Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/04/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Phong, You have some interesting work up with some wonderful lighting. Counting 1-17 left to right this is what I'd ditch (and why). Image number 4 http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/04_crw_4424a-bwp. htm there is no reason for her hands to be up by her breasts and I find it very distracting. Man, with those hands folded or on her hips this would be killer...it's a great expression. Image number 6 http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/06_crw_6577ap.htm You are a man, this is a young girl. You are trying to create an environment where moms and dads will drop their children (seniors, maybe younger) off to be photographed. If my daughter's senior proof package came back with a shot like this in it I'd be very, very offended. (I'm not a prude but I find no reason to have young girls looking like they just stepped off a street corner.) The lighting is good, the composition is right on but I think you have to step past that to the message it sends. And to me it doesn't send a good one. Image number 8 http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/08_crw_0881p.htm WHAT is going on here? It is such a confusing image...she looks like she's backed against something that is poking her in her back causing great discomfort, counting the seconds until this sitting is over so she can relax. The soft focus/sharp focus thing going on with her face is nice...just not on this image. Image number 9 http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/09_crw_8155p.htm I like the movement in this shot but that red rose is distracting as can be. Bummer because her expression is terrific. Image number11 http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/11_crw_8182.htm You might try a tighter crop on her face/torso. I find the blue and brown stuff to the right very distracting. Image number 12 http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/12_crw_4833p.htm You're going to get whipped by a painter wearing a bikini over a whiskey barrell on a deserted island while somewhere there is a horse running wild without a saddle. LOSE THIS SHOT! Every woman who sees your portfolio will thank you. I speak for all of them. Image number 14 http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/14_crw_8559p.htm If this image has definition between the hair and the background in the actual print, keep it; otherwise, it looks like she has a whole, whole, whole lot of hair. Image number 15 http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/15_crw_0912.htm This is a fun perspective and one that could work very well. The expression here seems a bit pained to me...maybe that's what you were after but maybe there's a different image from this shoot where she looks just a bit more relaxed and comfortable. That shoulder hitched up is what causes me to think she's uncomfy. The images that would sell me on using you as a photographer are these: http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/13_crw_6593-bwp.h tm Great pose and lighting. This should be a poster. I love this shot. http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/02_crw_4698-bw2.h tm Wonderful. http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/05_crw_6466-bwp.h tm What a unique treatment for a large man. Nothing cliche about it. Where he could have come off looking very intimidating or mundane with a different camera angle, this one makes him look just wonderfully friendly and good-natured. Two thumbs up. http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio/01_crw_4243.htm A great capture of a split second in time...this young woman looks so LIKE HERSELF. Your use of light is excellent; you've got some great shadow things happening in many of your images. Lea ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phong" <phong@doan-ltd.com> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 8:08 PM Subject: [Leica] Portfolio Review > I just finished putting my portrait portfolio > together. There are 17 images, and I need your help > to reduce to between 12 and 15. I would appreciate > it very much if you could take a moment to review my > portfolio at: > > http://www.phongdoan.com/Photography/PortraitPortfolio > > and tell me which few are the strongest (definite keepers) > and which are weakest (candidates for exclusion). > > The goal is to have a portfolio to convince people > that I can make them look good in print so that > they will let me take their photos for fun or > for pay. > > Any other comment on my portfolio is also > much appreciated. > > I think soon I will be ready to learn to take photos > that have 2 people in them. :-) > > Thanks in advance, > > - Phong > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >