Of the three, this one has the most potential for me. I know you had fun with it and it looks like you did but I'd like to give you a few thoughts for the next time. I am also aware that you have to work with the environment you have so take this with a grain of salt.
A nice blurry background helps the tall grass stand out in front and having the road gives us a good idea of how really blurry it is but it is going through her neck. But let me guess, you wanted to get a little lower but the background was distracting. Like I said, I love the sharpness on her and the immediate tall grass. The only thing besides finding a different location would be to retouch it out.
I think, the other photo to take hear is just on her head and arm area, look ma, no more road in the background.
Composition would have drove me nuts in this shot, yes, she belongs on the right because she is looking off to the left but I would tend to want to put her on the left because of the sun direction. It's sort of like giving her nose room but with the main light instead, unfortunately, she would be looking off the left side of the frame then.
The chair pose is ok but she becomes a little to symentrical below her arms (that's why I like the head area so much—her head is rotated, arms are rotatated) perhaps if her knees were pointing slightly camera left so there was some angle.
Color is great!
So there, I hope you don't think I'm picking it apart. What I want to do is get you to see what would happen "if" now so the next time you go out, you will know what questions to ask yourself as you frame-up.
When I photograph people, in most cases I am taking my time and going very slowly. That doesn't make it the only way, spontaneity is also good. Just don't feel pressured to go faster than you feel comfortable.
Mark, Thank you for taking the time to critique this image, which was Holly's favorite. What you are seeing in the background is actually water and for that reason I don't feel it's distracting since it is so out of focus. I did some close shots as well, but they were with a different prop and the boa was her fave one. I certainly see your point about the angle of her legs! That could very much be improved surely. I see that the next time I do this I need to think more carefully about body positioning. I hope I have another opportunity soon. I appreciate your help Mark.
Comments
Thank you for taking the time to critique this image, which was Holly's favorite. What you are seeing in the background is actually water and for that reason I don't feel it's distracting since it is so out of focus. I did some close shots as well, but they were with a different prop and the boa was her fave one. I certainly see your point about the angle of her legs! That could very much be improved surely. I see that the next time I do this I need to think more carefully about body positioning. I hope I have another opportunity soon.
I appreciate your help Mark.