Family portraits - please critique

T

Tami Jo

Senior Member
So a combination. Maybe I will use my nifty fifty and my 55-300 and see how that works. The shoot is going to be outdoors so these should do fairly well. Especially the 50 1.8 :)

Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2
 
J

JudeIscariot

Senior Member
These are all very good. I can't really find anything I don't like about them or anything others might really pick on (other than someone might mention the lens flare on the one, as some people despise it in all forms).
 
K

Kodiak

Senior Member


Family portraits - please critique???


OK then, systematically! And since you have this camera, I will treat you like a
serious hobbyist:

1. This picture is perfect in my book: tonal range, rendition, frame… all perfect.
Even the chosen moment! Your PP is not discrete enough. Artifacts

2. I like the vertical shift that reflects the playfulness of childhood. The chosen
moment is great but the rendition is too far in the high keys.

3. Here, the high keyed rendition would have been the right approach (because
of the "dreamy mood" it gives to a memory) if the burnt out-wash-out area had
not been there. This negative feature suggests a darker rendition in order to re-
establish the tonal range. However, this adjustment may take away the "dreamy
mood" but will not affect the happiness of that well chosen moment,


4. Again, a very slight too high value toward the high keys but other wise very good.
Man, I don't see your problem with the right hand!!! Just bring down the tonal values
a tad, and everything will be ok! PP artifacts.

5. The high key rendition here may enter under the tab "artistic interpretation". You
seem to fancy high keys and I not… except here! Simply because the whites are not
yet burnt out… but almost! They must be around 230 to 245 for sure but not yet 255!

6. See point 1.

7. I can't. No way, I can't… just look at this photograph technically… she looks too
beautiful, playful, and happy! Let me catch my breath.
Ok, I'm back. This time, I will remind you that the best B&W are not direct conversion
but applied conversion, after all colour parameters have been justified. I hope you are
sooting in RAW… otherwise your (or this shot) are doomed!


8. Start by seeing #6 & #1. =)
I am aware, this doesn't meet any golden lines. I tried to crop it a million times,
but for some reason, this original talks to me...
Then, let it talk… it tells no lie! The only thing is that the chosen focal length was too
short, for sure!. Otherwise very very cool!

Promise I will have a chance to see your corrections. Please! =)

How in the world do you do portraits at a sunny day?!
I would like to answer this but it will a little later… I have to run!


Have a good time!
 
Last edited:
wud

wud

Senior Member
JudeIscariot said:
These are all very good. I can't really find anything I don't like about them or anything others might really pick on (other than someone might mention the lens flare on the one, as some people despise it in all forms).
Click to expand...

Yeah, that could maybe have been done better.

This isn't the best picture due to her expression but I soooo love the light. I got like 20 shots at this place and NONE came out as they should, as everybody were looking weird, picking nose etc lol.

roskilde-8328_web.jpg




Kodiak said:


Family portraits - please critique???


OK then, systematically! And since you have this camera, I will treat you like a
serious hobbyist:

1. This picture is perfect in my book: tonal range, rendition, frame… all perfect.
Even the chosen moment! Your PP is not discrete enough. Artifacts

2. I like the vertical shift that reflects the playfulness of childhood. The chosen
moment is great but the rendition is too far in the high keys.

3. Here, the high keyed rendition would have been the right approach (because
of the "dreamy mood" it gives to a memory) if the burnt out-wash-out area had
not been there. This negative feature suggests a darker rendition in order to re-
establish the tonal range. However, this adjustment may take away the "dreamy
mood" but will not affect the happiness of that well chosen moment,


4. Again, a very slight too high value toward the high keys but other wise very good.
Man, I don't see your problem with the right hand!!! Just bring down the tonal values
a tad, and everything will be ok! PP artifacts.

5. The high key rendition here may enter under the tab "artistic interpretation". You
seem to fancy high keys and I not… except here! Simply because the whites are not
yet burnt out… but almost! They must be around 230 to 245 for sure but not yet 255!

6. See point 1.

7. I can't. No way, I can't… just look at this photograph technically… she looks too
beautiful, playful, and happy! Let me catch my breath.
Ok, I'm back. This time, I will remind you that the best B&W are not direct conversion
but applied conversion, after all colour parameters have been justified. I hope you are
sooting in RAW… otherwise your (or this shot) are doomed!


8. Start by seeing #6 & #1. =)
I am aware, this doesn't meet any golden lines. I tried to crop it a million times,
but for some reason, this original talks to me...
Then, let it talk… it tells no lie! The only thing is that the chosen focal length was too
short, for sure!. Otherwise very very cool!

Promise I will have a chance to see your corrections. Please! =)

How in the world do you do portraits at a sunny day?!
I would like to answer this but it will a little later… I have to run!


Have a good time!
Click to expand...


Thank you very much for your solid critique :)
I am not really sure what you are looking for in picture 7, you think its to washed out or?

If I were to edit these again, I am not really sure you would be happy lol. I think I have a love for something high key-ish yes, havent really thought about it before (and actually I thought high key were more like this: google).

