Tree pose - for critique

[Willy wombat]

Hi all

Was working with Irena to get some outdoor modelling images for her portfolio. We settled on a sunset yoga theme for the shoot.

Im interested to know your thoughts on the positioning of the model and the lighting here. Sadly I didnt have anyone to hold a reflector for me to ballance the shadows out on the right hand side of the image. The key question is, is the lighting and shadow too directional, or does it work?

Thanks
Steve

[tommyg]

I like the lighting, and the background goes well with the theme.

However, the grass and road behind I think are distracting. You could try chopping off the lower third of the image - although this might it look a little strange too.

If you are able to reshoot (with exactly the same cool background and flare from the sun ) I would try maybe a point of view where there is minimal foreground. Maybe on a beach would be better?

Cheers
Tom

[gstark]

Hi Steve,

I think it is too directional, and the fall-off towards the bottom is too great for my liking as well.

[surenj]

Steve, is this an umbrella or softbox? Either way you could feather the light to get the best milage out of it?

If your camera handles overexposure ok, one could overexpose the face about 1 stop or so and recover the deatil in post while keeping the light on the legs?

Nice concept and I quite like it as it is but perhaps a slightly lower viewpoint to get rid of the road.

[Willy wombat]

I like the lighting, and the background goes well with the theme.

However, the grass and road behind I think are distracting. You could try chopping off the lower third of the image - although this might it look a little strange too.

If you are able to reshoot (with exactly the same cool background and flare from the sun ) I would try maybe a point of view where there is minimal foreground. Maybe on a beach would be better?

Cheers
Tom

Thanks Tom - This was a tricky one because I wanted to shoot at an angle high above the water line to create depth in the image, and with the yoga pose I felt it was necessary to show what the whole body was doing. However, I also shot from different heights to see what effect that had. Here is one shot at a lower angle and with the feet removed. The light is also further around towards the front.

[Willy wombat]

Hi Steve,

I think it is too directional, and the fall-off towards the bottom is too great for my liking as well.

Thanks Gary for the feedback

[Willy wombat]

Steve, is this an umbrella or softbox? Either way you could feather the light to get the best milage out of it?

If your camera handles overexposure ok, one could overexpose the face about 1 stop or so and recover the deatil in post while keeping the light on the legs?

Nice concept and I quite like it as it is but perhaps a slightly lower viewpoint to get rid of the road.

Hey this one was a softbox with my trusty SB800 speedlight. Thanks also for the feedback on the viewpoint.

[Oz_Beachside]

wow Steve, nice work. Your last few model portrait posts have improved each time.

the second image wins pants down. I think the tighter crop is stronger, removing the grass and cycling path, draws the viewers eye toward the person and their action. The horizon line is improved without the hotspot under the sun, and the styling of the pose channeling the sun through the hands I feel works well with the theme.

did you deliberately balance your composition to include the freight liner? perhaps clone that one out?

on your lighting, I think for a single light without the sun providing a back light, its pretty good. if I was to be critical, it would be the unnatural balance of color and direction that bothers me. since it looks too late in the day to get a rim light, or kicker, from the sun, a second bare speed light, right of frame and rearward of model would have just filled the shadows a bit for me, and returned some natural balance from the sun as a source (at least looking like the sun is the light source). As for your missing assitant, I know a guy that lives not far from you that could have given you a hand. Alternatively, leant you a stand and speedlight... but not his new ringlight since its stuck in the Virgin Islands thanks to UPS...

Lastly, did you gel your speedlight? if you want I have some bastard amber at home you can have, to warm it up a bit.

[zafra52]

I think the problem is the person is facing the camera squarely, which is against the textbook advice. Instead, a pose showing the model at a slight angle maybe facing your right shoulder would have worked better.
I don't like the second image because it gives me the impression the image of the lady was cut out and superimposed on the sunset image. Anyway, if your intention is to show a frontal version of the postures then I guess you did alright.

[tommyg]

Definitely think the version without the distractions of the grass works well.

I like the sunset colours, they definetely remind me of the covers of new age music CDs etc

In the second photo, I think if you had all of thehands in the photo it would work better, and at the bottom just a little more of the right leg.

I don't mind the side lighting - I think it adds something to the image

Cheers