p.1 #1 · First Post: Available Light Portrait from Spring Formal
Hello Everyone,
I've been spending some time here getting tips and tricks, but have never uploaded anything. I'm hoping that I can improve and also contribute to the community, here.
Most of my photos consist of sports/action shots of my son and his friends, but I did get him to stand still long enough to try this portrait.
I wish I had a handheld reflector to show more light in the shadows of his eyes, but am ok with the shot, overall. I had this in color and b&w, but my kid likes the b&w (and this more serious expression).
Any thoughts or help? 2 pictures below. Comments welcomed.
p.1 #2 · First Post: Available Light Portrait from Spring Formal
I like these, and wouldn't worry about the eyes in the first one. I like (and have used) the idea of showing a serious side and a more relaxed, fun side of a teen in the same clothing. I recently did formal portraits of high school choral students in their choral wardrobe, both conventional waist-up shots, and then shots with props they brought along to show their other interests, still dressed in concert wardrobe. It was fun. So are these. Good work.
p.1 #6 · First Post: Available Light Portrait from Spring Formal
Thank you so much for the comments, everyone. For a first-time posting, I was hoping to get some comments such as these. It really is appreciated!
Douglas, when you say a wider shot/view, are you talking about having more negative space in the direction my son is facing (or headed in the skateboard shot)? I must admit that I've read many of the "crop, and then crop tighter" comments in the forum, and it had some bearing on how tight these are!
Thank you again for your comments. I am sincerely excited about participating here.
p.1 #9 · First Post: Available Light Portrait from Spring Formal
Thanks, Michael, for the advice. Interestingly enough, when I made a print of the first photo for Mother's Day gifts to mom and the grandmas, I did crop it just under the tie (as you'd suggested). It does work to pull the focus solely to my son's face.
p.1 #10 · First Post: Available Light Portrait from Spring Formal
2 would be nice as well if you were more to the left and he was doing that turn toward you and got some eye contact. I probably wouldn't have cropped as tight. I think both are good either way, just the little things, like that house
p.1 #12 · First Post: Available Light Portrait from Spring Formal
yoshidude wrote:
Thank you so much for the comments, everyone. For a first-time posting, I was hoping to get some comments such as these. It really is appreciated!
Douglas, when you say a wider shot/view, are you talking about having more negative space in the direction my son is facing (or headed in the skateboard shot)? I must admit that I've read many of the "crop, and then crop tighter" comments in the forum, and it had some bearing on how tight these are!
Thank you again for your comments. I am sincerely excited about participating here.
Scott
The wider comments mean you cropped too close to the edge of the frame, not about negative space. Shoulder almost touching the edge in one shot, for example.
p.1 #13 · First Post: Available Light Portrait from Spring Formal
Thanks Everyone,
Again, this has been a great first experience in posting, here. I really appreciate the effort and comments.
I can see that the crop is the main issue, and I even went back to the original file to see if I could find some more negative space in the direction my son was facing in each photo.
I realize that this is really not the biggest problem. It actually was something more elementary...... I just cropped it too close. Period.
Thank you guys. I'll keep working!
Happy Memorial Day!
Regards,
Scott
