A woman and her dog - C&C please

[Tim Armes]

Hi,

A friend of mine volunteered to be my model for this shoot. I've pretty much attained the look I was after, but I'd appreciate any critique and comments that you may offer.

For the technically inclined, the photos were taken with a 30D, an off camera speedlite camera right, without diffuser so as to give a hard light, and an 85mm 1.8.

Tim

​

 

[Asher Kelman]

How much does framing background matter in appreciating a picture?

Hi Tim,

I was surprised that I struggled to get the most out of these two pictures. I felt that I should be more impressed but there was a problem that I saw recently with the pictures of fireworks here .

I'm starting to think that certain images need gray backgrounds. Otherwise the sharp change between the white page and the image creates a mental shock, a sort of level of importance of the harsh transition This transition, to me at least, can sometimes severely distract.

I looked at both images in Photoshop and they are wonderful and come alive when on a grey background. Now is this me, or does anyone else have this issue?

I really don't like to make images larger by having border, (as that might slow loading of the image, but, if this is not just my perception that is quirky, then we might address this.

In any case, what like about these two images is they present an unusual harmony between the lady and the dog. This is also in the B&W image just by merely using Mode: Grey Scale and no further effort.

In this case, it even seems to have far more detail. In short, i like both images and they humble me in how I must judge people's work.

Asher

 

[Tim Armes]

Hi Asher,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Following your suggestion, I tried putting a grey background behind the image. I'm honestly not sure which I prefer. Perhaps we can add a grey theme to the OPF forums so that people can choose for themselves?

I've finished a 3rd image from the shoot now, I think it's probably my favourite.

I'd appreciate some feedback - What works? What doesn't? What could be improved?

Tim

 

[Ray West]

Hi Timothy,

I'm not sure of the effect you are after here - I did not find any portraits on your web site for comparative purposes. I think I would have tried to 'tidy up the dogs mouth area' - comb out the matted hairs, etc. before taking the photo, but maybe you wanted it the way it is, not exactly a flattering image. Maybe the harsh rectangular framing does not work in your favour, perhaps the 'old fashioned'? blurred oval portrait type of frame is better.

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[Deleted member 55]

Hi Tim,

Out standing photos.

Still trying to figure out why I like them so much. I think it must be the saturation and the contrast in the skin tone.

Is that a Shih-Tzu or a Lhasa-Apso?

 

[Kathy Rappaport]

Not quite

First, I have a Lhasa Apso who is one breed over and almost looks the same as your subject, but, he will not pose for me often. Getting a Dog to look at the camera isn't always as easy as one might think.

For my taste, and remember much of photography can be subjective, the composition is not quite right = the overlap of the two subjects is just a bit too tight. Too much of the lady's face is hidden by the adorable litte dog. For me it would work if there was some separation between them. She has great eyes and expression which you captured well. I also think I would PS the mole because it is so prominent. I like the lighting, but I also favor softer lighting and I think the frame is okay.

 

[Kathy Rappaport]

I tried to edit my above post, but, it wouldn't take...

Editing to add for Will, I am fairly sure it's a Shih-Tzu. It can be difficult to tell without a full body view. Lhasas are a bit bigger and their snout slightly different.

(The Tan dog is my Lhasa, The dark dog is a Cairn Terrier (like Toto in the Wizard of Oz) and the photo is a snapshot!

 

[Tim Armes]

I'm not sure of the effect you are after here - I did not find any portraits on your web site for comparative purposes.

Hi Ray,

You'll find some here:

http://www.timothyarmes.com/gallery.php?gal=carpe

I think I would have tried to 'tidy up the dogs mouth area' - comb out the matted hairs, etc. before taking the photo, but maybe you wanted it the way it is, not exactly a flattering image.

You're right, flattering isn't the look I was after. The hard light was used to bring out every wrinkle, and every fault. I had her hide behind the dog so as to add a touch of mystery, and I wanted that intense stare. I was looking to achieve a slighly dark, yet intense image. The contrast between the woman and the cute dog was intentional - I want the viewer to ask themselves questions.

It would seem however that I haven't necessarily achieved that. The suggestions that have been made about using soft light etc. tells me that I may have missed the mark somewhat. I'll have to think about why that is. I think that the third image is probably the closest to the look I was after.

Thanks for all your comments.

Tim

P.S. I've no idea what type of dog it is either...

 

[Ray West]

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the link, I remember the 'Cathy Burke' photo from some months ago. I think, if you want 'mystery', then your image needs to be darker/more ominous? Perhaps the lady's eyes peering from a shadowy face - maybe even layer some chicken wire in front of the image - as if they are in some sort of cage.

Perhaps, you need in effect, to invent a story line, get them to act out the bit you want to photograph. Portraits of folk and dogs are sort of expected to be 'cute'. Now, if you want to incorporate half a squirrel...., and some blood,
Ah, mystery, not 'scare the living daylights...'

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[Kathy Rappaport]

Harsh Light...

If you wanted a look of mystery, you could also have lit from below with fall off at the top. To me, the look you were trying for missed with the harsh portrait light.

 

[Edward Bussa]

C&C - a funny thing

Tim,

I always find comment & critique threads to be a funny experience.

Word & Pictures don't go together very well sometimes.

When you ask people for their opinion, its always nice when they step up and give the effort required to do so. Invariably, I learn something, but many times its about about the "opinionator"=)

Personally, I really like the first image. When you described a deliberate use of harsh light, and saw the woman's face, I could see you were looking to create a somewhat funky photograph (in your words, "intense").

I like the blackness in the background - that, along with the hard light, creates the intense mood for me. The little bit of light allowed onto the woman's shoulder in the lower right corner is the finishing touch however. While writing this post, I recalled something in that corner that caused my eye to ponder, and I had to re-look to see what it was. That small detail in the corner gives the image a feel of quality for me.

The first composition works best for me primarily because the "beauty mark" on the woman's forehead steals the show in the other images. I didn't even notice the dog's messy snout. My mother has shih-tzu so perhaps its par for the course to me!

One last thing, the woman's smirk on that third image should get more space - that has the potential to really define a quirky image in my opinion.

 

[Tim Armes]

Ray, Kathy,

Thanks for your suggestions, you've given me some good ideas to play with....

Tim

 

[Emma James]

Hi Tim, you've captured a lovely relationship here, warts and all! Is it a little over sharpened? That would be my only criticism, I feel it would have done no harm for this portrait to be 'softer', though I do appreciate that different monitors give a different perception, maybe it isnt over sharp at all!

Emma James