Photo Critique #104

Photo Critique #104

on Sep 30th 2011 with 16 comments

Friday Photo Critique is our weekly community project, where we publish a photograph submitted by one of our wonderful readers, then ask you all to offer constructive feedback on the image. It’s a great way to learn more about photography, express your viewpoint, and have your own image critiqued!

Quick Ground Rules

  1. Play nice! We’ve deliberately chosen photographs that aren’t perfect, so please be constructive with any criticism.
  2. Feel free to offer any type of advice – composition, lighting, post-processing etc.
  3. You can also link to photographs that you feel offer a great example of this type of image shot exceptionally well.

Without further ado, here is this week’s candidate for Friday Photo Critique!

The Photograph

Photo Critique

Photo Details & Inspiration

  • Nikon D5000
  • 150mm
  • 1/200
  • f/20
  • ISO 400
  • Flash, off-camera, low right

I shot this for my sister’s fashion blog. I was going for a trendy, fashion shot. I’m not extremely happy with the angle, I should have taken a second exposure that was level with the ground. Overall, I like the photo because of the lighting levels (the shade on the ground gives the photo some nice depth).

Photographer: Matthew Gray

Please let us know what you think in the comments – how would you have approached the scene or taken the photo differently? A massive thank you to everyone who commented last week.

The most constructive and helpful comments will be featured on the site. Interested in submitting your own photo? You can do so here!

 

 
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Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

I was raised in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. After high school, I left for Western Kentucky University where I obtained degrees in photojournalism and cultural anthropology. I am currently employed by CityBeat, an arts and entertainment weekly in Cincinnati. The work I am doing here is very rewarding and I suspect it will continue to be. I am available for freelance work in all areas of photography.  

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  • http://www.behance.net/nielsbul SpazZ

    I like that the picture isn’t straight forward, and that the colours in the back are nice and bright.
    But the model itself doesn’t stand out and seems to need a bit more light allover.
    The pose of the model is not very dynamic, but I like the facial expression.

  • http://think7photo.com Bob Pease

    There is an unnatural feel to this photo, I think because of the direction of light. Judging by the shadows on the building in the background this photo was taken mid-day; the shadows are almost straight down. But your subject was light by a low flash, so her shadows are angle up.

    I think this is the right idea for lighting; using a strobe to fill in some of the shadows. But it’s too low.

    Other than that I like it!

  • http://www.damienharrison.co.uk Damien Harrison

    Hi Matthew,

    Nice picture, I like how you have used elements of the rule of thirds for the placement of the models head, however the composition seems slightly unbalanced with my gravitating more towards the fuschia flowers to the right of the frame folowing the horizontal/diagnal line of the walls and pavement.

    Possibly consider using depth of field to seperate the model and the background and lightening.

    Regards

    Damien

    • http://photo.tutsplus.com/articles/photo-critique/photo-critique-104/?replytocom=29241#respond David

      I agree with Damian. The background is very disturbing & a nice blurred background would have really made a difference. Otherwise I think its a good one!

  • Sripal

    the colors in the scene and the location is nice but

    -the crooked Composition is not good

    -Due to deep Depth of Field everything is in focus which is distracting but we all come across this situation on bright daylight where we are forced to use narrow aperature like f/20 , Try using ND filters to cut light.

    -also most Lens lose sharpness at f numbers more f/8 or f/9 due diffraction.

    -the fill flash is good but its a bit harsh casting shadows especially around the purse , hat and hair.

  • Sripal

    its me again i forgot say that it would be nice if u underexposed the background a little bit and gaining correct exposure on the model through flash

  • http://photo.adesignstudio.net Alyo

    The depth of field is not shallow enough…and the composition should be better. However…the fill flash method works in this cases…but as Bob and Sripal said it was set too low.

    And the most important thing…this photo would be a zillion times better if shot late in the afternoon or early morning…in the golden hour you can easily get underexposed photos and compensate with flash to get great result in portrait photography.

  • http://www.bparkergalleries.com Brent

    The idea is there. I like the fact that the model is positioned within the entry of the wall. If she was to the right, it would have messed with the composition. The scene is a good choice as it can add to the fashion concept.

    Suggestions:
    - use a larger aperture. Perhaps a f5.6 to get a nice bokeh that blurs the background, but not to the point of losing the scene.

    - use a reflector to fill in some of those dark areas, aimed at her torso. Position it to the right of the model. A shiny reflector might reflect off her purse, whereas a dull reflector just fills her in.

    - the angle that you’re using would be okay if your shot is tighter and focused perhaps on her face, however, there may be a bit too much slant.

    - agree with some of the others with shooting later in the day.

  • http://www.dcpimages.com Dominic

    I think the most important thing to take away from this shot is the purpose in which it will be used. You stated it was for your sisters fashion blog, which is fantastic, but the shot should then be about the “fashion”.

    using a shallow dog (so only your subject is in focus) and making sure that with your fill light you create enough contrast and depth within the subject is key to promoting what is asked of you.

