*OFFICIAL* Snapshot of the Day (one image per post please) #1

[adrean8j]

@Josh: I have been wanting to ask/comment on this for a while with your model shoots:

Their HANDS. I am no professional but from what I have read, it seems getting the hands of whatever models a photographer shoots (posed shots) are hard to get to look "natural". Some of your model shots it looks like the model is "trying" to pose their hands instead of having a natural look. What tips or suggestions do you have to help with that issue (if you see it as an issue)?

[oneintheory]

Originally Posted by adrean8j

@Josh: I have been wanting to ask/comment on this for a while with your model shoots:

Their HANDS. I am no professional but from what I have read, it seems getting the hands of whatever models a photographer shoots (posed shots) are hard to get to look "natural". Some of your model shots it looks like the model is "trying" to pose their hands instead of having a natural look. What tips or suggestions do you have to help with that issue (if you see it as an issue)?

that depends a whole lot on the skill and experience of the model. several of the models I work with are pretty new. if someone's comfort level is low in front of a camera, it's going to show in the facial expressions and in the hands. many women's first instinct is to put their hands on the hips 'aggresively', although its not very feminine. many shots require that the model pose the hands, rather than letting them sit naturally, as natural positioning is not the same
for anyone. I worked with a girl a
couple days ago who, when I told her to let her hands hang naturally, hung them about 6-8 inches away from her body. that positioning was untenable, as it made her shoulders broader and her torso wider. all that is to say that what I like to do is position the rest of the person in such a way that the hands are secondary. ideally, unless they are the subject or a focal point in the image composition, you don't want people to immediately notice the hands. you merely want them to complement everything else going on in the image.

[adrean8j]

^^^Ok that is what I was thinking was happening. I wasn't sure if you were intentionally posing the models like that or that they were still not fully comfortable. For example in your photo of the Ball player his hands looks perfectly natural, but in the photo of Brittany above you can immediately tell her hands were "posed". I don't know how this would effect your shoots (with lighting, spacing ect, etc.), but I was brainstorming how I would get a model to look more natural or comfortable. What about a full length mirror or something so they can see themself? You know girls look in the mirror and do their hair or just pose (as evidenced by the myriad self portraits in mirrors you see on FB and other sites). Just stuff I am learning and would like to learn more about as I grow.

[MB330]

Originally Posted by dcstep

In keeping with the fall theme:

Red maples at my apartment:

Red Maples at our apartment by dcstep, on Flickr

YOu got my vote for this pics!

[oneintheory]

Originally Posted by adrean8j

^^^Ok that is what I was thinking was happening. I wasn't sure if you were intentionally posing the models like that or that they were still not fully comfortable. For example in your photo of the Ball player his hands looks perfectly natural, but in the photo of Brittany above you can immediately tell her hands were "posed". I don't know how this would effect your shoots (with lighting, spacing ect, etc.), but I was brainstorming how I would get a model to look more natural or comfortable. What about a full length mirror or something so they can see themself? You know girls look in the mirror and do their hair or just pose (as evidenced by the myriad self portraits in mirrors you see on FB and other sites). Just stuff I am learning and would like to learn more about as I grow.

a full length mirror is no good. i want them to do what i want them to do, not see themselves in a mirror and change something. their mirror = my camera display or laptop display immediately after the shot.

[oneintheory]

old shot.


Untitled by jsophoto, on Flickr

[Chewy734]

that's some colorful sweat

[Chewy734]

This was to go along with the boat photo that adrean8j posted 3 pages back... but, I was too swamped at work to look for it until now.

I feel it's a bit washed out, so I'm not sure how to improve this photo.

[M_Six]

Yeah, that type of haze needs to be stopped before it ever hits the lens. Although even with a good CPL filter, you might have ended up with some. Nice composition, though.

[adrean8j]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

This was to go along with the boat photo that adrean8j posted 3 pages back... but, I was too swamped at work to look for it until now.

I feel it's a bit washed out, so I'm not sure how to improve this photo.

It is washed out...this is the best I could do with such a small file:

Opened the photo in CS4, opened Image, Exposure. Raise the Gamma then raise the exposure a bit.
The main problem is the vignette, not sure if that was PP or a characteristic of the lens you were using.

[Chewy734]

Thanks for the edit adrean8j! It looks nice, but the sail looks a bit underexposed to me. The vignetting was done in post.

[oneintheory]

Sydnie by jsophoto, on Flickr

[rodi]

are you posing these people?? you should stop.

[UdubBadger]

those eyebrows gots to go...

[MATT0404]

First Dance by mkrepp, on Flickr

[oneintheory]

Originally Posted by rodi

are you posing these people?? you should stop.

always so friendly. should i sell my cameras or stop posing people first?

no. her friend/stylist/MUA posed her. i don't think it's a particularly flattering pose for her body type...by any means. but i also don't think it's the world's worst.

[kamek]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Yeah, that type of haze needs to be stopped before it ever hits the lens. Although even with a good CPL filter, you might have ended up with some. Nice composition, though.

Originally Posted by adrean8j

It is washed out...this is the best I could do with such a small file:

Opened the photo in CS4, opened Image, Exposure. Raise the Gamma then raise the exposure a bit.
The main problem is the vignette, not sure if that was PP or a characteristic of the lens you were using.

+1 Get rid of the vignette IMO. I personally like to drop a gradient on the sky.

[kamek]

Originally Posted by rodi

are you posing these people?? you should stop.

Originally Posted by oneintheory

always so friendly. should i sell my cameras or stop posing people first?

no. her friend/stylist/MUA posed her. i don't think it's a particularly flattering pose for her body type...by any means. but i also don't think it's the world's worst.

[adrean8j]

Originally Posted by oneintheory

always so friendly. should i sell my cameras or stop posing people first?

no. her friend/stylist/MUA posed her. i don't think it's a particularly flattering pose for her body type...by any means. but i also don't think it's the world's worst.

Well Rodi has never been the type NOT to be blunt
Anyway that shot is a perfect example of what I was talking about with the hands....UNNATURAL....maybe it just me but the only thing I can say about most of your photos in the negative aspect is the posing (with the caveat that these are amateur models[?]). Just an opinion...and not meant to be combative or derogatory.

[oneintheory]

Originally Posted by adrean8j

Well Rodi has never been the type NOT to be blunt
Anyway that shot is a perfect example of what I was talking about with the hands....UNNATURAL....maybe it just me but the only thing I can say about most of your photos in the negative aspect is the posing (with the caveat that these are amateur models[?]). Just an opinion...and not meant to be combative or derogatory.

i can't argue with you there. posing is hardly my strong suit. doesn't mean i should stop, i think it means quite the opposite. the only way to improve is through continued efforts. and constructive criticism or telling me what i'm doing wrong is more valuable than a sarcastic remark. after all, we're adults here with a common passion, right?

[rodi]

i'm glad you found my telling you what you're doing wrong as valuable.

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by adrean8j

Well Rodi has never been the type NOT to be blunt
Anyway that shot is a perfect example of what I was talking about with the hands....UNNATURAL....maybe it just me but the only thing I can say about most of your photos in the negative aspect is the posing (with the caveat that these are amateur models[?]). Just an opinion...and not meant to be combative or derogatory.

really??? you think her hands where the only unnatural thing????

did you SEE her eyebrows???