Wanting some critique on some of my portraits!

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Wanting some critique on some of my portraits!

Postby vort on Sun Feb 26, 2006 5:59 pm

Hey guys/girls.

I've been into photography for around 8 months now. I started with film and currently I am using a pentax p30n for my shots, coupled with a 50mm 1.7, 28-200, and a 24 2.8 macro/wide. I'm making the switch to digital soon with a d70s! :)

I'd like some critique on some of my portraits, just general critique. Composition, lighting etc.

Image Image
Image Image
Image Image Image
Image Image

All shot on film. Neopan 1600, Ilford XP2 400, or Agfa Ultra 100 across all shots.

I'd really like some critique on them!

If you wanna check out more pics of mine to give some crit then feel free to check my flickr, in the sig.
..:: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicknav ::..
..:: http://vortsekz.info ::..
..:: http://vorty.deviantart.com ::..
D70, 50/1.8, 18-70/3.5-4.5, TLZ2, 1GB Ultra II CF
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Postby nito on Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:10 pm

Some of the pictures of the young female has uneven lighting on the face. Its gives a baggy shadows under the eyes. It is very evident in the first two shots.

4,5 and 6 are good composition and I dont know if the excessive noise is intensional.

Male guitarist is splendid.

Last one the background is too overwhelming.
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Postby vort on Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:27 pm

nito wrote:Some of the pictures of the young female has uneven lighting on the face. Its gives a baggy shadows under the eyes. It is very evident in the first two shots.

4,5 and 6 are good composition and I dont know if the excessive noise is intensional.

Male guitarist is splendid.

Last one the background is too overwhelming.



The first two pics were taken in a food court in the city, so as you can imagine there's lights all over the place.

as for 4,5,6.. They were taken with the Neopan ISO1600 so noise is a given :)

Thanks very much for the comments! :)
..:: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicknav ::..
..:: http://vortsekz.info ::..
..:: http://vorty.deviantart.com ::..
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Postby Killakoala on Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:32 pm

Compositionally, i like the images a lot, except the last one which is a bit lacking, perhaps it's her bored look.

There is a contemporary magazine style to your work, which some will love and others will hate, but either way the images are very good.
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Postby Alex on Sun Feb 26, 2006 10:40 pm

I really like 5 and 7 compositionally. The noise adds to the style.

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Postby Antsl on Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:20 pm

Don't get hung up on depth of feild, pay attention to "depth of feel"

The last two images have something interesting happening for them, the other images are merely pretty photos of a girl.
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Postby vort on Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:24 pm

Antsl wrote:Don't get hung up on depth of feild, pay attention to "depth of feel"

The last two images have something interesting happening for them, the other images are merely pretty photos of a girl.


That girl being my partner, so naturally they look 100x better to me :)

But thanks mate.

I have to admit, I do go a bit DoF Crazy sometimes. I was still getting the hang of the 50mm 1.7 then, not quite realising how shallow 1.7 was!
..:: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicknav ::..
..:: http://vortsekz.info ::..
..:: http://vorty.deviantart.com ::..
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Postby Alpha_7 on Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:31 pm

vort - some great shots IMO here, I agree with Steve that you have captured a contemporary maganzine feel that I quite like. The second last one of the muscian (guiarist?) is my favourite, I wouldn't change a thing with it. Some of the shots of your partner are great too, how does she feel about them, and about being infront of the camera, looks like she's atleast a willing model.

Look forward to seeing what you can produce with a digital camera.
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Postby wendellt on Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:51 pm

this is excellent work they all have a great feel to them

these two are your best, composition, expression and lighting
Image

but this one is standout, the shallow depth of filed slight artistic blur
and the dramatism
Image

thsi one has a nice expression but somehow maybe the composition or contrast it lacks something the others don't have
Image

the others don't live up to the other ones because of the compsoition and expression on the subject, but i am sure you will nail these quickly on your next tey

your use of blur, noise, out of focus parts of the image, tone and composition are on the right track
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Postby vort on Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:35 pm

Thanks alot wendellt. Very appreciated :)

I will still shoot film for B&W when I get my Digital. Nothing can compare to the feel of proper B&W Film. I love it :)
..:: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicknav ::..
..:: http://vortsekz.info ::..
..:: http://vorty.deviantart.com ::..
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Postby dooda on Tue Feb 28, 2006 2:23 pm

The top two could use a little fill flash to get rid of that lighting.

The others are good. The guitarist is the most interesting. Probably unintentionally blurry, but worked in this case.
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