Model shoot Oct 27

[pegasus1010]

the best part abt these photos is - the expression are not forced but more natural.

DP, I wonder why u did not comment abt the last 2 photos, everybody will benefit from your views, even though they are bad, & TS will really learn a lot from it.

 

[takeshi.lum]

Deadpoet: i appreciate your suggestions and comments and will look out for them in future. but please note, all the models and i are new to portraiture, sometimes i dunoe how to pose them so i let them pose accordingly. as for clothing wise, i m not a fashionable person, so i will not comment on that. instead of commenting on how the image fares, why not offer an alternative solution? like lighting wise, how should i improve on it?

everyone has their first time, i would question if there is a need to be so harsh on an aspiring photographer? just ur harsh words are enough to kill the passion of that photographer.

 

[takeshi.lum]

Huh? If in model shoots, models don't smile so sweetly or happily, how can they be models? :bsmilie:

But seriously, technical faults are technical faults, there's no twos about it. Bad choice of backgrounds, bad poses, bad outfits, inconsistence WB/exposure, etc.

And you are right, photography is about capturing the moments, capturing the moments correctly (and not anyhow so).

Well, to the TS, practice more and learn from mistakes, heed DP's comments. :thumbsup:

in which pictures were the backgrounds bad? how should the poses be improved?

as for WB it was set to cloudy, since that day was a cloudy day.

 

[pegasus1010]

Deadpoet: i appreciate your suggestions and comments and will look out for them in future. but please note, all the models and i are new to portraiture, sometimes i dunoe how to pose them so i let them pose accordingly. as for clothing wise, i m not a fashionable person, so i will not comment on that. instead of commenting on how the image fares, why not offer an alternative solution? like lighting wise, how should i improve on it?

everyone has their first time, i would question if there is a need to be so harsh on an aspiring photographer? just ur harsh words are enough to kill the passion of that photographer.

this is not consdered harsh already..:bsmilie:
take it seriously as a learning point & u will benefit from there.

 

[AJ23]

in which pictures were the backgrounds bad? how should the poses be improved?

as for WB it was set to cloudy, since that day was a cloudy day.

Ok, will try to comment.

1st, inconsistent output size, if you plan to use 640x426, then use it consistently, portrait orientation should be 426x640 and vice versa. Eg. #7/#8/#9.

2nd, White Balance, cloudy day doesn't necessary means cloudy WB, pics like #2/#3/#4/#5 is a little too warm. Since u r using a Nikon D40, u can try to +/- within the Cloudy WB to tune the WB. Sometimes you can try SUNNY or DAYLIGHT WB.

#1. overblown sky
#2. "chopped" limbs, can see one leg, cannot see the other
#4. framing, right side of model got "cropped"
#5. blown sky and busy background, snap
#6. cluttered background, watch those leaves growing out of head, eye's direction neither here nor there, watch those elbows
#7. blown sky, weird pose, "chopped" limbs
#8. bad background, weird pose
#9. floor cutting across model's head
#10. blown sky, weird pose, where's the models looking at? where's the center of attention?
#11. again, blown sky, busy background, and background does not add anything to the overall picture, better off showing the full body of the models then to cut them in half
#12. wierd angle, and most importantly, "can you see the models?

Most pics are either -2/3 underexpose to +2/3 overexpose. And I notice you are using manual mode. After the shot, try looking at the LCD and determine if the exposure if correct or not, all else, there's still programs like Photoshop, do adjust and correct the exposure/WB/framing before you post.

DP and others has pointed out the rest.

And lastly, don't give up, go out and shoot more, practise practise practise is the key. Look at other ppl's photos/gallery, and there's many web resources which u can learn from. The more experience u accumulate, the better you should be.

Just my 2c.

 

[leejay]

Takeshi bro, cool down and take a look at one of my newbie posts. THAT's called harsh comments.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226294

This forum has in fact become milder already. We are all friendly people generally. =) Hehe...

