Model shoot Oct 27

[Canonised]

Sandra
#1

This image of the real-look gun brings back an incident that happened a few months back .... My nephews, around 12 yo were playing and running about with the toy riffles and toy guns on a public road near some embassies area ... happened that a police patrol came by and apprehended the kids and backup patrols were called .... and in the end parents were called back to their home and was interviewed for a few long hours ,,,,,:bsmilie::sweatsm::sweat:
Guys be careful ....

BTW, technically all the images were not well taken .... TS should shoot more and be less defensive about the harsh comments and you will do well in a couple of years here :think:

 

[takeshi.lum]

i am not defending that my pictures are good. its just that being a newbie in this, i would appreciate if i were told in a nicer manner. like i had said many times, everyone have their first time in everything. if i can shoot like DP in my first try, i would have been a genius already. :bsmilie:

as regards to the toy gun, i am always careful when bringing them out. always store in a non-transparent or non see-thru bag. it will not be flashed out in public places where there are lots of ppl, i dun wanna be shot by a real gun for a toy gun.:bigeyes:

 

[grandmama]

to me the fact is that people bothered to give feedback. It does take up time.

The attitude we choose to adopt to criticisms is a personal choice though.

If you dont agree with the comments, then dont have to agree. Its all up to you actually and you are not accountable to anybody eventually to how you develop as a photographer.

 

[Deadpoet]

i am not defending that my pictures are good. its just that being a newbie in this, i would appreciate if i were told in a nicer manner. like i had said many times, everyone have their first time in everything ...

... 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.

If my not so harsh "harsh words" can kill your passion in photography, there were never passion in the first place.

What I cannot understand, and accept is excuses. I am new. I am not a fashion stylist. I am not this and I am not that. As a photographer, new or old, green or seasoned, you are ultimately responsible for the final image. If it's a great shot, even if it's a lucky shot, none of those excuses will service. The accolades will be the photographer's. So, if the picture sucks, it's the photographer's fault.

I can tell you exactly how to shoot a particular scene, how to handle the lights under a particular situation, but will you learn. Lighting changes all the time. So, are you waling around with a 500 page notebook will all possible scenarios noted and the lighting solutions for the thousands variation listed?

As I said in the first post, WHY 3 models? Why 2 locations. So much variables on top of photography. Can you handle them all with ease? Personally, working with 2 models is a pain in the a**.

 

[beckhamc]

Come on, the problem is, there is very little doubt, these pictures were posed. Hence, thye aren't capturing a moment in life.

Loosening up or not, that is not the question, this set of picture is NOT good. By trying to be politically correct and dig something good out of this heap is actually 1) being a hypocrite, and 2) hurting the TS as a photographer.

Your accusation is bad.. haha.. what do u think I am trying to gain?

no point for me to hurl more unconstructive comments, make life so bad.. why keep harping on the bad things.. does it make u happy? If u really like to help him, ask him to tag along with you and show him how to do the correct shots.

 

[Andrew Ng]

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.

Model shoot... are model shoot natural? Photojournalism to some extend yes, Candid, definitely. Model means to pose, to compose to come together and expected to be photographed... Is that natural? They are doing thing that you want them to do,... so... not natural.

Join a PSS for a start. You can learn a lot from the critics. Start with basic and know your camera inside out. Know your lens and its limitations. Go for critic sessions as a group... online... you probably 'read' the feed backs only. Some people needs to get hands on. Group shooting with more experienced people and DARING to be CORRECTED and WILLINGNESS to BEND will earn you many praises in the future. I learn by watching and shooting. Not by mere reading only.

A pass away photographer once said...
Alfred Eisenstadt: “It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.”

Keep shooting.

Andrew Ng

 

[beckhamc]

There are tons of technical aspects advise here.

Don do this, don do that.. just like Singapore rules.. don do this, don do that.., etc etc.. who set the rules, why do they set that? I think that will serve as a more important insight, and use that insight to judge your own pictures.. and not just follow the rules blindly.

One more thing:
From Andrew: Alfred Eisenstadt: “It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.”
What is he trying to refer to? Click with people in general? I don't think so, given the context that he is a photographer.. it should mean more like it is important to click with the people that you are taking photos of. And that is so important. Without putting the subject at ease, the photoshoot looks just so artificial, even if it is perfect, technically speaking.

TS, you have done some bits correct, some parts wrong. Just remove the emotional attachment you have from the pics and analyse the pics again.. that will probably let you see the pics in a clearer light.

