Low Contrast Portrait: Worth Sharing?

[Trius]

Sally & her husband Michael are family friends. Earlier this past summer she celebrated her 50th birthday with a picnic at a local park. I made this informal portrait, against diffuse sunlight. Camera was Olympus 35SP.

What I've posted here is uncropped, and I realize the soda can in the lower left corner can be a distraction. I just have a resistance to cropping, though I am getting more open to it.

I had to play with levels to increase the contrast, plus LOTS of spotting because the lab did a pretty good job of giving me dirty and scratched negs. So maybe their chemistry was off too, adding to the lower contrast of a low contrast scene.

So in addition to general critique, what do you say about making prints to give to the subject and her family? Or should I try again? Her husband's 50th comes up this month, so there will be more opportunity for informal potraits of both.

 

[charjohncarter]

Truis, I froze the background as it was, then I lightened the face, and a little of the blouse. Finally, I darkened the darkest parts of the blouse. I used LightZone because you can freeze whatever zone you choose and then work with the others. I don't know if it is better, but see what you think.

 

[rogue_designer]

while I like the picture - not being able to see the eyes, combined with the reduced contrast makes this worth sharing, but not worth going all out on prints. IMHO.

Very nice quality to the light though. The glare on the glasses is more distracting to me than the soda can. *shrug*

 

[FrankS]

I agree, I want to see the eyes (in most instances).

 

[charjohncarter]

'(in most intances),' does that mean your avatar is the exception?

 

[FrankS]

'(in most intances)' does that mean your avatar is the exception.

Yes, that would be an example of an exception. 🙂

 

[Dektol Dan]

Well..

Well..

Backlighting is a bitch without a fill. I hate flashes so backlighting is a bitch - period.

 

[Pherdinand]

Trius, honestly, i think you should indeed try again.
I don't think the light is a problem.
The whole portrait seems to be very... stiff to me. It resembles a police portrait in some way. It does not reflect too much of the person to me, and it does not look like somebody having fun between friends, there is not much context either.
The can actually helps a bit on this, adds a bit of spontaneity.

If you wanted to make a more formal look, a more stiff look, then I agree with the above remarks, the angle is not too fortunate, the eyes should be more visible. If you wanty to have a friendly, fun moment recorded, you might get away without eyes but it must include more context or show something more about the person. SOme emotions on her face, e.g.

cheers

 

[jan normandale]

Trius, I take every photograph for what it is. I usually don't mind "distractions" in a shot and often find they actually enhance an image. The can in this one is intrusive and is exactly what you wondered.. "is it a distraction?"

If I could, I'd ask for another sitting. If not, I think I'd go for the crop.

 

[zuikologist]

I agree with most of the above - lovely diffuse light, distracting can in the foreground and for me also a ditracting background. Even though the far off tree is out of focus, it is also distracting and almost looks like it is growing from the head. I would try for some more informal portraits, perhpas hsuband and wife together on the 50th would be good.

 

[tkluck]

IMHO:
Burn in the hair a bit, crop out the pop can, and Photo Shop voodoo away the distracting driveway in front of her.
The bit of detail in the eyeglass reflection adds to the portrait. Adds a dimension beyond frame.
This shot shows a real person. The kind of shot I'd carry in my wallet or have on my desk, if she were my wife. What more can I say. An image that is not boring is a good image. This one is far from boring. Anyway, I like it...

In deference to the learned comments above, you might want to try for a jollier more conventional informal portrait. "Suitable for framing", technically stunning, politically correct. A gift for the living room wall.
Much as I like this shot, I doubt it would fly any bigger than a 4x6.

 

[shadowfox]

Earl,

When there's another chance, I always aim to reshoot. That way I end up with a couple of pictures to choose from. 🙂

As for the picture critique, I do not like the harsh white sky, it messes skin tones and lowers the contrast. Maybe next time the sky will be more tame.