Meet Shay... you may remember her son Kavi from this shoot. I'm really trying to improve my photo skillz, and experimented a bit with the overlighted/overexposed look (sorry I don't know the proper term - lol), which I love. Oh and don't you love my new watermarks - taught myself that this morning thank you very much.
Constructive criticism is welcome from all you photography gurus - Lee, Lara, anyone! :)
11 February 2008
photo shoot!
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21 comments:
Hey Lei! I think they look great! You've really improved since the last maternity pics I saw of yours. Here's my CC...
1. I like the intimacy of mom's hands on the little guy. I think it could benefit from being lighter all around though. The conversion seems a bit dark. Make it a little more dreamy looking.
2. This one is great, I have nothing to say. I love the interaction between mom and son.
3. I like this one too, but I think I'd like it better if it was horizontal instead of vertical.
4. I love that you kept her feet in the image. (I'm totally stealing that idea, btw). I don't love her arm. I would have had her put her arm above her head to keep it out of the image entirely.
5. This one is great too. Nothing to say on it!
Overall, great job!
Lei, my dear. These are beautiful.
I can see you are improving, and definitley studying and learning.
Now for some cc, because I love you.
#1 I would prefer a tighter crop.
#2 Love.
#3 I wish it was a landscape instead and had his feet, but love the emotion.
#4 I really like it!
#5 I would use a shallower DOF next time, but it is a terrific image.
Overall I think you should be very proud of yourself. Wonderful pics.
Thank you, thank you.
I had a hard time converting this first one to b/w. I just couldn't tell what looked best. I'll lighten it up.
I have a perfect horizontal shot similar to #3, but his legs aren't high up in the air, which I love in this image. But again - I wasn't sure if I liked them cropped off at the middle, so I posted it for cc.
Good idea about the hand on #4 Misty.
Of course I lifted #5 off one of you gals, I don't know who.
Thank you for the cc, this was my first paying shoot!
Lee - I need a better lens to do a shallower DOF on #5. I shot all these with a standard crap lens. :(
What camera do you have?
Nikon D50... if you have recommendations on a lens, that would be great, but you shoot iwht a Canon don't you. I'm thoroughly confused by the variety to choose from, but yes something that goes below f/4 is my main objective. Lol.
iwht=with
I love them, they are so sweet.
Being a Canon girl, I'm not much help on Nikon lenses (you might check with Alissa, she shoots Nikon). But definitely try to find something that's at least 1.8-2.8. It's SO nice!
lei, I know this is a decent portrait lens like one of my canon ones.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-2907058-4370250?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=50mm+1.8+nikon yeah I am not good at the html. So there you go.
Hi Lei...
You've gotten a lot of good CC already, but I'll still share my 2 cents.
The coversion is somewhat muddy, as others have said. Try boosting your contrast a bit and some overall lightening. Also, I don't know what your lighting set up is, but there aren't great catchlights in the little guy's eyes. It would really make a huge difference to this photo...as it is his eyes are somewhat dead looking.
#2: I really like this one...the angle and interaction are just wonderful. Great exposure too.
#3: This one has so much potential...I wish the little boy's feet weren't cut off and I'd like to see more white space between mom's hair and the edge of the frame(although I know it's hard to get moments like this totally in the frame!) My best advice is to shoot a tad more loosely and crop later.
#4. Love it. Something about the way the top of her body is cropped I don't love, but I can't put my finger on it. I'm wondering if it's the arm like someone else said, but not sure. :)
#5. I agree with everyone about the shallower DOF. It would have a much larger impact instead of looking like the focus is kind of off, you know? I shoot Canon, but I know Nikon has a 50mm 1.8. That is a cheap lens, and the Canon version is my favorite lens for portraits right now...and the photo boards I hang out out, the Nikon girls seem to think the same.
Last of all, I am not in love with the backdrop. It's just a personal opinion really, but in the future if you can move your subject out in front of it more the wrinkles won't be quite as distracting.
Overall though I think you did a great job and I'm sure they'll love them!
Lara - thx for the tip on hte conversion. I am still learning and it's hit or miss for me so far. The lighting set up was nothing. Literally! We'dpostponed the shot once due to illness and then the day we shot these pics was dreary, dreary. I'm a big natural light photographer (read: I have no umbrelaa lights,lol). Npo really,I just love the effect but of course it has to be just right. Since it was overcast, I took the shoot outdoors, which is also why my backdrop is ruffled- it was also kind of windy. But I worked with what I had, you know? I tried to go for more natural flow poising to pull it together. #3 is my bad habit creeping back in, I have a habit of shooting too closely all the time. I'm working on it! Thanks for the tips!
Then for the lighting situation you had, you did a great job! That is so hard. I don't have any studio lights either...totally natural, and it's not always easy, so I hear you on that.
I also have the bad habit of shooting too tightly. I'm getting better, but oh well...I'm really not one to give advice on that.
Seriously, you've done a great job here and I know your friend will just love these pictures!
I love the one where the shoes are on her stomach! How beautiful!
You're so talented! I wish I could take photos like that--they're just beautiful!
I LOVE the one with the shoes on the belly. Great job!
Hi its Tamlynn. I miss hearing from you. When I grow up I wanna be like you! (((hugs)))
I think they are amazing. I love the 2nd and the 3rd.
Beautiful work, Lei! Come do us!!!!
Stunning job!
So cute and the red shoes on her tummy is a brilliant shot!
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