 

[vince123123]

How you all went to two places in the same shoot day?

location are @ the abandoned railway at clementi (sunset way) and ann xiang hill

 

[takeshi.lum]

hmm...

#5 - framing should exclude the sky?
#6 - how do i get rid of the cluttered background? like blur them out?
#7 - can explain why is the frame weird?
#9 - so i should get her to step lower and frame the whole body?


how do i solve the blown sky problem? if i set it exposure fast then the foreground is dark already..

 

[takeshi.lum]

How you all went to two places in the same shoot day?

eh.. went to railway then we go take a rest, have our lunch and make our way to ann xiang hill.

 

[FusionMist]

Takeshi bro, cool down and take a look at one of my newbie posts. THAT's called harsh comments.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226294

This forum has in fact become milder already. We are all friendly people generally. =) Hehe...

Leejay has an unique eye for shots. =P

 

[takeshi.lum]

Takeshi bro, cool down and take a look at one of my newbie posts. THAT's called harsh comments.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226294

This forum has in fact become milder already. We are all friendly people generally. =) Hehe...

really have to learn from u one day bro, willing to teach me?

 

[AJ23]

hmm...

#5 - framing should exclude the sky?
#6 - how do i get rid of the cluttered background? like blur them out?
#7 - can explain why is the frame weird?
#9 - so i should get her to step lower and frame the whole body?

how do i solve the blown sky problem? if i set it exposure fast then the foreground is dark already..

#5
- I would exclude the sky and crop it tighter, since can't get a blue sky and can't get the HDB block out of the trees
- also, IMO, the sky doesn't add anything significant to this picture all

#6
- choose another background where it's less cluttered!
- else, use a longer focal length and hope to bokeh them out

#7
- move away from the bright spot (background to the left of model's face)
- isn't kissing a polaroid wierd? :dunno:
- u "chopped" her hand right at the wrist

#9
- get model to take 2 steps down, but then, the steps might also cut across the model, like in #2, but perhaps it's better down than the original where part of the upper flooring just "cut" out from the model's head

As for blown sky, I would say bad luck on the weather. Also, shooting from 2-3pm under bright light is challenging, and some of ur pics are against the light.

But then, u can still stop down the aperture or increase shutter speed, and use a FILL-IN flash.

 

[takeshi.lum]

stop down the aperture meaning increase or decrease the f number?

for fill in flash, a flash unit would be better or just the built in flash will do?

sorry for so many questions, still new to all these.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

Takeshi bro, cool down and take a look at one of my newbie posts. THAT's called harsh comments.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=226294

This forum has in fact become milder already. We are all friendly people generally. =) Hehe...

Well, they were correct to point out that you posted too many photos in that thread!
However, the general tone of some members' comments has not changed much in the 2 and a half years since then. I congratulate you on your perseverance in continuing with your interest despite the 'beating' you took.
Such members are the reason why I will never post up my photos on clubsnap for critique. They believe in 'spare the rod, spoil the child'. ~shrug~
I know I'm not perfect. Why bother to post and get shot down? Too bad for me that I miss out on this opportunity to improve my photography skills.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

stop down the aperture meaning increase or decrease the f number?

for fill in flash, a flash unit would be better or just the built in flash will do?

sorry for so many questions, still new to all these.

Stop down means to increase the f number (thus making the aperture smaller).
Probably an external flash with diffuser would be better than the built-in one. Might need to experiment though. Maybe the built-in one will suffice in certain conditions.

 

[takeshi.lum]

Stop down means to increase the f number (thus making the aperture smaller).
Probably an external flash with diffuser would be better than the built-in one. Might need to experiment though. Maybe the built-in one will suffice in certain conditions.

oh.. so stop down means to make the aperture smaller.. wanting to get a SB600 for such uses

Well, they were correct to point out that you posted too many photos in that thread!
However, the general tone of some members' comments has not changed much in the 2 and a half years since then. I congratulate you on your perseverance in continuing with your interest despite the 'beating' you took.
Such members are the reason why I will never post up my photos on clubsnap for critique. They believe in 'spare the rod, spoil the child'. ~shrug~
I know I'm not perfect. Why bother to post and get shot down? Too bad for me that I miss out on this opportunity to improve my photography skills.

yes i agree with u. like i said, it is my 1st time doing this art of photography, i noe they are the experts in the field (saw their portfolio) so they can make such comments. but they din bother abt the feelings what a newbie has when he/she posted for the 1st time and got all these comments.

it would nicer if they can explain it thru. everyone have their first times. u cant expect a kid to speak properly the first time he/she opens his/her mouth, right?

 

[AJ23]

stop down the aperture meaning increase or decrease the f number?

for fill in flash, a flash unit would be better or just the built in flash will do?

sorry for so many questions, still new to all these.

Stop down means increase the F number, making the aperture smaller.

Generally, the built-in flash is just enough for snaps, for more serious fill-in, use a flash unit.

Shooting ppl is a fun thing, but making ppl look good in a shot is serious thing. :bsmilie:

Hence shoot more and practice, but do give a thought before you click that shutter. It's always easy to shoot tons in these days of DSLR. Get a friend or two and shoot together, it will be more fun, and can provide ideas and thoughts to each other.

 

[Andrew Ng]

Ok, will try to comment.

1st, inconsistent output size, if you plan to use 640x426, then use it consistently, portrait orientation should be 426x640 and vice versa. Eg. #7/#8/#9.

2nd, White Balance, cloudy day doesn't necessary means cloudy WB, pics like #2/#3/#4/#5 is a little too warm. Since u r using a Nikon D40, u can try to +/- within the Cloudy WB to tune the WB. Sometimes you can try SUNNY or DAYLIGHT WB.

#1. overblown sky
#2. "chopped" limbs, can see one leg, cannot see the other
#4. framing, right side of model got "cropped"
#5. blown sky and busy background, snap
#6. cluttered background, watch those leaves growing out of head, eye's direction neither here nor there, watch those elbows
#7. blown sky, weird pose, "chopped" limbs
#8. bad background, weird pose
#9. floor cutting across model's head
#10. blown sky, weird pose, where's the models looking at? where's the center of attention?
#11. again, blown sky, busy background, and background does not add anything to the overall picture, better off showing the full body of the models then to cut them in half
#12. wierd angle, and most importantly, "can you see the models?

Most pics are either -2/3 underexpose to +2/3 overexpose. And I notice you are using manual mode. After the shot, try looking at the LCD and determine if the exposure if correct or not, all else, there's still programs like Photoshop, do adjust and correct the exposure/WB/framing before you post.

DP and others has pointed out the rest.

And lastly, don't give up, go out and shoot more, practise practise practise is the key. Look at other ppl's photos/gallery, and there's many web resources which u can learn from. The more experience u accumulate, the better you should be.

Just my 2c.

I just want to highlight this portion... Look at Histogram... LCD can bluff bluff. Read more fashion magazines and go for classes. Professional model of not... Background if not properly used can kill. In model shoot. I DON"T BELIEVE IN NATURAL. I worked in a studio before. Come on, the subjects are all 'under your control' in some way.. Don't use your SLR like some point and shoot. Respect the equipment. I think you can start by knowing your camera really well first. D40 with 50mm prime can do wonders.... :-}

 

[Ecneret]

The very best of... Facebook photography.

 

[takeshi.lum]

I just want to highlight this portion... Look at Histogram... LCD can bluff bluff. Read more fashion magazines and go for classes. Professional model of not... Background if not properly used can kill. In model shoot. I DON"T BELIEVE IN NATURAL. I worked in a studio before. Come on, the subjects are all 'under your control' in some way.. Don't use your SLR like some point and shoot. Respect the equipment. I think you can start by knowing your camera really well first. D40 with 50mm prime can do wonders.... :-}

what do u mean by dont believe in natural? can explain?

i'll try to read more magazines and photography books. i have a D40 with 50mm MF.