Natural Light Portrait

[Hillary]

I am really liking this kinda of portrait work, and I am starting to practice more...
Got info, critiques, advice... let me hear it

[Cameron]

I thought this was a thread about Natural Light Portraits...all I see are a bunch of kids!

Pictures look great Hillary, I really like that first one.

[apbowhunter]

cute kid and I like the capture at the top. The lighting was perfect.

[Legdog]

what lens?

nice and sharp

[Hillary]

what lens?

nice and sharp

First one is the first click from the new 70-200 f/2.8 <--- amazing.
the next 3 are from the 105 f/2.8 Macro, which is a top contender... the DOF is paper thin with that lens, so it takes some getting used to, but it is legit when you get the hang of it.

[Legdog]

money well spent

I'm sure you are pleased

[Hillary]

money well spent

I'm sure you are pleased

You better get on that 16mm fisheye.

You knoooooow you want one.

[WyoBull]

Very nice shots, I really like the first one with the detail coming through from the shadows. Nice job!

[Shane]

Very nice, Hilly. I like the directional light in the first two, and the back light in the 3rd. Full light on the face in pics like #4 aren't as dramatic and don't show as much depth. Still a cute kid though.

I have kinda stumbled into a few decent portrait shots here and there. When I think about lighting, background, and subject - in that order - I get better shots. Most of the time, I just focus on the subject and start firing. Rarely works well for me. If I can get warm, directional light or backlight (sometimes you need a fill flash here, sometimes not) and then keep the good light while moving my camera and/or the subject so that I get a non-distracting and contrasting background, then I have a chance of getting a good shot.

Here are a FEW that I have liked out of the MANY that were just OK...

backlit w/contrasting background...




directional side light w/contrasting background...




Lighting wasn't so great, but I liked the background...




Accidentally WAY overexposed this shot, but I thought it was cool anyway.

[Snakelover]

Great shots, Hillary! I especially like the third one!

Shane, I always enjoy your work! Very nice!

Can I play? Picture of my daughter sitting in a restaurant in Boston. Open (no glass) window beyond.

[stan]

They look great to me. Kiddos make great portrait subjects.

[Legdog]

same lens Hilly used

[Hillary]

Thanks for the tips
And the wonderful pics. Keep them coming!!


Uno Mas..

[KHo]

Muy bien. Very crisp images. Thanks for sharing.

[AggieHunter]

I like the directional light in the first two, and the back light in the 3rd. Full light on the face in pics like #4 aren't as dramatic and don't show as much depth.

I agree with what shane said, but the pictures are awesome! I'm diggin the new lens already!

One suggestion on the first one. I don't know if you care to spend this much time working on the picture, but the partial face etc to the right of the boy takes away from him a little if you'd care to clone it out.