look you are after - see how seldom you find just arbitrary "sexy" shots - they follow a plan, a target.
BTW - tilts and weird angles are weaknesses - showing you are sure you have nothing to say. Also - those boots are ugly - they look cheap and do not fit, and do not compliment the girl.
I am sorry to be so tough on you but saying "pretty girl, pretty picture" will not help you. One thing is very good though - the images are technically adequate. That's a good starting point.
One of the strengths of photography is the wastebasket (it used to be referred to as the photographer's most useful tool). Now its the delete button. Remember shooting digital costs nothing. Try lots and lots of shots and throw away most. Never - NEVER - show ANYBODY a shot you are not happy with; that you are not proud of.
If you are shooting with an unpaid model showing her bad shots will poison future shoots. Same thing - maybe worse - with a paid model. The paid model will still pose but not cooperate so well if your work is poor.
Keep working - remember the past is prologue only. Do the best you can with what you have - and try to do it in style. You can and will learn if you keep shooting, trying, and looking at images.
I appreciate the suggestions that have been given. Some of them did sting, but the reality is that I have come a ways in my photography while having a ways to go. I like the suggestion of developing a purpose for each shoot--what I am looking to achieve. I have read that some photogs storyboard their shoots. How well does this work for anyone here? If you use this, how do you go about it?
Hello Larry! You will quickly find that the People Forum on FM has people who critique harshly. But that is the BEST part. I have been on many forums where everyone has nothing to say but compliments and that helps nobody. Learn from your mistakes and do better.
Anyways, regarding your posts on storyboard photography check out this guy's work. It is AMAZING:
Regarding your photos, I agree with most of the comments already posted (I especially hate camera tilt!) but I would like to add that I find the model's bra line and nipples distracting in photo #2. As I a guy I like nipples, but as a photographer these nipples are a no no.
Rennie has some good recommendations there to begin with. I'm not really fond of her pose in #1. #2 doesn't do much for her either in my opinion.
I like girls and all but I think a having a bra on would have been a bit more attractive. If I were to shoot #2 again, I would've shot it more on her level (eye level) shooting off to the left with the background fading off into the distance. Not sure how wide those cement blocks stand but that's what I would've done.
Thanks for the support Spencer and Mike. Unfortunately, I don't know what caused the problem with her "bra line". She wasn't wearing a bra. Huh, well I will try to pay better attention to that next time out.
I find nothing wrong with the model's positioin in the first picture. This position is very common in Asian countries. You do not see it here as often as they are told it is a no no. If it suggests she is using the toilet it shows were your mind is. People from other countries and cultures use this position to rest as do the Asians.
I like the nipples as a natural part of the body. Sorry they do not excite me as they do some of you which is why you complain.
