:: Just wanna share my work ::

**sharon** · 04-10-2010, 05:37 AM

**sharon** · 04-10-2010, 05:38 AM

**nidhogg** · 04-10-2010, 09:08 AM

Cut the single yellow flower. Its completely out of focus.

**kingwilly** · 04-10-2010, 11:58 AM

I like the colours of the baby outdoors.

**mc2** · 04-10-2010, 01:03 PM

looks like your getting the hang of it.

**sharon** · 05-10-2010, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by mc2

looks like your getting the hang of it.

Cheers mate. You learn new things everyday...

**sharon** · 05-10-2010, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Cut the single yellow flower. Its completely out of focus.

That's how I like it.

**ossierob** · 10-10-2010, 05:42 AM

Have never worked as hard as you on my shots Sharon as I thought a pic was a pic but watching your work and reading the comments has begun to make me see the goals you are trying to achieve....You may have fostered a new interest in my life mate....ie learning some of the fine points of photography....just need to slow down a bit first!
cheers

**rangmak** · 10-10-2010, 05:31 PM

Sharon, you have some images here that are outstanding. One thing that you need to play with more, is your cropping (in camera and out) Your fashion shots don't seem to work, but the baby shots are great editorials. So is the cigarette. Good luck with this, you should be able to make a future for yourself with a bit more experience.

**sharon** · 13-10-2010, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by ossierob

just need to slow down a bit first!

Not easy, mate. When I want something, I work hard to achieve but thanks for your advice.

By the way, I might lose interest in photography as soon as I found something else that is more interesting. So enjoy it now while I can.

**sharon** · 13-10-2010, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by rangmak

Sharon, you have some images here that are outstanding. One thing that you need to play with more, is your cropping (in camera and out) Your fashion shots don't seem to work, but the baby shots are great editorials. So is the cigarette. Good luck with this, you should be able to make a future for yourself with a bit more experience.

Thanks, to experience it myself is the only way I've been learning.

**sharon** · 02-11-2010, 11:59 AM

**sharon** · 02-11-2010, 12:00 PM

**sharon** · 02-11-2010, 12:01 PM

**Mathos** · 03-11-2010, 05:13 AM

I think you are progressing fantastically Sharon.

Stick to it, you have natural photographic ability.

**BigRed** · 03-11-2010, 07:33 AM

Sorry but these don't work for me. The first looks like there is a fill in flash which is too strong, giving strange shadows on the girl on our left, it also needs a longer focal length lens.

In the second the girl at the front is resting her weight on the leading arm, this always gives a bulge at the back of the arm making it look fatter. I assume it is the other girls hand on her back giving it a strange shape.

On the third the bent leg is pointing towards the camera, you would have got a better picture from the side of the fence, also her thigh is naturally broadened by her weight which isn't flattering.

In general the girls are squinting because of the strong sunlight and it is too high in the sky ie. taken at the wrong time of day. If you want to capture something more than a snapshot either get up early or head for the shade. soft focus can help or black and white tolerates strong shadows better. Hope this helps a little, outdoor portraiture is very difficult and time of day makes a big difference, otherwise head for the shade and get the eyes open.

**Gerbil** · 03-11-2010, 08:05 AM

Look like the intro shots in a porn shoot to me...... (sorry!

)

**nidhogg** · 03-11-2010, 09:39 AM

...and if you are going to caption photos, try to do it properly.

"There is no better friend than sister". wtf?

**sharon** · 03-11-2010, 11:30 AM

Thanks BigRed for the comments, practice makes perfect, might take longer in my case haha...

Originally Posted by BigRed

it also needs a longer focal length lens.

I'll buy a new lens Canon 85mm f1.8 as people said it's good for portrait but will do it when I return back to Thailand, lazy to carry stuff around.

**sharon** · 03-11-2010, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by nidhogg

"There is no better friend than sister". wtf?

I'm trying to make it as comercial but not there yet....

**BigRed** · 04-11-2010, 04:38 AM

Originally Posted by sharon

I'll buy a new lens Canon 85mm f1.8 as people said it's good for portrait

Excellent choice, I used an 85mm f1.8 pentax lens as my main lens for years using 35mm. Still use it a lot on a digital body, where it is more like a 120mm but my 50mm f1.2 is now equivalent to around 80mm on the digital body. I spent 3+ years doing test shots for a modelling agency in Birmingham doing 1 or 2 shoots every weekend, just as a hobby and most were outdoors because I got bored with studio shots. I don't claim to be an award winning fashion photographer but I do know what I'm talking about. I disliked zooms because of their limited maximum aperture and the fact that the aperture varied as you zoomed, I used to use a hand held light meter then.

