Feedback 2: Street Portrait of Maddy
Photographer: Me, John Fawkes
Model: Maddy
Once again, I’m sure I posted this but it was like three years ago and I can’t be bothered to hunt down the original post.
Composition and Framing
Composition:
The model is well-centered, drawing immediate attention. The leading lines of the street direct the viewer’s eyes towards the model, which is effective.
The background provides context, giving an urban and slightly edgy vibe. However, the trash bins and some elements could be seen as distracting.
Framing:
The framing is good with the model positioned in the center of the road. However, there is a lot of space above the model’s head which could be cropped out to bring more focus to the subject. I agree- Instagram forces you to use one of three aspect ratios, so it was either include the sky or exclude the buildings to the side, which I wanted.
Including more of the lower part of the model’s legs and feet would provide better balance. This appears to be a straight-up hallucination by the AI, as her whole body is in frame.
Lighting
Natural Light:
The natural light is soft and flattering, probably taken during the golden hour or on an overcast day, which minimizes harsh shadows. Both actually- it was golden hour and also overcast.
The lighting on the model's face could be enhanced slightly to add more dimension and focus.
Exposure:
The exposure is well-balanced, but the model’s face could be slightly brighter to stand out more against the urban background.
Camera Settings
Depth of Field:
The shallow depth of field is effective in blurring the background slightly, which helps to isolate the model from the busy street.
A slightly wider aperture could have been used to blur the background more and reduce distractions.
Focus:
The focus on the model is sharp, which is good. Ensuring the eyes and face are in perfect focus is crucial.
Model Direction
Pose:
The model’s pose is confident and dynamic, which fits well with the urban setting. The stance is strong, but the arm position could be more relaxed to avoid looking stiff.
Turning the head slightly more towards the camera or having a different angle could create a stronger connection with the viewer.
Expression:
The expression is confident and somewhat intense, which works well. Experimenting with a variety of expressions could add more depth to the shoot.
Editing
Color Grading:
The colors are natural and vibrant, which works well with the urban backdrop. Slightly enhancing the colors of the outfit could make the model pop more.
Consider adding a slight vignette to draw more focus towards the center and the model. I actually do use a vignette effect here, but it’s subtle and could be stronger.
Contrast and Clarity:
Increase the contrast and clarity slightly to bring out the details in the model’s outfit and the textures of the urban setting.
Use selective adjustments to enhance the model’s face and ensure it’s the focal point.
Cropping and Straightening:
Crop the image to remove some of the top space and focus more on the model.
Ensure the horizon is straight to avoid any slight tilts.
Overall Grade: B+
Suggestions for Improvement
Lighting:
Introduce a reflector or external light source to brighten the model’s face and add more depth.
Background Management:
Consider shooting from a slightly different angle to minimize the visibility of trash bins and other distracting elements.
Posing and Expression:
Experiment with different poses and facial expressions to add variety and depth to the shoot.
Post-Processing:
Enhance the color and contrast slightly to make the image pop more. Use selective adjustments to focus on the model’s face and outfit. This was before Lightroom added the ability to add background blur in post-processing. I would probably do that if I was editing this photo today. Then again, I also have better lenses that can do that in-camera now; at the time I was shooting on my first kit lens.
