OK this is my first time doing any kind of portrait or E-pics. I would like to get into this a bit more. These are some friends of mine that are on a budget and let me shoot them. I did not charge them being this is my first time doing E-pics. I shot this with a 40D and a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6.
OK, number 5 is not a good picture. I know this. I have seen this type of shot numerous times and thought i would try it. I popped a flash. But had a hard time keeping them in focus. I hope they are acceptable.
The first thing that I thought when I saw these was "Toledo Botanical Gardens?"
The lighting is a bit harsh. I know that is hard to control, but just go out right before Sunset (which is hard right now since that is when it gets cold)
yup, light is crap, its not your fault the earth is the way it is, but you need to get more flexible with the lighting, and off camera flash if anything, don't try and get flare until you are MUCH more advanced with the parts that matter, focus, exposure, composition. too tight on some to distant on others. and lay off the BW contrast.
Thanks guys for all your comments. JHerr you are correct. It is the Toledo Botanical Gardens. The lighting was horrible that day. It was a rough days shoot. I could probably have done a better job planning ahead for the shoot.
OtherJoe99 wrote:
I could probably have done a better job planning ahead for the shoot.
That may be. But you (and be extension, "we") have to be good at finding the lighting conditions that are ideal. For example, I had an environmental family shoot that had to be complete by noon. Sunlight was harsh harsh harsh, so we had to find other outdoor options (shade).
This photography thing isn't as easy as it looks - keep practicing and you'll have plenty of epiphanies as you improve.
Nice first try, I remember doing the same not toooo long ago!
I guess I can make a few comments for ya;
#1. watch cutting off the elbow. Also he doesn't look too interested in her, I would maybe get him to take his hand out of his pocket and on her somehow. He is also squinting.
#2. Selective color and de-saturation in processing rarely works... I would try and work on more natural color treatments before trying to get fancy.
#3. The pose is nice and black and white is nice too. Try playing around with your composition, for example putting them in the outer third horizontally rather than in the middle of the frame.
#4. again, dont cut off hands and fingers, and he isn't looking too interested again, maybe would have tried getting him to hold her arm and look down and/or kiss her head.
#5. Sun flare shots I love, and hard to pull off... were you shooting this manually? It backfocussed on the trees behind them, and they are underexposed. Put the metering setting to spot metering, and expose for the skin, or just overcompensate alot for the sun. Also try finding a contrasty spot like an eye etc. to lock focus on.
Thanks for posting here! Hope these were in any way helpful, keep shooting!
Bryan Lindsey it's funny you said that because my friends were late for the shoot by several hours and I had to set up for a sports shoot that evening. By the time we got out the sun was already at its peak and we were very rushed. I wish i could have found a better area for them. I wanted to be out there by 9am or so. Samwise is there a way to get people that have naturally squinty eyes to not have so squinty eyes? Also as for the flare shot, it was the last shot of day and just thought i would try it. I think it shifted focus when i was about to shoot. I will try your tips for those shots in the future. Thanks to everyone!
