prof_fate
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Marcel VanEerd wrote:
(Is this now about etiquette as to when/how to take critique/compliments, or are we still discussing the photos Sergio posted?)
Sergio: I may not be a huge fan of your work posted here, however, I admire your capacity for trying new ways of expressing the way you see the world.
prof_fate: I feel that your first post was far from what I would consider appropriate critique. The way I interpreted your comments was that not only were you not impressed with Sergio's work, to which of course you are entitled, but you inserted comments suggesting knowledge of Sergio as a person and photographer, his work and his clients that I think you did not have.
I further feel that your comments were worded as being representative for an established standard: anything not abiding by your notions of what is good photography, is by default bad. I find that bad form and not exactly constructive to the enhancement and development of photography as a visual art form....Show more →
You perhaps need to go back to the third response on page one. I don't think I said anything of the sort. I said nothing about him as a person. I said he needs to learn posing. Did I compare his images to an 'established standard'? Yes. Of course. What other of kind of standard is there? I compared them to senior pictures. Not studio, not flowers, not sports. If he had said they were art photos then I'd have used a different standard as a comparison. But as senior [ipotraits they do not meet the established standard.
No, I don't know his clients and that was addressed in the my first post as well. If the client liked them then that's great, these images are a success from that standpoint.
To save you the time of paging back, here is my critique for you to re-read, since you obviously missed it the first time around.
I am not familiar with your work so I can't say this is trademark or not. As senior portraits go these are not very good. Nice images, great for a model, etc, but not what sells to seniors.
What is the purpose of senior pictures? Two - money for the photographer and only you know what this kid/parent spent. Secondly to document their entry into adulthood, basically. They are, more or less, at their physical prime but yet very self concsious and unsure of themselves. Most are still very much under their parent's shadow/protection/support (kids in many ways, not yet adults).
Senior Pictures should make them feel grown up, important, independent, persons of substance, showcase their accomplishments, record them (favorably) at this point in their lives.
OK, your first pic maks the kid seem small, lost and insignificant. Most teens feel this way without you emphasizing it to them.
Of the second 'pair' of images the first he has a goofy look on his face. A non-seller. The second isn't bad, a but much PP IMO and the angle has his ears looking odd - on both sides of his head. Not flattering or attractive. Not portraiture.
The empty lot with a bum in it and the kid very OOF? Try being sober next time. Or perhaps get mom drunk - this isn't a pic that will sell you to other parents/kids.
Four works.
Five, a pair - second works. First has very odd composition, distracting BG (Sky) and a nasty expression on his face. Not something mom will want on her wall or he'll want to hand out to his friends to be remembered by.
chest down shot..art perhaps, but a portrait without even the head in it is NOT a portrait. Might work as part of a collage. Again, not something other parents/kids will see and say "Yeah, that's the look I want for my year book shot!"
Sitting on the tele pole...by now I'm getting very tired of his strait square look at the camera pose. You need to learn posing. More variety if for no other reason. This pose does nothing to make the subject look good. sloping shoulders, bad hand posing, crotch aimed directly at the camera, etc.
the last 'pair'. The one on the right is much better than the one on the left - hey look, he's not staring straight into the camera! the tree needs to go, it's got no reason to be in the image and is distracting.
Overal you need to learn posing, composition, direction of your subject and get the hell out of photoshop. Make good solid images and then perhaps spice a few up with actions. PS effects do not make up for undsound fundamentals.
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388 wrote: