every thought

I suggest tighter crop and do a vignette.

"We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:5

Can I have your opinions on this picture, please? I'm trying to get more portrait photography experience. I like this one, but I'd love to hear what you think about it. And why. Thanks :)

This photo has notes. Move your mouse over the photo to see them.

To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and
install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player.

Comments

Rachel Pennington says:

It's fantastic. The lighting is wonderful. What a beauty!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

CaliforniaNat says:

I want to do the same and shoot more portrait. I like that things can happen spontaneously when one photographs children, but teens and adults are better at posing. This is nice because there are no harsh shadows on her face, just a soft one. You might want to try something that will reflect some light on her face. She's got such pretty eyes, they will surely shine with a little more light on them. She looks like a sweet young lady. She has a very inviting face. Will you use her more in the future? -NAT
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

crouchingcathiddendog says:

Thank you Rachel and Nat! She's a good friend of mine, and hopefully she'll be appearing in more of my photos...

I really wish I would've had a reflector for her face... I know that would make a big difference. I need to buy one. Hopefully a small, portable one, maybe gold on one side and white on the other.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

reiscakes says:

Yea! I'm so glad you're being pulled to the portrait photography side ;)

She is a very beautiful girl and I love the pose! Here are my hopefully helpful tips ;)

1. Since the picture was taken in full sun her arms and her headband are really blown out here. The best time of day is morning and evening, or in the middle of the day underneath some sort of roof, awning, etc. I, for one, think that blow outs are sometimes ok (adds character) but I know other people really don't like them.

2. Try to get catchlights in both of her eyes. Right now I see a catchlight in her left eye (right side of photo). But in both eyes would really draw you in to her more.

3. I really love how you can see her legs behind her! Great perspective!

I'd love to see a close up of her. You could really make those beautiful freckles of hers stand out!

So good to see you on here again! I've been awful busy but have missed you :D

Blessings!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

crouchingcathiddendog says:

Thank you for the helpful hints, Jeni! I agree with what you're saying about the lighting.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

manfrommanila says:

lovely!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

hylaury {away} says:

i really like this, mary anne, and she is a very lovely girl!

i've been getting into portraits myself (just did my first senior portrait shoot 2 weeks ago), so hopefully these will be helpful...

i agree with what reiscakes said about the blown out areas. try to take the pics when (or where) the sun is not directly over your subject. the pics i did were in the early afternoon, and it was partly cloudy, which helped a lot. your camera should have a way to check your histogram and you can check immediately if you've got some blown out areas.

as for the reflector, you can get some nice one's on ebay that are gold on one side, silver on the other and fold up quite small for transport. i'm about to order one myself for just such things!!

the only other suggestion i have is to tone down the brightness of the grass. this can be done with editing software (if you have any). i'm just learning how to do such things, and i don't use photoshop (i use microsoft digital image), but i would be glad to email you some things i've learned if you like.

keep up the great work! it's so nice to have a friend who is willing to pose for you so you can get in some practice. the girl i did the senior pics for is the girl across the street who watches my kids sometimes, and she said she would let me practice on her some more when she gets home from the summer camp she went to. i can't wait!!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

Tennessee_Gator says:

I try to always shoot portraits in the shade, but if I can't I try to make the highlights work for me and shoot as backlit as possible to give a halo along hair edge.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

amanky says:

I love it... although, I'm admittedly more prone to the abnormal portraiture... a personal preference. This fits the bill so well, as it shows the subject enough, but still include lovely surroundings without complete distraction. Plus, I rather enjoy more seemingly candid shot, vs. everything looking very posed/poised. The looking away from the lens works well, for me!

this is a shot that can be enjoyed, not only by those who know & love the subject, but as a standalone piece of art... for anyone!

[Seen on your photo stream. - ?]
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

awlyons says:

I like the low angle, Mary Anne. I agree that a reflector would help (which reminds me. I need to get one, too!). But the basic composition is very nice and the subject is lovely. Nice job.

--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

jpmarth says:

Some great stuff in this shot. The subject has a nice light smile that adds much warmth, I like she is not looking at the camera, and the way you framed it gives great DOF.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

crouchingcathiddendog says:

Thank you for your suggestions, everyone! I wish I could go back and re-do the shot, having thought it through better. But it's all good practice, and great to hear what you all think. Thanks!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

Dave - aka Emptybelly says:

Practice makes perfect... The comments about lighting are salient... DOF is great but I would crop just a bit wider than suggested and include the whole arm...
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

JimReeves says:

All done and said a good shot.
And the smile says it all.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

jehwriter says:

Try using the flas to negate some of the shadows on her face. She is lovely and I hope we see more of her.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

cobalt123 says:

I would go for a less bright time of day. There are too many highlights throughout the entire photo. But, the pose and composition is good, so go for this one just one more time.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

Ricardo Chaves says:

Beautiful, I love her eyes!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

prepster96 says:

I have not portrait wisdom to give, only much appreciation for the beautiful subject and the colorful, relaxed feeling your composition lends to the photo.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

kira_jane says:

awesome verse!!!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

adonis hunter / ahptical says:

If I wasn't saved I would say it is 'absolutely perfect'...but u know what I mean! :)
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

Chris[topher] Lin says:

It looks great to me. Lemme reach a bit, though...

Her face is in shadow. Fill light in post or a reflector (even something as simple as a white piece of cloth) would help towards that. Alternatively, maybe underexpose a stop or two to put her head into silhouette.

Also, maybe open up the aperture to make the depth of field shallower?

Really, though, this is very good.

--
Seen in a tag search. (?)
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

ggentry11 says:

Nice job
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

originalmulli (naomi) says:

A wonderful portrait. The varied light is great - I actually like her face being in shadow while the sun is so bright on her arms and the top of her head. Normally in this situation you would want to use a reflector like christopher says but her face is not dark, you've still got all the detail.
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

psdevards [deleted] says:

an excellent visualisation of the important bible-verse;thank you so much;god bless your endevours.
Posted 25 months ago. ( permalink )

Rebekah Fuller says:

From a critical point of view...
I cant fault this photo anyway!
The composition is great, your model is great, the depth of feild is great.
ANd even better... the evrse is GREAT!
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

his.images [deleted] says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called His creation, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Beautiful!
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

Rebekah Fuller says:

this is wonderful, a brilliant verse too.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Would you like to comment?

[?]

	crouchingcathidden dog's photostream
		32 uploads

This photo also belongs to:

	Christianity (Pool)
		0

	CHRISTIAN PHOTOGRAPHY (Pool)
		0

	Christians in this World (Pool)
		0

	fishbowl (Pool)
		0

	Bible Verses (Pool)
		0

	Christian Photographer Fellowship (Pool)
		0

	photoFaith (Pool)
		0

1 gallery contains this photo

17 people call this photo a favorite

Additional Information

Taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi.
More properties
Taken on June 2, 2007
Viewed 1,775 times

Add to your map

Yay location removed

...

(Some formats are OK.)

Or, remove it from the map.

Go to the map

You	Sign in \| Create Your Free Account
Explore	Places \| Last 7 Days \| This Month \| Popular Tags \| The Commons \| Creative Commons \| Search
Help	Community Guidelines \| The Help Forum \| FAQ \| Sitemap \| Get Help

every thought

Comments

Rachel Pennington says:

CaliforniaNat says:

crouchingcathiddendog says:

reiscakes says:

crouchingcathiddendog says:

manfrommanila says:

hylaury {away} says:

Tennessee_Gator says:

amanky says:

awlyons says:

jpmarth says:

crouchingcathiddendog says:

Dave - aka Emptybelly says:

JimReeves says:

jehwriter says:

cobalt123 says:

Ricardo Chaves says:

prepster96 says:

kira_jane says:

adonis hunter / ahptical says:

Chris[topher] Lin says:

ggentry11 says:

originalmulli (naomi) says:

psdevards [deleted] says:

Rebekah Fuller says:

his.images [deleted] says:

Rebekah Fuller says:

Would you like to comment?

Tags

Additional Information