Foreground objects in portraits

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Hi, I'm a high school student, just getting involved in some portrait photography. I was wondering what the general 'rule' is on having blurry foreground objects vignetting your subject, or if there is a rule. Here is an example, she is going to use this for her senior portrait. Some people hate the leaves, others love them. http://www.ceperley.com/photo/kim.jpg. What do you think? Thanks -Martin

-- Martin Ceperley (martin@ceperley.com), February 05, 2000

Answers

I think the leaves around her face provide a nice frame and a welcome splash of colour. I would probably crop around 1/8 - 1/6 of the image off on the right edge: there seems to be a little too much greenery.

However, the branck that is trying to grow into her eye is ver distracting! Keep the brown branch - that gives her hands something to do - but get rid of those green twigs. Please. It is a shame to a nice portrait.

Oh, and next time try a reflector to her right: you have lost all detail in her hair on her right side (away from the light source) and the difference in light beteen her left and right sides are too much for your film: you loose detail on both sides.

-- Allan Engelhardt (allane@cybaea.com), February 05, 2000.


brank=branch, ver=very. I wish there was a preview.

Re-reading my comments I think they sound too negative. I like the image but find the green bits in her face a little (well, more than a little...) distracting. Exposure and composition are bod good - I just think that if you even out the exposure value across the image and thereby bring out more details then you would improve it a little.

-- Allan Engelhardt (allane@cybaea.com), February 05, 2000.


I would say about the same thing Alan did. I like the blurred framing, but would lose the in focus branch near the face. I often include some near by foliage that is out of focus near the camera for landscapes.

-- C Terry (yeti-man@webtv.net), February 05, 2000.

Usually a portrait is to show something about the person or the persons personality. To me the branches in front of her face are distracting and don't contribute anything to the composition or subject. I would also have to agree with Allen about the uneven lighting. Maybe you could move the light back farther on her left side to highlight her hair rather then the side of her face so much. Also I think the position of her left hand is a little distracting. Especially the loose thumb. Other wise you have done well and have a fine model, but think you could do better. Good Luck.

-- Steven Myers (smyers@adamswells.com), February 05, 2000.

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