looking for honest critiques...

[MICKEY88]

 

[RitchG]

OK, let's say you're in my class, so first we build you up then tear you down <g> - here goes:
*Lighting on subject looks good, even. Darker skins tones are difficult to light evenly so good job there.
*Posing/wardrobe looks good - mesh pattern on shirt accentuates musculature on arns and creates good cut-in lines, good definition. Like the hand on shoulder to flex muscles and add a bit of interest to pose. Good facial expression - mischevious smirk?
*Camera looks to be at subject shoulder height to look straight into the eyes - good; focus looks good with a bit of softness to the face but well-defined lines in the top's fabric.
*(Highly subjective comment)Bottom third of subject is a bit dark which could go two ways - de-emphasis of lower parts forces eyes to top and face, or makes image appear unnatural.

All-in-all the photography looks very good; looks like your post may need a bit of tweaking:
*The bright glow around black oval is distracting; would prefer the blue-white swirls throughout (my bias is to use subdued backgrounds for portraiture.).
*Looks like the subject is only using 1/3 of the total image area-perhaps enlarge the subject while moving to the left & up to make the subject fill the majority of image area and move right eye to the lower right vertext of the top left rectangle (divide image into a 3x4 set of rectangles).
*The subject is posed so that it is clear there is a floor; but with this background the subject appears to float which screams "computer-enhanced". The background should reflect this, make a line or alter shading to create a definite border between a "wall" and "floor" to give the subject something upon which to kneel.
*Not sure about the cut-off of left hand and lower leg/foot.

It would also help to know the intended audience for the shot - 8x10 for a dance troupe application (i.e., subject-oriented) or as an item for a portfolio demonstrating portaiture (i.e., photographer-oriented).

HTH.
---Ritch

 

[tinksdad]

Interesting pose! The cropping is off and bothers me. I would prefer to see the lower hand and the the rest of his rear for the balance.

The dark thing surrounded by white/lighter spot on the background really draws the eye and seems out of place. Is this a photo shopped background?

The lighting looks good!! Nice balance. You might try more of a key light on the camera left and a 2 stop fill on the right, would give it a more dramatic look.

 

[MICKEY88]

OK, let's say you're in my class, so first we build you up then tear you down <g> - here goes:
*Lighting on subject looks good, even. Darker skins tones are difficult to light evenly so good job there.
*Posing/wardrobe looks good - mesh pattern on shirt accentuates musculature on arns and creates good cut-in lines, good definition. Like the hand on shoulder to flex muscles and add a bit of interest to pose. Good facial expression - mischevious smirk?
*Camera looks to be at subject shoulder height to look straight into the eyes - good; focus looks good with a bit of softness to the face but well-defined lines in the top's fabric.
*(Highly subjective comment)Bottom third of subject is a bit dark which could go two ways - de-emphasis of lower parts forces eyes to top and face, or makes image appear unnatural.

All-in-all the photography looks very good; looks like your post may need a bit of tweaking:
*The bright glow around black oval is distracting; would prefer the blue-white swirls throughout (my bias is to use subdued backgrounds for portraiture.).
*Looks like the subject is only using 1/3 of the total image area-perhaps enlarge the subject while moving to the left & up to make the subject fill the majority of image area and move right eye to the lower right vertext of the top left rectangle (divide image into a 3x4 set of rectangles).
*The subject is posed so that it is clear there is a floor; but with this background the subject appears to float which screams "computer-enhanced". The background should reflect this, make a line or alter shading to create a definite border between a "wall" and "floor" to give the subject something upon which to kneel.
*Not sure about the cut-off of left hand and lower leg/foot.

It would also help to know the intended audience for the shot - 8x10 for a dance troupe application (i.e., subject-oriented) or as an item for a portfolio demonstrating portaiture (i.e., photographer-oriented).

HTH.
---Ritch

the shoot was for cd cover and insert photos...

should have actually posted the unframed version, open space left for usual cd info, album name, artist name etc...

 

[tinksdad]

the shoot was for cd cover and insert photos...

should have actually posted the unframed version, open space left for usual cd info, album name, artist name etc...

The open space left makes more sense in context. I like it without the frame better.

 

[RitchG]

OK, got it. I also like it w/o the frame. Could you go the next step and put the photo in front of a plain background? Or is the bakcground a real physical canvas (if so, what did you do with the shadows)?

Since you're doing this for a CD, it would be better to review the image in a square format.

Good luck with the CD!
---RItch

 

[MICKEY88]

OK, got it. I also like it w/o the frame. Could you go the next step and put the photo in front of a plain background? Or is the bakcground a real physical canvas (if so, what did you do with the shadows)?

Since you're doing this for a CD, it would be better to review the image in a square format.

Good luck with the CD!
---RItch

what shadows...???

 

[MICKEY88]

Good luck with the CD!
---RItch

thanks,,, they need it more than I do...LOL


originally it was a shoot of 2 musicians, then they had a fight and split up, so now we're pulling pics from the shoot for both guys.. and doing solo shoots as well... they had an awesome cd put together and we had a pretty cool cover shot, a group of college girls that saw it , claimed they'd buy the cd based on the cover if they saw it on the shelf..

 

[Anewman]

I like the background except for that "flare" next to his leg.

The pose I assume is trying to be "sexy", but tis a little more on the submissive side IMO. The guy looks like he works out, why hide it??? I guess it depends on the type of target audience you are trying to attract.

 

[Anewman]

what shadows...???

Depending on lighting during the shoot there may or may not be some shadows under/behind the subject.

Sometimes a bit of shadows helps to avoid the cut and paste look when using a CG background, not saying that this does have that look.

 

[MICKEY88]

Depending on lighting during the shoot there may or may not be some shadows under/behind the subject.

Sometimes a bit of shadows helps to avoid the cut and paste look when using a CG background, not saying that this does have that look.

hm I never heard that before,,,dang and I tried so hard to avoid shadows...

 

[MICKEY88]

I like the background except for that "flare" next to his leg.

The pose I assume is trying to be "sexy", but tis a little more on the submissive side IMO. The guy looks like he works out, why hide it??? I guess it depends on the type of target audience you are trying to attract.

we shot almost 300 pics, various poses, etc....that is the look he likes,,,

the other guy looks like a linebacker, so they balanced each other well, one more reason it's too bad they split..