Foreground objects in portraits

Hi, I'm a high school student, just getting involved in some portrait photography. I was wondering what the general 'rule' is on having blurry foreground objects vignetting your subject, or if there is a rule. Here is an example, she is going to use this for her senior portrait. Some people hate the leaves, others love them. <A HREF="http://www.ceperley.com/photo/kim.jpg">http://www.ceperley.com/photo/kim.jpg</A>. What do you think? Thanks -Martin

<P>I think the leaves around her face provide a nice frame and a

welcome splash of colour. I would probably crop around 1/8 - 1/6 of

the image off on the right edge: there seems to be a little too much

greenery.

 

<P>However, the branck that is trying to grow into her eye is ver

distracting! Keep the brown branch - that gives her hands something

to do - but get rid of those green twigs. Please. It is a shame to a

nice portrait.

 

<P>Oh, and next time try a reflector to her right: you have lost all

detail in her hair on her right side (away from the light source) and

the difference in light beteen her left and right sides are too much

for your film: you loose detail on both sides.

<P>brank=branch, ver=very. I wish there was a preview.

 

<P>Re-reading my comments I think they sound too negative. I

<EM>like</EM> the image but find the green bits in her face a little

(well, more than a little...) distracting. Exposure and composition

are bod good - I just think that if you even out the exposure value

across the image and thereby bring out more details then you would

improve it a little.

I would say about the same thing Alan did. I like the

blurred framing, but would lose the in focus branch

near the face. I often include some near by foliage

that is out of focus near the camera for landscapes.

Usually a portrait is to show something about the person or the

persons personality. To me the branches in front of her face are

distracting and don't contribute anything to the composition or

subject. I would also have to agree with Allen about the uneven

lighting. Maybe you could move the light back farther on her left

side to highlight her hair rather then the side of her face so much.

Also I think the position of her left hand is a little distracting.

Especially the loose thumb. Other wise you have done well and have a

fine model, but think you could do better. Good Luck.