Evening

[chittalr]

I know I have not done a good job with both of these pics. But I am still posting them!!!! So that ..... I know what EXACTLY is wrong.... and what to take care of the next time.....
It was Really dark when I took the pic..... [we were late in reaching here]...94109412

[Lion]

I'm not an expert but I'm gonna give it a try.
I'd have used the 50mm F/1.8 of your camera provider. This should allow you to shoot with relatively few light, evtl. with higher iso. Maybe you'll not need the flash... Even if you have to use it, the light would probably look less artificial. That said I'd avoid the horizon line in the middle of the picture, cutting the head of your model. I'd have sugested her to look at the see, the photo would look less "posed".
I hope the "senior members" will correct me if they disagree ! (eyes sharp marko ? ;) )

[Andrew]

I really like the light balance of first shot. The ambient light of the sky and the the water isn't blowing anything out or making any area too dark. The best part is that while I know the lady is being lit from another source I can't tell if the light is a flash or some other softer source your added or was already there. Nicely balanced compared to the second one which remides me of an old instamatic and a flash cube. (Remember those?) Composition wise, I would like to see something in the foreground related to her or the scene. Standing beside a palm tree, sitting on a sail boat, relaxing at a table,,,,lots of options rather than having her posed by herself and infinity.

[edG]

First, what I am seeing here you need to invest in separate flash. In both shots I can see "red eye" (less in the first than the second) and no catch light. From your profile you are shooting a D90 and it would appear that you used the on-board flash. With a separate flash and a light modifier like an Apollo Micro you would get a softer, larger light source and hopefully a catch light.

The first shot is truer in colour, while the second is bordering on blown out, i.e., her cheek bones - they are almost blanched white and I would guess her skin colour is truer in shot 1. Working with a dedicated flash and light modifier, I think you will get better control of your lighting issues.

As to composition, I would have moved camera right and brought the sail boat closer to her head in the pic, but still left some room to breath. But as you said you arrived late and were most likely rushed. So next time slow down and look, then move and look again and again - then shoot the best angle/composition. Hope this helps.

[chittalr]

Thanks for all the inputs guys..... appreciate it a lot..