Another portrait attempt

Took this image in the house, hand held K5 f/4.5 1/15sec ISO 200 18-135mm@36mm C&C's please

Nice natural feel, but tripod, tripod, tripod.

Looks a little out of focus?

It's a nice, natural expression, but there are technical problems. It's not sharp, presumably because of camera shake but maybe because of poor focusing. The light is very warm and the red jumper does look very over-saturated. There's a division in the background pointing right at the centre of her head, not quite a tree growing out of her head, but a similar effect.

So the things I would look at are lighting, a tripod and the background. Hope that helps!

Ask her to stand in a doorway or by a window to make use of the lovely soft overcast light we're having today (in Derbyshire at least!)

Maybe also zoom out to 50mm for a more flattering focal length, or even better, pop on a fast fifty and open 'er up to about f2!

I think you would be better shooting this at the longer end of your lens to give a more diffused background. Also a reflector, maybe some white card, to fill in the shadows on the right side of the face.

It that the corner of a room coming out of the top of the head? Two marked different background colours with a sharp transition. Use a flat wall or if it is shadow, find a way to remove it.

Thanks for all the feedback and pointers. It wasn't a planned shot and I will take onboard all the suggestions for the next time. I have an old Pentax-F 50mm f/1.7 and a Sigma 105mm so will try those also will definitely use a tripod. I've always thought that the forum is like having a personal tutor

Hi Stan, I hope you dont mind, but I took the liberty of applying a few of the suggested corrections pp. I've always been interested in what can be achieved after the fact, I know this can be a divisive topic, no offence meant.

WB adjusted, Vignette added, burn (tree at top), sharpening mask.


Regards,
Damian.

I thought I had posted another minor comment but it has gone walkabout.

Tone down or clone out the pure white spots in the eyes. They look too bright and as if they have been added. It is almost as bad as red-eye.

@ alrightthersham, don't mind at all.

My solution to this image is...




...and take it again