Fuji 64 Tungsten shot

Because of the slow film speed, I had to work from a tripod and keep the lens wide open. Fortunately, it was a Planar lens on a Rollei.

 

 

What specifically are you looking for in way of critique - composition, pov, contrast, the model's pose, expression, sensuality?

I'd be using a tripod too.

 

What I see is a scantily clad young woman posing in a very sensual way in strong light and with obtrusive background curtain and side wall, given they are also in strong light.

 

More than the model needs to be considered IMO

 

Was it meant to be soft porn, or to display the beauty of the female form? Looks like a girlfriend taken in a motel room, to be honest.

 

But if you were only concerned how the Planar performed wide open, then yes, it seems to have done a great job.

Edited May 27, 2021 by kmac

Good observations. I will cover the bit of wall by cloning the curtain. I will try to dsrken the b.g. in PS.

 

For a model portfolio.

To add to the conversation, IMO there isn't anything outstanding about this shot. The setting, the pose, the lighting (room or ambient light only?), all very run of the mill. It seems like there are hundreds of very similar photos being posted in various photo groups all over fac3b00k all day every day. It looks like you may have done a slight random crop away from the square format of the Rollei? I advise you to figure out how to utilize the square more effectively- OR figure out how to achieve a 3:2 or 4:3 - or some other specific size crop.

 

Other things of note, it seems the film responded well to the lighting and works also for the skin and hair color palette on the model. The model seems engaged, not bored to tears.

 

Unless you are doing this strictly for your own satisfaction and/or pleasure, there may never be any, or very much, interest in such a photo as this. Shooting nice looking female models is something that's being done to death. So IF you want to generate any interest- OR any income from shooting models, figure out how NOT to make ordinary or average or sub par photographs of them.

 

Not my thing, but I would guess a strong photo session might begin in a setting that doesn't come off as Motel 6. Of course, one COULD build a portfolio by purposely shooting STRICTLY in cheap motels- one could play that up and perhaps have something. But that makes the scene & setting as big a part of the photo as the model, doesn't it- kinda Gregory Crewdson with a slight kink? Except to emulate him, you need very specialized lighting, hair & make-up, an entire team.... Maybe you could shoot ONLY in THIS room, and play the models against the room in 1000 ways?

 

I dunno man.

I guess it comes down to getting more creative and putting a LOT more thought, time, and energy into it. Otherwise you're just one more guy among thousands shooting random and unaffecting photos of scantily clad female models in Location X.

Ala Elmer Batters w/o the context and personality that Batters did well. Fetishism? This photo has a dry document look. My first impression is that it was a record for the photographer not the model.

I think Ricochet had a good suggestion

"[...]figure out how NOT to make ordinary or average [...]" . The model would likely appreciate, benefit from a photo(s) that stand apart.

Well! If you were trying for a "come hither". I think you got it!! That may not be much of a critique. But it is what it is. Young looking model too.

Well! If you were trying for a "come hither". I think you got it!!

I'd say it's the skeleton of a "come hither." A "come hither" setup lacking both the come and the hither.

 

Her body feels tensed and stiff and her expression is ... expressionless.

 

But I suspect our photographer got just what he wanted. (Which is why simply achieving one's goal is not enough to make a good photo.)

 

I have to agree that Ricochet's suggestion is a good one. There's potential for an interesting "cheap motel" look, though that would take thought and finesse to do well, a little more work than getting a pretty model to pose in sexy underwear with a decent lighting setup.

I think that the look on her face is fine and comfortable looking. OTOH, her right shoulder looks really unnatural and tense. Perhaps a pillow under her upper torso would have helped. You would need to ask her to pull the shoulder down and then give her freedom to reposition to get comfortable, with that shoulder down. The intersection of the brick wall, curtain and her hair is awkward and you should have avoided that in the shooting. You can't just focus on the model.

 

I love the light on her top side of her hip and torso. Very nice. Her eyes are outstanding, but a reflector might have been nice to light under her chin a bit. You cut off her legs nicely (it looks intentional), but you cut off part of a hand awkwardly.

 

How was she as a model? To me, it looks like you worked fairly hard to get her in this position, which isn't all the way there. Some women just pop into great poses with little direction. Others...well...it's work for both them and you. She looks comfortable with her body to me, but not comfortable with this pose. For her portfolio, this will show skin and coloring nicely, but doesn't really show her modeling skill, or maybe it does. If I were considering her for my model, she wouldn't pop to the top of the deck. Perhaps another pass will loosen things up a bit. She's lovely, with high potential, but it's not showing here. If she paid you, give her a free reshoot. If you paid her, then suck it up and try again.

 

Matt Granger has a great series of videos on working with boudoir models and even erotic. I really liked one that he did about using a hotel room for erotic photography. Of course, the models are all exceptional in those shoots and he's expert. Both the model and photographer getting comfortable is key, particularly if you're learning this craft. He does a great job of showing how to evaluate the room, position the model around tight furnishings, choosing the right lens, etc.

Good observations. I will cover the bit of wall by cloning the curtain. I will try to dsrken the b.g. in PS.

 

For a model portfolio.

 

I guess that my request for some clarification didn't mean anything to you. Ciao for now!