Couple's Portrait

[Iguanasan]

This didn't get much of a response in the 100 Strangers thread and I was hoping for some more feedback so I put it in the critique forum. I was walking through the Public Garden's a couple of weeks ago and this couple asked me to take a photo of them with their camera and so I did. I then asked if I could use mine and got them to move around a bit for what I felt was a better location.

Comments on what I might have done differently?

http://www.photography.ca/Forums/attachments/f21/10373d1289771092-first-photography-ca-100-strangers-project-img_3905_edited.jpg

[Mad Aussie]

I really like the slight shadows in this ... it helps to contrast the light.

To improve the composition a little I would have either zoomed out just a bit more to include more body and all of that scarf, OR zoomed in tighter.

[Richard]

lovely pic Iggy,

Lighting looks good. I would have tried to get the heads closer together, and lost a little of the space above the heads. Considering you didn't know them, this is great work.

[Marko]

I'm sorry Iggy i must disagree here. The lighting is simply too harsh on this couple (as to me the goal here was a flattering couple's portrait) which is why the guy in particular is squinting. Not enough light is in the faces due to the directional light of the sun and not enough fill flash. The darker shadows on their faces are not flattering imo. Imo they are too close to the background which has quite a few distractions.
If this were my shoot I would have chosen shade OR had the sun behind them. The zooming in tighter is also a good idea.
Hope that helps - Marko

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Have to agree with Marko, The light is to harsh here. When you see shadows like this on the face you the photographer has to move the subject to find better light. I want to see more connection between them, here they are just standing there.

[Iguanasan]

Thanks all and no apologies necessary - that's why I posted it here. I'm not used to doing any portrait work at all and I didn't really feel that comfortable so it's good feedback. Thanks, again! Cheers :)

[asnow]

Sorry to pile on Iggy. Aside from the lighting, agee with Ernst, there is no connection between them. It is kind of a boring picture.
p.s. I'm in the same boat as you, little portrait work, so I probably would have come up with a very similar shot.

[Bambi]

but the eyes are tack sharp and while it's not an artisitc portrait, I like it. :) and I bet they do too.

[Iguanasan]

No worries, asnow.

Thanks, Bambi. Yes, they are quite happy with it.