I will pay more attention to burned out areas, but I must admit I do it in PP sometimes, as I want the picture like that.. BUT I will definitely think more about it.
 
K

Kodiak

Senior Member
I am not really sure what you are looking for in picture 7, you think its to washed out or?​


​
7. I can't. No way, I can't… just look at this photograph technically… she looks too
beautiful, playful, and happy! Let me catch my breath. ​


This part was not about the picture but the subject!

​

Ok, I'm back. This time, I will remind you that the best B&W are not direct conversion
but applied conversion, after all colour parameters have been justified. I hope you are
sooting in RAW… otherwise you (or this shot) are doomed!​


This part is about the technicals, and yes, it is the shot that requires the
most some attention.

You got a beautiful family there, and a great eye to catch it!

​
Have a good time!
 
Last edited:
wud

wud

Senior Member
Kodiak said:
I am not really sure what you are looking for in picture 7, you think its to washed out or?​


​
7. I can't. No way, I can't… just look at this photograph technically… she looks too
beautiful, playful, and happy! Let me catch my breath. ​


This part was not about the picture but the subject!

​

Ok, I'm back. This time, I will remind you that the best B&W are not direct conversion
but applied conversion, after all colour parameters have been justified. I hope you are
sooting in RAW… otherwise your (or this shot) are doomed!​


This part is about the technicals, and yes, it is the shot that requires the
most some attention.

You got a beautiful family there, and a great eye to catch it!

​
Have a good time!
Click to expand...

:) I got that, I was just wondering what you meant was missing in PP - but actually, dont tell me, I'll try to edit it again tomorrow, I will probably end up with something else.

Thinking about it, I think I chose this one because of her expression. It was simply the best of the ones I got of her alone, but not the greatest in technique. Guess that is what you are seeing.
 
wud

wud

Senior Member
:crushed: Kodiak were very right.

New edit. I seem to have fucked her skin very much up in the first edit - sorry 'bout that, pretty girl! I did already send the pictures for them, hmm.

tara_6170_ny_edit_web.jpg
 
F

Flugelbinder

Senior Member
Kodiak said:


Family portraits - please critique???


OK then, systematically! And since you have this camera, I will treat you like a
serious hobbyist:

1. This picture is perfect in my book: tonal range, rendition, frame… all perfect.
Even the chosen moment! Your PP is not discrete enough. Artifacts

2. I like the vertical shift that reflects the playfulness of childhood. The chosen
moment is great but the rendition is too far in the high keys.

3. Here, the high keyed rendition would have been the right approach (because
of the "dreamy mood" it gives to a memory) if the burnt out-wash-out area had
not been there. This negative feature suggests a darker rendition in order to re-
establish the tonal range. However, this adjustment may take away the "dreamy
mood" but will not affect the happiness of that well chosen moment,


4. Again, a very slight too high value toward the high keys but other wise very good.
Man, I don't see your problem with the right hand!!! Just bring down the tonal values
a tad, and everything will be ok! PP artifacts.

5. The high key rendition here may enter under the tab "artistic interpretation". You
seem to fancy high keys and I not… except here! Simply because the whites are not
yet burnt out… but almost! They must be around 230 to 245 for sure but not yet 255!

6. See point 1.

7. I can't. No way, I can't… just look at this photograph technically… she looks too
beautiful, playful, and happy! Let me catch my breath.
Ok, I'm back. This time, I will remind you that the best B&W are not direct conversion
but applied conversion, after all colour parameters have been justified. I hope you are
sooting in RAW… otherwise your (or this shot) are doomed!


8. Start by seeing #6 & #1. =)
I am aware, this doesn't meet any golden lines. I tried to crop it a million times,
but for some reason, this original talks to me...
Then, let it talk… it tells no lie! The only thing is that the chosen focal length was too
short, for sure!. Otherwise very very cool!

Promise I will have a chance to see your corrections. Please! =)

How in the world do you do portraits at a sunny day?!
I would like to answer this but it will a little later… I have to run!


Have a good time!
Click to expand...

Great answer Kodiak!!! I learned a few "tricks" for shooting under sun light... Find a spot of light (even better if it´s surrounded by shadows), expose for the highlights - be carefull not to over-expose; like Kodiak told you already, you do have a tendency to do so - compose, or re-compose, and shoot...
 
wud

wud

Senior Member
Flugelbinder said:
Great answer Kodiak!!! I learned a few "tricks" for shooting under sun light... Find a spot of light (even better if it´s surrounded by shadows), expose for the highlights - be carefull not to over-expose; like Kodiak told you already, you do have a tendency to do so - compose, or re-compose, and shoot...
Click to expand...

Cant help myself ;) If the image isn't high key original, I end up with it in PP..


Mike d90 said:
I think your photos are fantastic!! I hope I do as well on my first portrait session!
Click to expand...

Thank you and of course you will :) Just focus on the good things. In those you photograph.
 
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