 

[Kimura_papaya]

first of all, takeshi made few silly mistake.

1. First time model shoot - don ever be "hao-lian" to use 3 model. take 1 at 1 one time..all poses should be in "your" control not model control.

2. wrong timing, wrong moment, wrong lighting. - if i am you, study about photography, be it you shoot landscape or portraiture, lighting is first and foremost consideration. don shoot understand "moody" lighting like this ever, no matter how pretty your model looks, the bad lighting condition will kill all your effort. avoid this, trust me.

3. model not make- up probably, at least some touch up.

4. yes, some senior is right, a lot picture are underexposed badly. either cant see details or losing detail like skin tone, shadows.

5. a lot of distracting background. - technically distracting background kills a lot of nice portrait.

6. i hope i won be harsh as DPoet, but i would urge you if you still want to grows portraiture shooting, do lot more study in fashion magazine and try to find out common point of good portraiture photo. composition, poses is essential element to flatter model.

 

[soyawny]

sandra with her small eyes as usual. nice try anyw.

 

[Override2Zion]

Notice underexpose in many of the shots, do read up more and practise on metering, its an important fundamental. You could fix underexposure it in photoshop but thats not the ideal case. Would be best to start off slow, perhaps a model at a time. Too many models can be overwhelming.

Take a walk to recce the shoot location prior to the shoot, it'll help you isolate nice spots and angles, greatly optimizing your time on the actual shoot itself. You be able to keep the shoot within the duration of the golden hours, where sunlight is at its best.

Use zoom/aperture to your advantage to gain good bokeh, discriminating the background from your subject.

We all start from zero, at least you've taken the first step. I've had my fair share of hammering by other CSers, learn from the worthy, read more and put the techniques to practise. Keep shooting and improving.

 

[draeger]

Notice underexpose in many of the shots, do read up more and practise on metering, its an important fundamental. You could fix underexposure it in photoshop but thats not the ideal case. Would be best to start off slow, perhaps a model at a time. Too many models can be overwhelming.

Take a walk to recce the shoot location prior to the shoot, it'll help you isolate nice spots and angles, greatly optimizing your time on the actual shoot itself. You be able to keep the shoot within the duration of the golden hours, where sunlight is at its best.

Use zoom/aperture to your advantage to gain good bokeh, discriminating the background from your subject.

We all start from zero, at least you've taken the first step. I've had my fair share of hammering by other CSers, learn from the worthy, read more and put the techniques to practise. Keep shooting and improving.

This is an example of a good constructive criticism. :thumbsup:

 

[Override2Zion]

This is an example of a good constructive criticism. :thumbsup:

Thanks bro, just helping out with what i know. I benefitted and learnt from other's critiques too.

 

[Ogenkidesu]

To the TS, i say, it was a good attempt to even kick start your shooting with these models. the idea is there to shoot, but i think:
- not enough thought given to the shoot;
- not enough homework done on how to use a SLR.
- not enough thinking on how to avoid the white sky, improve exposure, distractions, poses etc.

For beginners, it is very easy and tempting to just pick up and shoot - for fun, for laughter, for trying out.

If you are serious about improving quickly and humbly accept the "shifu" comments, I say good for you.

If you are just mugging around for "casual comments" to give you a pat on the back, I say you will learn, but with alot of stumbling and "false positives" and learning the wrong way.

So I say - go learn the basics, try out, learn from established CSers' work, and work out something you think will work well. Practice Practice Practice.

When people see your efforts in the outcome of your photos, they will understand. But this set you have given has a lot of "out right flaws" that shifu cannot tolerate lah...

 

[KenBit]

Eh come on guys, his first time doing this you know. Relax a bit la.
慢慢来, 一步一步来,
Everyone WAS a noob. ONCE upon a time.

 

[takeshi.lum]

Notice underexpose in many of the shots, do read up more and practise on metering, its an important fundamental. You could fix underexposure it in photoshop but thats not the ideal case. Would be best to start off slow, perhaps a model at a time. Too many models can be overwhelming.

Take a walk to recce the shoot location prior to the shoot, it'll help you isolate nice spots and angles, greatly optimizing your time on the actual shoot itself. You be able to keep the shoot within the duration of the golden hours, where sunlight is at its best.

Use zoom/aperture to your advantage to gain good bokeh, discriminating the background from your subject.

