Critique for Richard W

This is a critique of Richard's images from a recent workshop at the studios.

This is from a nude's workshop - so there's lots of nudity - go no further if you're going to be offended!

I normally ask for a maximum of 12, and Richard has provided a few more than that, if you are thinking of sending your own images for critique, please make sure 12 is the max, you'll get a more thorough review then. Also, for review images, they are better full frame, without matting around them, this makes them easier to see on the blog. Richard is not to blame on this - I didn't explain any of this to him.

That said, here we go

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Love this image, normally you would not want such an inbalanced break in the frame at the top, but here it works absolutely perfectly, accentuating the height of the jump and also giving a terrific bit of tension to the image too.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Lovely low key image, lighting across the face is perfect, the pose and camera position really accentuate the legs. With this kind of pose you do need to watch what's happening on the tummy though, we've got some awkward wrinkles there. Any sitting pose it's the photographers job to really look out for this

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Wonderful dynamic, perfectly composed diagonal line across the image, love the anonymity of the face being covered by the hair.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Nice idea, but expression is wrong.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Horrible creases on the waist, adjusting the models tilt would fix those.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Ha ha, I like the idea of this, the rotated image, the trouble is the elements within the image now flow too strongly upwards to make the illusion work - good idea though.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

As above. The right way up tis is a much better image.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

I saved the comments for these as a group. I love the exploration of the body parts here. I don't know if they are crops from a larger image or deliberately taken that way, but these are very interesting and invite further inspection. Again not convinced by the sideways image and it would be better if all the images were of a similar tonality, the hand image is sticks out as being much darker than the rest.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Nice delicate pose and good figure shape but again a really bad waist crease.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Lovely. Nothing more to say, for me this is the stand-out image of the set.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Bit ho-hum, fundamentally I think the green is horrible, it's not a good colour to go with flesh tones, doesn't work on the colour wheel at all.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

The dynamic in the drapes is terrific, love the shape they are making. I also like the way the pose comes out as being completely decent too.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Not as convincing as the first one, because the elbow cut is more like an amputation. This doesn't add the same tension as the head crop on your first image because it's the wrong limb.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Bit Edward Weston, but personally I don't like the expression, looks like pursed lips to me. Also, the body is a bit slouchy. I suspect this was taken when the model wasn't prepared, but it lacks the completely natural too.

shape pose richard model waist Simon Q. Walden, FilmPhotoAcademy.com, sqw, FilmPhoto, photography

Nice piece of rim lighting. I think the body is a little high in the frame. the light runs across the centre of the frame which is a bit of a dead spot. Would be better lower down in the frame.

Some final comments:

It doesn't matter what shape your model is, sitting and twisting poses will crease the waist - the model cannot tell this - that's your job to watch for it and correct. Most models if you tell them know how to shift their tilt to remove it. For sitting poses she has to pull the tummy in hard.

I think all these images could do with a bit more "punch" - which means a little more contrast and a little more saturation and a little more sharpness. Images straight of DSLR's are often flat (deliberately so - unlike compacts which tend to crank everything up to the max). You should expect to adjust contrast, saturation and sharpness for every DSLR image.

I'd you to pay a little more attention to the figure too. For me though the poses are good, the body shape isn't it's best. Now, if you're model is jumping around and the like, then it's inevitable that the angle of her body in the image may not be perfect - and indeed her body parts may have moved out of shape. Don't be afraid to use apply a little tummy tuck or leg lengthening for example. Also some skins will benefit from skin smoothing too.

You've chosen to present all these in colour - I think some of them would make good black and whites too, maybe with a little toning thrown away - have an experiment.

Overall, you are to be commended on your framing and composition - you've produced images compositionally which are way better than the run of the mill and are subtle and also imaginative.

 
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Leah Axl model, shape pose richard model waist 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.

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