How would you make this shot?

[JohnnyRebel]

How would you make this shot?

JR

EDIT: Clarification: This shot should be terrific, but isn’t. What would you do differently, and how would you set the shot up technically.

 

[metalmania]

from underneath?

 

[dougp]

from underneath?

Yah, not too sure of what he's asking.

 

[Fardringle]

Lying on the ground in front of her, kneeling on the ground beneath her with her standing on a bench or chair to get her above you, or with the camera flat on the ground using a tether to a laptop so you can see what the camera is seeing. First option is the easiest, particularly if there's no bench/chair handy.

 

[CuriousMike]

Without her bending over.

Perhaps with her straight up, looking up and to the left, with her arms upward and outspread.

 

[CuriousMike]

Unless you wanted a cleavage shot she'd be proud to show her future daughters.

 

[Fardringle]

Looking at the dress itself, it seems to me that she wants to show off "the girls" as much as possible even during the wedding ceremony. Based on that, having her bend over to show even more is probably exactly what she wanted...


Photographically speaking, it seems to me that the whole shot is a bit soft. With all of that great architecture in the background, I'd personally like to see at least the details of the main arch more in focus. That's just a personal preference. However, her hair really isn't even in focus, which definitely is a problem to me. It might just be that the photo is a "scan" from a magazine or compressed for the web, but it just doesn't look right...

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Looking at the dress itself, it seems to me that she wants to show off "the girls" as much as possible even during the wedding ceremony. Based on that, having her bend over to show even more is probably exactly what she wanted...


Photographically speaking, it seems to me that the whole shot is a bit soft. With all of that great architecture in the background, I'd personally like to see at least the details of the main arch more in focus. That's just a personal preference. However, her hair really isn't even in focus, which definitely is a problem to me. It might just be that the photo is a "scan" from a magazine or compressed for the web, but it just doesn't look right...

I wasn't very clear. Yes, I was talking about being unhappy about a shot that should have been terrific. There is something that doesn't look just right, and I was wondering if a tilt lens was used. The photographer is Dawn Shields, who is a tremendous photographer from Texas.

JR

 

[dougp]

I wasn't very clear. Yes, I was talking about being unhappy about a shot that should have been terrific. There is something that doesn't look just right, and I was wondering if a tilt lens was used. The photographer is Dawn Shields, who is a tremendous photographer from Texas.

JR

Doesn't look like tilt-shift is used. I'd say that the all-glass building across from the shooting location might have messed up some lighting though.

 

[ElFenix]

her neck is really elongated by the pose and she's a bit duck faced

 

[Sp12]

Awkward pose and could use some more DoF.

 

[Smoove910]

Personally I would NOT had any sky whatsoever in the shot and had it focused a little more on the bride.

 

[shortylickens]

With a 308 from a quarter mile.

 

[robphelan]

Personally I would NOT had any sky whatsoever in the shot and had it focused a little more on the bride.

i think the skyscraper turns her from a generic bride into a "big-city sophisticated" bride look

 

[drizek]

She looks kind of contorted. What is going on with her dress? Where is her left leg, exactly?

She also looks kind of annoyed at having to be there. Why isn't she laughing?

 

[Smoove910]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Smoove910
Personally I would NOT had any sky whatsoever in the shot and had it focused a little more on the bride.
i think the skyscraper turns her from a generic bride into a "big-city sophisticated" bride look

Don't get me wrong, I like the skyscraper. I do not, however, particularly like the actual sky in the pic.

 

[996GT2]

I wasn't very clear. Yes, I was talking about being unhappy about a shot that should have been terrific. There is something that doesn't look just right, and I was wondering if a tilt lens was used. The photographer is Dawn Shields, who is a tremendous photographer from Texas.

JR

Look at the EXIF. It was shot with a 16-35L f/2.8 @ f/6.3 on a Canon 5D Mark II. I do agree that her hair should be sharply in focus and that the shot looks a bit too soft. I also think that there isn't enough emphasis on the bride...my eyes were drawn to the building and the sky above her.

 

[arrfep]

I think you're 90% (if this is your image) there. I like the angle. I like the building, even the sky. IMO, she has to be leaning in as she is, because it negates the angle from which the shot is made, which would otherwise give here severe fat chin. Never shoot a lady from underneath...her lean keeps it acceptable here.

She does look a bit awkward in the face, as if she's getting ready to drop a deuce in the middle of the street. Probably should have gotten more of a smile. I envision a shot with her hands placed a little more confidently...and a bigger, suggestive smile. Implying, perhaps, that she's looking at her new husband just out of frame. Could actually be a good sequence, with the shot of him related in some way. In the street, driving a cab, etc.

Anyway, I think it's a good shot, sure the bride will like it. Her boobs look marvelous, highlights are well controlled so the dress held detail, her long neck actually looks good (long slender necks are generally a favorable physical trait in women, no?) and you made her look look like a sophisticated big city girl.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

I think you're 90% (if this is your image) there. I like the angle. I like the building, even the sky. IMO, she has to be leaning in as she is, because it negates the angle from which the shot is made, which would otherwise give here severe fat chin. Never shoot a lady from underneath...her lean keeps it acceptable here.

She does look a bit awkward in the face, as if she's getting ready to drop a deuce in the middle of the street. Probably should have gotten more of a smile. I envision a shot with her hands placed a little more confidently...and a bigger, suggestive smile. Implying, perhaps, that she's looking at her new husband just out of frame. Could actually be a good sequence, with the shot of him related in some way. In the street, driving a cab, etc.

Anyway, I think it's a good shot, sure the bride will like it. Her boobs look marvelous, highlights are well controlled so the dress held detail, her long neck actually looks good (long slender necks are generally a favorable physical trait in women, no?) and you made her look look like a sophisticated big city girl.

Good analysis. No, it's not my shot. My good friend Dawn Shields made this shot. She is helping me with my photography, and I am studying some shots she sent me. She wasn't 100% happy with this one, but the customer loved it. I was having trouble with the analysis. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what I didn't like, nor how I would improve the shot.

I've realized that I have become more a hack than an artist. Almost all my shooting is corporate events for a Nuclear Power company here in the South. I've developed some bad habits and am trying to regain the eye I had 10 years ago.

Thanks all.

JR

 

[twistedlogic]

She wasn't 100% happy with this one, but the customer loved it. I was having trouble with the analysis. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what I didn't like, nor how I would improve the shot.

For me the image does nothing because it tells no story. Does the building hold any meaning to the couple or is just a random tall building? And why is there a clock on-top of her shoulder, ?

Also as 996GT2 states, the building lines draw my eyes away from the bride and straight to the sky.

I would of preferred more of the bride in the shot, maybe with some foreground of what she is standing on.

 

[elitejp]

agree with what others have said, the picture causes me to focus more on the building than the person.

 

[dougp]

agree with what others have said, the picture causes me to focus more on the building than the person.

DoF change could fix that easily.

 

[drizek]

I think the problem is that her left arm is at the same angle as the building, which makes her look like she is just part of it.

I'm not sure if making her stand at the opposite angle would actually be better though, since the lines would cross on her arm, drawing attention there and not at her face.

Actually, I think that is the main problem with this image. The building itself draws attention upwards and away from the bride. If you crop off the top third of it it would be an improvement. Not perfect, but definitely better.

 

[CuriousMike]

Was the soft focus a desired effect?

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

up or down her dress, depending if you're a T or A guy.