Post Workshop Critique-Adrian

This is a post workshop critique from our RPS workshop in November.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

This is all a bit murky, you need to have an adjust of exposure and contrast, maybe a bit of dodging and burning to bring this to life. It is overall a little dark and a little lacking in contrast and punch.

Pose and all that is good, but the black cloth down the centre is too wide relative to the Sharon. You could have had Sharon posed slightly less head on to camera to help.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Lighting comments as above.

The big problem here is the red cloth which leaves a very unstructured block of red where all shape and poise is lost. Everything in the top half is great, a crop just below the hands would probably look good.

You may be able to adjust the lightness of the lower half to bring more shape into the red cloth.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Nice image, maybe experiment with a little cool toning, see if a chillier image fits with the emotion in the models pose and expression.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Spot on. There is probably a much better image by cropping much tighter on the face and hands.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Nice and happy portrait. Lovely. Just to be picky, watch the high lights on the buttons, they do draw the eye.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Normally I'd be trying to avoid the knee.

Again a really good workman like shot, would be stronger if it had been slightly re-composed to allow a tighter crop with all the elements closer together.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

To me this is the wrong moment, the eyes look like they are just about to blink, which ruins it for me.

While it is competently caught, the details really let it down.

The wrinkles on the hand, the bad armpit, the mouth shape, the eyes, the hair fall, the bits of muck on the chaise.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Much better than the previous shot, but the hands are very bunched and could have been more elegant, the eyes are looking too far away.

Both these shots are sort of close, but the details, especially in checking the models pose, could be improved quite a bit.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Whereas for me it all comes together in this shot. Really strong shot of a really strong woman.

Catchlights in the eyes would be good, crop it tighter would make it stronger.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Again this has the same problems, I just wonder if you are shooting while they or you are talking??

Eyes are part closed, lips look tense, crinkles in both armpits, the hand is wrinkly, the crop on the elbow doesn't work and something has happened to the line of the dress both around the bust and the waist.

Again, its very close, but the details kill it.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Smashing. Could do to be fraction lighter and it's possibly a bit yellow.

A quick bit of post production and this will really sing out.

workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Same as above, really good shot.

OVERALL:

You've got some good captures, but the devil is in the detail. You want to go over all the images in the shoot looking for the kinds of details that I've been pointing out and hopefully you'll take them in so they become second nature to spot and remove.

I am aware that this is much harder in a workshop setting than if you had time to properly check things over, but I would say that they are symptoms of being in too much of a hurry to shoot,

I would also like you to do some monochrome work on these, Dennis is an obvious mono subject, but I think this applies to a number of the images here.

Lastly, try looking at tighter crops on your images, not only can the possibly cut out the bad stuff :) but also give you stronger images.

 
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Leah Axl model, workshop tighter details stronger shape Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

I run regular workshops for beginners and experts alike. I like to run a mix of styles and types. Masterclasses, portfolio builds, technical and artistic sessions available.

Current courses available.


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