Thanks, Darren.
I think the focus might have been thrown off when I was squatted down
and rocked back on my feet a bit when I lost balance. But, when I saw it
in LR, I liked it well enough that I thought I could still use it. And
once I warmed the tones just a bit and softened it, I really liked the
aesthetic, so I went with it. As in most cases when there's an issue
that needs to be diagnosed in my photos, I safely default to ineptitude.
As to right/wrong, correct/flawed dichotomies, I guess I just have a bit
of a hidebound viewpoint. That is, if the image could have been better
or more effective if done another way, I consider it flawed. I don't
generally apply that standard to anyone's work but my own, since I can't
really know what someone else had in mind when they were creating their
images. But, for my purposes, a little self-recrimination helps to make
me a bit more mindful in the future. I want to be a better photographer
next week than I was last week, and that's why I offer up my images for
critique.
It's nice to get kudos -- I really love it, in fact. I also really love
chili dogs. But a steady diet of kudos and chili dogs isn't the best
route to self-improvement.
Thanks again, and thanks to Stan and Frank for the suggestions.
-- Walt
On 6/22/2013 10:25 PM, Darren Addy wrote:
I want to slightly amend my earlier comment. This is a pleasing image,
but the focus is off significantly. The reason it still works is
because some softness can be pleasing in portraiture, but if you look
at the stones at her feet, the tree bark and the vegetation behind the
subject you can see that the focal plane is behind the tree. Not sure
if this was manually focused or autofocused, but you might want to
diagnose where the problem lies.
On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 9:35 PM, Darren Addy <pixelsmi...@gmail.com> wrote:
I think it is a lovely portrait, just as it is.
Next in the series, I might have had her put her right hand behind
her, in the small of her back. Then with the same pose have her look
up at the camera. Then perhaps crop in closer to a bit more than a
head & shoulders shot. I can see a whole series of things with slight
changes as we go along. Nice use of the light and you are to commended
for the height of the camera off the ground for this shot. It wouldn't
be as effective if you had been standing and shooting down at her.
Well done.
On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 6:20 PM, Stan Halpin
<s...@stans-photography.info> wrote:
Exactly, Frank. No "right" or "wrong", correct or flawed, in this discussion. Just
suggestions about other ways to look at a scene. Direct gaze, or not? Tight crop, or pull back to show
a smallish figure in a large world? Sharp or soft? Color or B&W? Any combination of these choices
will probably provide a decent image. Ultimately, it is your choice as to which you like the best, and
it is your clients' choice as to which they like the best. And BTW you and your clients may totally
disagree, and that is ok also; their choice may well be ones that are far from your own favorites.
stan
On Jun 22, 2013, at 1:15 PM, knarftheria...@gmail.com wrote:
Hey Walt, the crop (or lack thereof) isn't a "flaw". You just haven't tried it
yet on this photo.
Yeah "cropping in the camera" is most often preferred but not always possible.
The crop I'm proposing isn't a drastic one and should be very do-able without
screwing up anything. But who knows, it might not work and you'll prefer this
framing.
Cheers,
frank
--- Original Message ---
From: Walt <ldott...@gmail.com>
Sent: June 22, 2013 6/22/13
To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" <pdml@pdml.net>
Subject: Re: PESO: Cowgirl Poetry
Thank you, Frank!
She was definitely a cute little young lady. She and her mother both
seem pleased with the photos I got, and her mother informed me that she
definitely wants me to do her fall portraits later this year.
Looks like the crop is the biggest flaw in the image -- though the lack
of softness in the grass is something I wish I'd picked up on before, as
well. So, the shot still needs a bit of work, but I do like the mood I
was able to capture.
As for your birds, bikes, beasts and blokes, I like the work you're
doing and if you're enjoying it, that's the important thing. And I
suspect if you really wanted to do shots of pretty girls, you could
probably arrange it in fairly short order. :)
Thanks again. I do appreciate the input.
-- Walt
On 6/22/2013 10:24 AM, knarftheria...@gmail.com wrote:
1) You are my hero. I'm taking bird, bike, beast and bloke photos (and not
"bird" in the English slang sense) and here you are hanging around with
beautiful young women taking beautiful photos.
2) Like this a lot. Yeah, seeing her eyes would be nice, but that would be a different
photo (yes, there's frank stating the obvious again). My point is, this works and creates
(or should I say "captures") great mood. Pose, outfit, background, light all
work together here.
I ~might~ crop just a bit off the left. That space does nothing and getting her a bit
more off-centre would make things even more interesting imho. Peel just a bit (equal
amounts to maintain the "north/south" balance you have now) off the top and
bottom so you keep the same frame dimensions you have now.
I think that might be effective, but hell, it's a wonderful photo as is.
Cheers,
frank
--- Original Message ---
From: Walt <ldott...@gmail.com>
Sent: June 21, 2013 6/21/13
To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" <pdml@pdml.net>
Subject: PESO: Cowgirl Poetry
Here's a shot from a session I picked up through the mother of the girl
I photographed earlier in the week.
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/walt_gilbert/9102768906/
K-5, F50/1.7, f/2.2, 1/400 sec, ISO 100
I think that's my favorite of the bunch. I'll be selecting my other
favorites for posting on flickr over the next few days rather than
inflict the full set on everyone before I've had the chance to cull the
weakest ones.
-- Walt
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