CRW_3138

I normally shoot landscape/architecture, but want to get more experience

with portraits. I'd like to ask for any and all critiques (good or bad) of this

portrait.

I'll start - the bacdrop I think distracts from the image. I wanted bright

highlights as well as shadow on the backdrop, so I'm not sure what I should

have done better.

As regards the backdrop, I guess using something either more textured or with heavier folds would have added that element of highlight and shadow. I wonder why you wanted that though? I find the viewpoint a little odd in this shot. Normally a low viewpoint puts the viewer in a sort of submissive position in regards to the subject, or at least it gives the subject a feeling of power, dominance. Here, your subject looks bored. A direct gaze would have helped, as would a more dynamic posture. The light is nice enough, and well managed, and I guess it fits the mood, such as it is. A bit of fill light from a reflector, stand him a few steps away from the background and use a lower f-stop, focus on the face and the light would make for a nice simple portrait.