Daffodil farm and model for critique

[Willy wombat]

Would appreciate a quick critique on these ones before I pass them onto the model.







Shot on location at Hancocks Daffodil farm near Menzies Creek. One sb800 speedlight in softbox (on stand) off to camera left.

Thanks guys
Steve

[colin_12]

#'s 2 &3 are the go here.
In #1 her hand arangement makes you look to see if she is holding her tummy.
If you get the chance for another shoot there you may want to orient your shots 90 degrees to the rows as opposed to along them. I think you will be happier with a more even background this way.

[Reschsmooth]

If you get the chance for another shoot there you may want to orient your shots 90 degrees to the rows as opposed to along them. I think you will be happier with a more even background this way.

Better explained than I would have.

The WB in the last looks significantly cooler than in the first 2.

Overall, the strategy and execution look really good. Well done.

[biggerry]

shots 90 degrees to the rows as opposed to along them. I think you will be happier with a more even background this way.

Nice pickup colin - would have never spotted that one.

Steve, I think these are great - great poses and the background is a corker for this. The first image WB is spot on, as previously mentioned the last is bit cool, however I think they are excellent and the model will be very happy

[Matt. K]

Steve
I think one of the hardest things to do in photography is the figure in a landscape. Very few of the worlds greatest photographers were able to pull of great shots of this genre. One of the problems you create for yourself when you do this is that you have 2 subjects....a great landscape...and a beautiful model...where do you put your priority? If it's the model then the background is going to try and steal the show and vice versa. I think you sensed this because in your last image you have defocused the background and this works to some extent. I think the red shawl and dress also cries out for attention so we have model, landscape, dress, shawl. My advice would be to simplify the composition and the elements.....try and get the colours working together instead of clashing...go for subdued, neutral colours....throw the background totally out of focus unless you can get the model interacting with it. Let the models eyes do the talking. Avoid large areas of dominant colour. I suspect you images would work better in black and white because of the colour clash. I hope I'm not being too critical because essentially the images are OK...but not brilliant. You have chosen a tough subject but I think you need to rework these images in order to get them on the gallery wall, so to speak. I hope you find this useful.

[Willy wombat]

If you get the chance for another shoot there you may want to orient your shots 90 degrees to the rows as opposed to along them. I think you will be happier with a more even background this way.

The WB in the last looks significantly cooler than in the first 2.
Overall, the strategy and execution look really good. Well done.

Thanks for the feedback so far guys. Its appreciated and it has been interesting to read.

The background was a bit of a problem on this shoot because many of the blooms at the field had withered and rather than a field of colour as I had anticipated, there were only a few rows left with bright, consistent colour remaining (but not enough to create an abundant background in the other orientation. Thanks for pointing this out though. As Matt has also suggested, the background is something to really be careful of (simplicity is key)

The white ballance in the last shot has been a bit of a problem (I kept the flash the same, but changed a lot of other things here. Outfits, camera bodies (second D200) and lenses (17-55mm vs 70-200mm). The 70-200 was helped blurring out the background as Matt suggested, but yeah the white ballance and overall look of the shots did change. Im still not sure what happened there (colour management isnt my forte - its all part of the mystery).

Another challenge I also had was that the models interpretation of my idea for an outfit. It was a little bit different than my own ideas for flowy whites and soft feminine pastels. I guess that is what happens when you meet someone online and dont get an opportunity to pre-check the outfit before driving out to the location.

Regardless it was a lot of fun and a learning experience. Its good to get out into the field and put some knowledge into practice. I hope that she (Gorgia) will be happy with the results.

Thanks again guys
Steve

[craig.rohse]

Hey Steve


With the first two, the model is right in your face. I think it is the red dress.

But the third one I like a lot, it works much better with the shallow depth of field and clothing just a shame she has pink fingernails

[Willy wombat]

just a shame she has pink fingernails

Yes I had to laugh when I saw them - its always the little things