Yasmina on location (6 images)

[texxter]

This morning I had a session with Yasmina on location. This time I didn't use any flashes or reflectors as I didn't have any help and I also wanted to focus on working with the model, notl lights. This is a continuation of my European lifestyle series I am working on.

I'd be interested in your feedback, opinions, and preferences, if any.

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6

[Jeff_Green]

I think you did a great job, as usual, on all these. Lighting is great, especially having no auxiliary sources. The only one that bugs me is #2 with the hand covering part of the face.

[danchez]

man, I have to once agree with Jeff. ha ha. I'm not sure what the expression is for in pic 3... Other than that Paco, they are very nice images. I like pic 1 a lot, I can definitely see her being in a hurry and trying to hail a cab. The others don't tell as much of a story as the first, but they are nicely composed and well lit.

[texxter]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback. I agree that while the expression in #2 is genuine, the hands in front of the face dont work too well. Fortunately I have another frame where the hands are still animated but not blocking her face so much. It was a bit challenging to get genuine, natural expressions today.

Here is three more from the same session.

#7.


#8.


#9.

[The Philos]

In #4 the flower is really distracting - unless it's there for some subconscious meaning. The rest look up to par for your work; I'd like to see the culmination of this series posted as a whole in the future.

[texxter]

Thanks for the comment, David. You'll have noticed that I do integrate a foreground in pictures recently, most of the time in a not very successful manner. The reason I do this is to break my studio-induced habit of having images with only two planes, the subject plane and the background plane. I try to find something that will give me a foreground, just to force me to think about the possibilities. It's obviously easier to not include the flowers, but I do to experiment and see if there is way to add more dimensionality by using this foreground. I can't say I have been quite successful, but I'll get there.

Pictures 1-4 above include a foreground element, 5-8 do not, and 9 includes midground behind the model and a deep background behind it. This other image below is another attempt to establish multiple planes, but this time using the green bushes, one in front of, and the other behind the model. It seems like a simple thing to do, but it's not that easy to create natural, simple compositions with multiple planes!

One photographer that inspires me to try these new ways is Mark Robert Halper, for example with this image: http://studiomark.com/photography-fo...;201039a_1.jpg - you could say it's distracting, but for me, it has a reality and an interest that a flat picture of Randy Jackson against a flat background would not have. I hope to get closer to saying with pictures what I am right now only able to explain with words.

Hope this makes sense!

[dmcantrell]

Paco, I think the images are all very well done as usual. The only feedback I have is about #2 and #3. I can envision her making the "fugeddaboutit" expression or whatever, which is -not- European. In all the time I've spent in Europe I've never seen one woman make those faces or that expression.

[texxter]

David, thanks for the kind feedback. Expression #3 is weird, I have no idea what she was thinking, but she found it amusing that I asked her to pose next to someone else's car to take a picture. Expression #2 is also unposed, I think she was explaining something to me, answering a silly question or something. I like it because it implies communication, she's obviously engaged with someone. As far as whether this expression is European or not, I'd have no way of knowing - Europe has 500 million people and 40 different languages, and body language and expressions are much varied than they are in the US - people in Finland have little to do with people in Malta.

Here is the other image with a similar expression, this one shows her face better. She seems to be questioning or challenging the viewer, maybe?

[SilverShooter]

Paco

Long an admirer of your photography. This group of shots is no exception. What a beautiful young women!! Spot on lighting and interesting poses. I do have one question for you. Do you think the ring in your last post is distracting? In this image, and #2, I found myself looking at that out of focus bright spot. I actually love the look on her face in these two shots, but wonder if you wouldn't bring more attention to the gal's face without any jewelry included. As to what the expression says, to me, its "Don't you agree?"

It's funny but I didn't find the flower distracting until David brought it to my attention. I think the power of the striped sweater, and the appeal of the subject off set the red blur. Shooting in the "real world" does bring both good and bad characteristics. In general, I thought these environmental elements were important to the story of the image, adding interest.

Steve

[texxter]

Steve, thanks for the kind words. Good point about the ring... in general, in these pictures, the idea is to present something that resembles normal life, hence the "lifestyle" name used sometimes. As such, the images tend to have those elements coming from shooting in the real world, and I think that's ok. What I find hard is to have expressions that seem genuine and appropriate!

I appreciate your taking the time to comment!

[The Philos]

Originally Posted by texxter

Thanks for the comment, David. You'll have noticed that I do integrate a foreground in pictures recently, most of the time in a not very successful manner. The reason I do this is to break my studio-induced habit of having images with only two planes, the subject plane and the background plane. I try to find something that will give me a foreground, just to force me to think about the possibilities. It's obviously easier to not include the flowers, but I do to experiment and see if there is way to add more dimensionality by using this foreground. I can't say I have been quite successful, but I'll get there.

I think they work for the most part at getting more planes of focus present, but I think that one bloom in particular is an odd spot. It'd be really cool if it was intentional for some abstinence campaign or something of the sort.

[senthilvs]

Paco as usual all the images are great. I liked the #1, #4 and #5 most.
Where is this location?

[texxter]

David, you got to be kidding about the abstinence thing!

Senthil, thanks for the comments. I shot this at the Watters Creek shopping area in Allen - it's a nice location.

Here is a composite with some of the model's choices:

[revjvegas]

I cannot put my finger on exactly what it is about this photo:



But I REALLY like it.
Well done man.