We all start from zero, at least you've taken the first step. I've had my fair share of hammering by other CSers, learn from the worthy, read more and put the techniques to practise. Keep shooting and improving.

thanks for the encouragement! i shall take a walk to recce in advance for a shoot. just that that day i went to the railway, it was a cloudy day. when i reached ann xiang hill, the gloomy clouds came and rained soon after that.

so afterall, its a bad day

To the TS, i say, it was a good attempt to even kick start your shooting with these models. the idea is there to shoot, but i think:
- not enough thought given to the shoot;
- not enough homework done on how to use a SLR.
- not enough thinking on how to avoid the white sky, improve exposure, distractions, poses etc.

For beginners, it is very easy and tempting to just pick up and shoot - for fun, for laughter, for trying out.

If you are serious about improving quickly and humbly accept the "shifu" comments, I say good for you.

If you are just mugging around for "casual comments" to give you a pat on the back, I say you will learn, but with alot of stumbling and "false positives" and learning the wrong way.

So I say - go learn the basics, try out, learn from established CSers' work, and work out something you think will work well. Practice Practice Practice.

When people see your efforts in the outcome of your photos, they will understand. But this set you have given has a lot of "out right flaws" that shifu cannot tolerate lah...

i m not here for casual comments, its just tat we are humans afterall and its encouraging to hear some nice words rather than all those harsh comments.

those shifu can criticised all they want, but if they do add smth like "keep the passion burning and go for more shoots!", wouldnt it be encouraging to the photographer?

if being new is not an excuse, i dunoe wat to say anymore. how abt u trying out smth new to u but an easy task to me? after that let me do the same to u and see how u feel.

 

[bigbird17]

i thought all of them were pretty nice for a starter. the colors could be improved more i guess try brighten them up abit with contrast and add some blue in it should do the trick seems a tad underexpose on my screen

 

[sunshine27]

you were the one i saw with the 3girls while i was doing my own mini photography assignment for my school. haha.

 

[bigbird17]

lol he one guy handle 3

 

[cheeseme]

i m not here for casual comments, its just tat we are humans afterall and its encouraging to hear some nice words rather than all those harsh comments.

Please allow me to explain a little.

1. the amount of critics written here = to the amount of time others are spending in your thread. They could have just browse thru and goto the next thread. Why bother?

2. there is always one problem in forum -> we communicate without looking at one another. Hence, how we feel about others' words on us will now all depend on how the others wrote it. Not everyone here is Shakespears trained. At such, you will see a direct and straight to the point comment on those possible mistakes, than those with more thoughts added in how statement is to be constructed in order to make you feel better. As a result, you will feel harsh.

Hence, you should be touched that the discussion here can go until 3 pages, where people actually bother to answer and response to your queries. Of course, not every comments here is totally right, but it's a collection of how people feel about your work, just like 'American idols'.

On the other hand, if there is not a single reply/comment, what could happen? You learnt nothing.

I could understand the fact that you may have alots of ideas with DOs and DON'Ts theories in mind, but when you look into the camera, your mind is empty. That's just the breakage between theory and practical. So, most important take away is to shoot more, and making sure you take note of the comments here and try to avoid them in your shoot, and continue to practise. Only this will enable you to link both together.

Foundamentally, photography is an art. You will have to study on how to appreciate it along with doing it. So, do read more on others' work and visit more galleries to train your eyes and thoughs for it. Once you start to acquire it, it will come automatically the next time you look into the camera, while the rest are just technicals that normally can be PPed or including more equipment.

Cheers!

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

Certainly, having feedback at all is better than no feedback.
However, feedback comes in many forms.
The "wah! nosebleed!" kind of feedback might boost your ego, but is ultimately useless as a learning tool.
Similarly, "your photos are BAD/HORRIBLE" doesn't help as well, except deflate the ego.

What I'm hoping (and I sense that the TS also shares a similar opinion) is that clubsnap can be an environment where members help to foster each others' interest in this activity (be it hobby or profession) and help to spur each other to improve.
Photography, unlike driving a car, is an activity that anyone can pick up without any prior training. Thus it is likely that posting photos for critique will be an important part of the learning process.
Imagine if you go for your first driving lesson, and suay-suay, you mount the kerb. How would you feel if your instructor goes "are you retarded? Don't you know how to operate the steering wheel and pedals? your driving skills suck! Stick to a bicycle next time!"
That is an example of a negative yet unhelpful comment.
My point is that you don't have to be 'Shakespeare-trained', but at least spare a thought for the person who will be reading your post. How would you feel if the same words were directed at you?