Portrait Advice

Zillah

Hi, I'd like some opinions on this, and as much advice as I can get. When it comes to portraits there is sooo much stuff to consider, and I really felt a little bit lost, this is my first serious attempt.

Total modifications: lowered saturation, colour balance adjust, crop, burning, and one blatant removal of a background obstruction that was ruining the composition.

I've attached three versions, the original (cropped), one without burning, and the final with burning.

I can't decide if I like the burning more or not.

Fajitas!

The burning does bring out the person a lot more, but I think if you used a less distracting background it would have come out a lot better!

Was this posed yeah?

If it was, I'd nearly say use a lower iso, and try not to crop the photo at joints like the knees!

Zillah

Fajitas! wrote:

The burning does bring out the person a lot more, but I think if you used a less distracting background it would have come out a lot better!

The background is actually a window reflecting the room behind the camera

Was this posed yeah?

Kind of...

If it was, I'd nearly say use a lower iso, and try not to crop the photo at joints like the knees!

Lower iso? Is it grainy...?

Fajitas!

It's not strong grain, just slightly noisy...Maybe that's sharpening...Maybe my hatred of noise is really getting to me...

PurpleFistMixer

It's a bit specific to this photo instead of portraits in general.. but yeah, was just looking at the photo (ie, equalizing it so i could see things which my crappy monitor won't show otherwise), and it'd be cool if you'd included all of yourself in the photo, since you're crosslegged, you'd all fit in a fairly square frame, and if you used a wideangle it'd have a nice enclosed feeling, sort of like you're inside a bubble...

Just noticed it, and thought it'd be a nice idea, perhaps becuase the expression looks like you're looking out of a bubble or something.

Zillah

Ok, theres not much more to the original photo, but I got one more knee included. Hows this for a more bubbly experience?

For some reason I am unable to attach it, so here goes for a direct link:

PurpleFistMixer

I prefer that crop, but twould be better if you could see the knees, perhaps? (ie lighten it up more)

Zillah

The knees are actually very close to the edge, I'll see about a final edit when I have time. For now, I have college work to do