85mm on 35mm film is around the minimum for a full frame portrait as anything lower starts to introduce perceived distortion, making the nose bigger. 135mm is safer but more difficult to get pin sharp in lower light levels.

Was I correct on the fill in flash on the first photo? A fill light is best as near to the lens as possible and as soft as possible. A easier alternative to use than flash is reflectors, this applies to studio lighting as well. something like a Lastolite reflector is good, otherwise improvise with a newspaper or get someone with a white top to stand just out of frame to provide a fill. Try getting a model holding a newspaper at waist level as if they are reading it around midday and see the effect when they move it in and out, you will see a world of difference.

I also struggled for a year to get a good portrait and finally realised that the standard 35mm films were far too contrasty. I switched to Fuji FPS (?) which is a lower contrast film favoured by wedding photographers to hold detail in a black mourning

suit and white wedding dress. Digital cameras by default also suffer from high contrast for portraits and really need tweaking in Photoshop or other software to reduce the contrast.

Please note that unfortunately models are shaped like stick insects because the camera does tend to make them look fatter and models on the anorexic side can look great in photos without much effort.

I got out of doing test shots because although the agency was very good and didn't rip the girls off with fees or encourage them to strip off I came to realise that the whole industry with it's glamorous parties and emphasis on slimness was not healthy for 14-20yr olds, plus the continual cycle of turning up for casting and being instantly rejected. Having said that I bumped into a few that had done TV ads, modelled in Japan and New York, and really loved the life.

Despite the hundreds of girls sent by the agency the best models I had were girls I approached myself . I used to just approach a girl, give her my phone number and say get her parents to call me. It had around a 50% success rate and I think there were only a couple that looked a bit worried over 10 years of doing it. I did find a worrying number of girls that would just meet me and let me drive them to a remote location without telling anyone else about it though

**sharon** · 04-11-2010, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by BigRed

Was I correct on the fill in flash on the first photo?

I didn't use flash for this set at all. Everything you see is natural light at 5PM Spring in Australia which yes, it's very strong. I actually brought a reflector (silver round one) with me, not sure if it's lastolite but because of laziness, I didn't use it which I know I should. Probably too much white wine while I was doing that too hehehehe...

Originally Posted by BigRed

I also struggled for a year to get a good portrait

I've been using SLR camera since April Last year but just realized that portrait is what I actually like in the last 5 months. I start buying stuff for studio like umbrella lighting, backdrop stand, flash remotes, etc. but I haven't got a chance to try it yet and me it the one to blame because too lazy.

I love outdoor shooting but also crazy about studio thingy, I can't wait to go back to Thailand, set up a mini studio at home and play with it.

Originally Posted by BigRed

I did find a worrying number of girls that would just meet me and let me drive them to a remote location without telling anyone else about it though

I wouldn't worry about that if I were you hahahaha... I'd love to that with cute guys around here too but they probably won't just let me shoot photos and leave them that easy.

Thanks for sharing your experience though. This is a good one.

By the way, do you still involve with this photography shit? And do you live in Thailand now?

**nigelandjan** · 04-11-2010, 12:22 PM

Where is that " golf club " your mates are playing on ??
I have never played anywhere they have allowed that kinda dress code , interesting

**BigRed** · 05-11-2010, 05:30 AM

I'm still in the UK but just been made redundant and considering moving to Thailand. Sadly, since moving away from Smethwick Photographic Society, which provided most of my motivation, and gaining a family my photography is now limited to holidays and family pictures.

If you set up a studio, space is crucial. Lighting follows the inverse square law so if your light is only 15ft from a model it is difficult to keep the light even past a depth of a couple of feet. It also helps if you have room to light the backdrop separately from the the model, it eliminates problems with shadows, reflected light, etc.

**sharon** · 05-11-2010, 05:55 AM

Originally Posted by BigRed

If you set up a studio, space is crucial. Lighting follows the inverse square law so if your light is only 15ft from a model it is difficult to keep the light even past a depth of a couple of feet. It also helps if you have room to light the backdrop separately from the the model, it eliminates problems with shadows, reflected light, etc.

I'll see what I can do. We are going to move to a new house when I go back. If we decide to buy one, I will build up a room that suit for studio thingy but gotta get approval from my partner first though.

Originally Posted by BigRed

considering moving to Thailand

Where about?

Last night I just talked to my mate in Thailand who is a photographer there, we talked about to build up a studio for rent with good equipments of course and also have a class for anyone who want to learn editing stuff. The problem is, my mate is English so people who want to study must speak English in certain level hahaha... don't know if we will have enough numbers of students to join a class. Or we will just do studio for rent only. Now he starts to look for the right place in the right area so we will see.

Another problem is, I won't live in BKK when I go back hmmmmm......

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