My friend Kat

**Xenos** · 11-27-2009, 12:36 AM

I'm nervous abou tposting this, it was one of my first portraits I've ever taken. Also taken within the first few days of owning the camera and I'd forgotten my flash and tripod at the hotel. I kinda like it though.

I've done a little editing, not much though. Comments are more than welcome.

**Mad Aussie** · 11-27-2009, 03:04 AM

Created a soft spot filer in PP huh?

She's a pretty woman ... I'd be using her for as much of my portrait learning as I could were I you.

**Xenos** · 11-27-2009, 03:32 AM

Yeah. I liked the effect of it. i do plan on getting some more shots with her. Our schedules just really clash right now. She's also dating someone now... Don't know how he would feel. I don't really know him yet.

**Mad Aussie** · 11-27-2009, 03:51 AM

Originally Posted by Xenos

Yeah. I liked the effect of it. i do plan on getting some more shots with her. Our schedules just really clash right now. She's also dating someone now... Don't know how he would feel. I don't really know him yet.

Just tell him you saw her first and to bugger off!

You could always lick her and yell 'mine' ... works with biscuits (cookies) right?

**Marko** · 11-27-2009, 04:40 AM

Hi Xenos,
IMO - For practicing on portraits this isn't the best way to go; you need to be much more conventional to start (day shots for example).
Rule of thirds is important here as is getting more interesting expressions from the subject through conversation and direction. MA is right, she looks like a lovely model for learning. Hope that helps - Marko

**Fortytwo** · 11-27-2009, 06:09 AM

I'm really not a big fan of these kind of filters. I find them to become cheesy really fast. This one isn't that bad in my eyes, and you should really take that as a compliment. It very easy to overuse them, and this one seems to be used the right way.

I'm really interested to see the picture without the filter. The portrait looks quite nice to me, so I'm pretty sure that's a gem...

Originally Posted by Mad Aussie

You could always lick her and yell 'mine' ... works with biscuits (cookies) right?

That's a perfect way to get shot...

**Bambi** · 11-27-2009, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Mad Aussie

Just tell him you saw her first and to bugger off!

You could always lick her and yell 'mine' ... works with biscuits (cookies) right?

oh man where do I start.

first off: It's her decision if she wants to be your model, not his

second: once when I was younger and swimming (and not skinny dipping) this nutjob grabbed me and hoisted me over his head yelling 'look pa, I got me a woman!'. I can tell you that my reaction was not pretty. So I'm pretty sure that MA's suggestion would have repercussions that you would not want to deal with.

sheesh!

Now to get back to the photo. I have absolutely no expertise in this but I think it would be better using the rule of thirds, and not having that blue sign behind her. I also think that the fence is bisecting her neck at an angle which is distracting from what we should be focusing on which is her lovely face and beautiful eyes.

**Mad Aussie** · 11-27-2009, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by Bambi

oh man where do I start.

first off: It's her decision if she wants to be your model, not his

second: once when I was younger and swimming (and not skinny dipping) this nutjob grabbed me and hoisted me over his head yelling 'look pa, I got me a woman!'. I can tell you that my reaction was not pretty. So I'm pretty sure that MA's suggestion would have repercussions that you would not want to deal with.

sheesh!

I have to admit ... it's not something I've tried! But he does know her so maybe ...