Portrait series

[dhgee]

Last year, for my intro to photo class: portrait assignment. Which of these are strongest, do you think? Thanks for any feedback. Canon A-1, 50 mm FL.

[sandeha]

I scrolled down and was thinking, "Yes, Hmm, Yes ..." in no particular order until I got to the arched finger on the cello - #5.  It may not be perfect here on screen, but it's got a composition and style that I like.  Maybe it evokes sound in a way that the other cello shots don't achieve quite as strongly - though #6 certainly gives pause for thought about the player's intensity.  Nice sequence all round.

[nelsonfoto]

1, 3, 5, and 7 work for me. I also favor the arched finger, like the head of the instrument shot as well.

[bruce]

Well, it takes all kinds, I thought 6 was the best.

[nelsonfoto]

#1 - This one is a bit too much to the center, but I like the greys and the fixed-by-the-eyes effect. Whites a bit hot. DOF is perfect for me.



#2 - Lighting is too far out for my taste. Contrast needs a lot of work, subject buried in darkness. Might be able to dodge this one, or adjust levels and burn in the window to balance - compositionally, not bad, just poorly exposed.



#3 - Nice comp. Not much else to say. I really enjoy the way the subject bleeds along the side and bottom. Needs a bit of trimming on the left... looks like white space or part of the scanner bed? Hair or fiber just below hand, appears as though she's trying to bring it to your attention: Yo, you missed a hair! Nice image.



#4 - Wonderful detail in the arm, just wish I could see more of this lovely person, a bit on the right.



#5 - No complaints.



#6 - Could be sharper I think.



#7 - Great detail in the head of the instrument. I enjoy the lighting on the peg. Wish there were a bit more detail in the hair of the player.



#8 - Poor contrast, not really sure what the story is here.

[dhgee]

Thanks! (scanned work print = hair/fiber; oops )
I guess I thought #2 was "moody..." Learning curve. My favorites are 1, 3, 5 and  the cello head/head shot. The last one should really be first in sequence - I trailed my roommate from getting out of bed to cello practice to work - she's very comfortable with being photographed, which made the work much easier. But that's what the story is with that last image.

[connealy]

I'm partial to #1 and #6.  I'm a little bothered by the crop in #1 because the nice line of the chin is interrupted, and the head looks like it is caught in a vice.  Nevertheless, the picture portrays a person of penetrating intelligence that is very captivating.  I like #6 as a representation of someone completely immersed in their art.  How about the subject; can we know her preference?  In any case, I hope you will show us some more.  Very nice beginning.

[Julio1fer]

As portraits I think the most powerful are # 1 and # 6. No feelings come to me from the blurred one (# 7), it does not work for me. The hand picture is also very powerful.

If this was your first portrait assignment,  hats off to you!

[Dean Williams]

I think #1 is a very good shot.  It takes a bit of doing to make a close horizontal portrait work, since the nature of it is to squeeze the top of the head and the chin.  It's barely enough off center.  I think moving the subject a tad to the left would be better.  The little bit of shoulder keeps her head from "floating".  Burn just a little on the right cheek.

The subject in # 2 is just too dark to present much of a mood.  She needs a little detail in the right side, at least.

#3 doesn't do it for me.  I'd crop the entire arm off, up to the hair on the right side of the head and call it a close vertical portrait.  The face is great!

#4 has a nice diagonal element.  Showing a little more at the bottom and less at the top would strengthen it.

I think #5 stands as it is.  Very nice!

#6 is nice too.  I think it could be sharper throughout, though, and burn in the highlights in the hand a bit.

I think #7 is executed well enough, but lacks interest, for me.

#8 just looks like a blurry shot.  Sorry.

Well done, over all.  These are just my nit-piks.

[connealy]

I think cropping off a tiny bit at the bottom on #6 would provide more of an appropriate focus on the touch of the hand on the instrument.  It would also bring into play more of the compositional s-curve potential of the image.