[skipper954]

As I said, I am trying to do some model photography. This was taken about 10am on a clothing optional beach in Miami. I have cropped, leveled, cleaned the sand and Sasha's skin a bit, and adjusted highlights and shadows, color, exposure and added a tiny warm filter.

I like the diagonals and multiple triangles, and the texture and color of the fabric against the model, ocean and sky.

However, I am not sure this is a great image, it still seems a bit flat, and I want to use it as part of my portfolio. So please, rip it apart!!!

skip

[Dabhand16]

I like this shot, Skip. But I think the horizon is distracting, and I wonder if you have any other shots taken at this time from different angles? Also, the material is going out of frame. I can't make up my mind on the eyes being closed. I would clone out the swimmers/bouys.

I think it is so difficult to get good shots like this outside where you do not have control over backgrounds, lighting etc, but this is a fair effort.

[skipper954]

Shoot....I did clone out the swimmers, but I didn't realize that because of the way I stacked the layers, they swam back!

Thanks for your input, Dab, I do have other shots but I am not sure any are better.

skip

[skipper954]

I did have another image. Cloned out the horizon, did a quick and dirty edit. Is this better?????

Thanks

skip

[Dabhand16]

Well, this shot addresses all of the things I mentioned earlier, and for me it works better. When photos are as good as these, it is the little things that count. This is a real b****r, because the ones that don't make it are usually pretty good too.

Do you think it is better?

[skipper954]

It certainly cured some of the issues, but I don't think that it has quite the artistic impact of the original. I am glad you like the images. Thanks.

[fionaB]

i think the second one is much much better..... thats not to say the first one was bad..... the eyes are open which i think is very important as it makes the models real. not sure if that makes sense but i know what i mean. cracking images both but the seoncd one wins hands down!

Fiona

[Steve]

I’ll have a stab at giving you some feedback on this, you’ll have to take into account that I have never done any of this kind of nude/artistic photography although I have done quite a lot of people photography.

Dabs pretty much hit on most of my niggles in the first shot however he has missed a big one from my perspective, the subject of the shot is not the wonderful beech or aqua sea but the model, with that in mind you have used far to large a depth of field in both shots. Stopping it down would have isolated the model much more and concentrated the viewer on your main subject, it would have also still allowed the location to instantly recognisable as the colours of the sea and sand would have given it away.

The eyes in the first shot are closed and as such the picture takes on a slightly voyeur feel with it being a nude, the second shot is better in this respect but the open mouth could be taken to be a surprise reaction as the model has just noticed a photographer taking pictures of her... With nudes it is especially difficult to get the poses and facial expressions correct to convey the photographers idea/mood for the shot, you get either slightly wrong and the whole meaning of the shot can be changed. On that point her base leg (the one on the sand) seems to be slightly awkwardly positioned and twisted under here centre of balance.

I like the use of the sheer wrap as an accessory, it adds both lines and a splash of colour, I do however feel that it has not been utilised to its best potential, nudes are usually taken to be sensual or show of body shapes, better use of the wrap could have really brought you some good, interesting shots. Don’t be afraid to experiment and get the model to try different positions that either you or her feel would work, keep shooting the frames and checking to what does and doesn’t work. Try to not break up the flow of the shoot too much by reviewing the shots too often, an uncomfortable model will be a terrible subject no matter how pretty or beautiful she may be? A relaxed model will always allow for better pictures

Lastly one point about the pictures as I see them here, both are very soft, the focus almost looks like it is off. This is either due to your shooting or if the full size images are fine, then it’s down to the way that you have reduced them to be displayed on the web. Either way you need to spend a little time to get that correct as showing soft shots will reduce their impact and also doesn’t help us give quality feedback. Sometimes it’s the small details that make a huge difference.

HTH a little

[Gary Bagshawe]

What they said, but also consider :- 10.00am is not the best quality of light to be working with for this type of subject, also the fact that it is shot at 10.00am means that people have already been walking along the beach messing up the set for you, as Steve said it is the attention to detail that most people don't even notice that turns a good shot into a great shot. Im not sure what time the sun comes up where you are but I would get there about 20 minutes or so before that and the quality of light as the sun is rising and for about an hour after is superb. HTH

[skipper954]

Thank you, Steve and Gary, for your comments. They are quite valuable to me.

Gary....the shot was scheduled for 7am. I called the model when we arrived at the beach and woke her up!!!! She apologized like crazy, but it still took her 2 hours to prepare and get there. So, we work with what we have. In addition to less than perfect light, we worked until nearly noon, and it got uncomfortably hot, even if the model was nude.

[Fangman]

[
Had a quick crop and generally tried to give it a bit more punch - agree with Steve and Gary. Worked mainly with histroy brush in various modes and added a bit of saturation.

Now shoot me down!!!

[Rob Barron]

I think this is really a question of chalking it up to experience. It is a fair effort at artistic nudity and if nothing else helps you to see just how hard it is to get them looking good. You need a lot more than a pretty figure and a sandy beach to get this kind of thing to work well. I don't think playing with these in Photoshop is going to make them into winners but you have learnt a lot of important points from trying it all and that is what this is all about.

So, just to summarise some points rather than repeat a lot of what has already been said:

~ Focus is vital: not only should it be sharp but the BG shouldn't be, get the aperture wide and let the DoF work for you by helping the subject stand out.
~ Shoot at the right time of day, mid morning doesn't do it, especially in Florida sunshine. If the model can't get out of bed, sack her and find another. Harsh i know but glamour photography is a tough world and only the best can expect to make it.
~ The model needs experience to carry off this kind of shot. An alluring smile is great, a mouth gaping open as though she just suddenly realised 'darn, I forgot to get dressed this morning and there's a guy over there with a camera!' isn't great!
~ Get the technical things right: no sloping horizons, no muck and things on the beach and no burnt out white spots on the reflecting sand. The first picture has a large area of this to the right of the model's head, taking the eye of the viewer right away from the subject. The second one has it to a lesser extent.
~ Apart from the light quality, the other key reason for taking shots in the early hours is because there are very few people around. This beach is a 'clothes optional' beach, in other words a nudist beach or a naturist beach. That means as you get into the day there will be more pairs of unwanted eyes than will make the model feel comfortable and relaxed.
~ Facial expression is very important, not just a 'say cheese' as we so often hear people say. Not saying that has been done here, not by a long way, just making the general point that a smile should be a gentle smile, the eyes should speak by being bright and clear and of course well focused.
~ The girl has arched her back in the first shot, revealing sand stuck all over her back, not very alluring. It is part of glamour modelling that attention to fine detail between each and every shot is what makes winning pictures. That might mean having a soft brush ready to brush away anything like this.
~ The model's hair should be carefully placed rather than allowed to simply fall wherever it will.

These are just a few pointers and I am NOT a glamour or nude photographer. I have read books and watched professionals do this kind of shooting and frankly it is damned hard work and not something that appeals to me at all. I therefore respect greatly anyone who can put in the dedication and hard work it takes to really be successful at it.

My comments are general ones not at all intended to be hyper critical so I hope I haven't offended you in any way. You have already achieved far better than I would have if I had tried this!

Cheers,
Rob

[skipper954]

Rob (and everyone else)

You have not offended me in any way.

The reason I joined this site was to learn, get input about my images, and improve my photographic and processing skills.

I am doing that in spades here, and I thank you.

skip

[fionaB]

offend Skip................??????? trust me i have been trying for ages to do that he too thick skinned.......... Ooops sorry Skip didint see ya there!