    Other than that the flash is a good idea, but a little low and harsh like sripal and bob said, And I’m not sure why you shot with iso 400. I almost always try to use iso 100 for the obvious noise difference.

  • Jason

    To me, your background is much more important than the model.
    I would better expose for the model, and not worry about the background as much.
    Shoot at a wider aperture (closer to 2.8) which will allow you to use a better ISO and quick shutter speed.
    This will blur and blow out your background allowing the model to pop!!
    You also need to engage them model more. Her eyes, expression and pose need to control the viewer’s eye and keep them fixed on the image. Unless it is necessary to keep all of the “pieces” of the wardrobe for fashion reasons, I also think that I would move closer to the model, crop in, zoom in, etc. to better fill the space.
    Keep experimenting with the off camera flash and try not to cast shadows into the sockets of the eyes. For fashion, it probably would be better to fill the face more in order to give the skin a clean, youthful look.

  • Randell

    I’d agree with most of the comments already made. f20 is the wrong choice for the depth of field when shooting a portrait.
    Your light is way too low, although you have made an effort to use off camera flash. Check out the nose shadow – Its almost ghoulish.
    The background is way too busy.
    The models stance is to static. Get her to load weight onto the rear foot, turn the front knee inwards slightly and tilt her head towards camera. Try to create an ‘S’ curve with her torso. Also get your model to lift her chin.
    Your model is square on to camera body and face. This will broaden her features and physique – Not flattering for her.
    Her hand position is neither glamourous or very feminine. The bag is very domineering in the photograph. Turning it at an oblique angle to the camera or shooting it sideways on would lessen it’s dominance in the photograph.
    Her skin tones look over saturated, cool them down a little.
    Don’t show the backs/flats of hands to camera, they’ll age anyone and if you use a wide angle lens they’ll look bigger than the mask of the face.
    He clothes are wrinkled and the front of her blouse is tucked into her jeans.
    Dutch/French angle is used to add some dynamics to a photograph with good posing and lighting, selecting you background more carefully this could easily be achieved. I think you’ve over cooked the angle it makes me feel quite sea sick.
    On the plus side you did get you model into shade, but be wary of trees, you can end up with a dappled shadow effect.
    You used a shutter speed of 1/200, if your flash has a ‘Hi Speed Sync’ Function you could possibly used this to increase your shutter speed more to reduce the ambient light. You could then have used the ambient as you fill and created a decent lighting ratio on the models face. Or just used a reflector. To bounce some more light into the shadow side of the face if you’d posed her head properly. I understand why you elected to shoot at ISO 400, to help the flash output, but you would have been better off using the ambient as key and just filling with the flash. You would need less power obviously.A few of your problems have come about from shooting at the wrong time of the day. I shoot weddings so I sympathise. Good effort though.

  • http://www.danielsone.com Daniel S.

    The camera tilt doesn’t work well for this image. Straighten up and use the rule-of-thirds on this one, even if she’s centered.

    Technically, it is a good photograph. It has good color and exposure, but the composition and lighting is off.

    The low-angle of the light makes the photo look obviously lit and since it’s coming from an unnatural direction it sticks out like a sore thumb. The trick with lighting is to make it look like its not there. The lighting should not call attention to itself, especially if you’re shooting fashion.

    Finally, the background is too busy and distracting. My eye keeps darting over the to the potted plant. You could resolve this in a few ways:
    - Don’t shoot at f/20. There’s no reason for this. Even at 150mm, f/20 is too much DoF. Open up to f/5.6 or f/8. This will blur your background. You will need to drop your ISO and adjust other settings to compensate for the increased light.
    - Shift your position or your model’s position to remove distracting items, even when you’re shooting wide-open.
    - Try to keep your backgrounds as far away from your model as you can. This helps with blurring the background too especially when shooting at f/8 or higher. So if you’re distance “Y” from your model, have your background “Y x 2″.

    A good fashion resource is: http://www.thesartorialist.com/

  • Joe Bodego

    bad all around photo, no bokeh, the background is distracting, why that foolish framing? looks like a basic vacationing photo, how did this photo get to be critique? you figure a site like this with so many tutorials on how to improve your photography would NOT pick such a ridiculous photo. Then again, never mind… dumb photo

  • http://andreistefan.blogspot.com Andrew

    why 150 mm? I think it’s too much for that type of photo… He might’ve tried to bring her upfront by using a lightfull background, but the shadows in the lower side and the details in the background ruined all. Also, I suggest he used f22 instead a f20, even if it might seem insignifiant, it helps, even at this level.

  • http://andreistefan.blogspot.com Andrew

    ohh, I meant using f22 or any other exposure stop like 5.6:D

  • http://www.GeraldSchulze.com Gerald Schulze

    Honestly I don’t mind the sharpness of the background, or the angle, or anything else except for the lighting. You should always light to mimic an angle the sun can achieve, shooting from the ground not being on of them. If I were shooting this particular shot, I would have raised the flash above her head, and I would have increased the intensity of the light to create better highlights.