Another Portrait up for your views

I don't agree.

I think people are being fooled into thinking that it's better because the subject is slightly sharper.

However, the bright green background on the left, and the large expanse of out-of-focus tree on the right, in my view are now big distractions, whereas they weren't before.

I grant you, the expression captured in the last one is good (although I don't think it's as spontaneously and naturally happy as the first), but overall I think the photograph is a less good portrait than the first.

What I want to know is, when is Pete going to learn when to stop mucking about with his photographs.

Hi Chris

To be honest the actual images have not been messed about with that much.

A tweak here and there but I tried to keep things original on these shots.

Cheers Pete

These ones, I realise this, although I didn't like the black and white version, since as someone else mentioned, all the life went out of the photo.

The rest, though, you've messed with incessantly, often making them worse, in my view.

And until you remove this shockingly ugly edit* from your website:

http://www.petedavis-photography.com/photo_931606.html

, which, after all, is the way you advertise your talents, I'm afraid I just can't take your "I try to keep things original" seriously.

Sorry if this sounds blunt, but I really think you have the potential to be way better than you come across.

I do really like the one you posted at the beginning of the thread, though. By far your best yet.


________________________________________________________________
* it's the edit that's ugly, not the model, in case that wasn't completely clear.

Hi Chris

I totally agree it is awful

I am going to get rid of quite a few images off the website but I dont have time at the minute. I want to re do it totally with some larger images etc..

In fact I now realise just how S..T some of the images are.

So thanks more reminding me, I have just removed the website link.

Pete

One final Point. 5 months ago I did not even know what aperture was or shutter speed in fact nothing at all about photography except to press the shutter on Auto. This was when I brought my first SLR. I have tons to learn but thanks to you guys, reading Mags and the internet I feel have come a fair way in that time.

You have.

And I don't think I've ever come across anyone who can take the slagging you've received on here, and stay so nice (mostly...)

I sometimes wonder if you're either an alien, or Ben Kanarek playing a huge joke on the rest of us.

If you got to this in 5 months then I can't wait to see what you throw at us in about a year...

For time is the biggest problem to get my skills better. It takes trial and error and you have to take your time for it. I hope that during the next summer holiday I can take more time to do some experimenting but I will have to wait to I get back from the holiday to see the results because I don't have a PC with me...

I think all the slagging off has helped to be honest.

Cheers Pete

OK, more help coming up!

G

Cheers George

Look forward to it and the battles ahead

The last colour one, and I like also very much the B & W one.

One thing on the last colour one for me the grass behind is too bright.

Your works coming along nicely Pete, well done. Of course most of the credit has to go to the model , she seems a natural born poser

I think the last (2nd) colour one should be cropped to about elbow level like the first shot. the jeans and belt etc are just distracting detail.

I like the very first one best.

I agree with others that the first shot is better than any other of your work I've seen on here. I liked the B&W one OK too, but not quite as much as the colour ones.

Interesting comments guys

Changing the subject slightly as anyone tried this experiment when you open an image in say windows viewer it looks OK then click on the little icon at the bottom that expands the image to full size, then click on the little icon that then puts it back down to the original fit to screen size again and without out a doubt the images look a hell of a lot sharper.

I thought it was my eyes playing tricks but I tried it in jessops and the same thing happened. Even the sales guy said the same.

Not sure if it is the LCDs that do this or something in Windows. Try it and let me know

Pete

It's "something in Windows". Windows file viewer is a bit yeurrrgh.
The viewer in Windows is also notorious for modifying the file without you knowing (hit Nikon filess I believe!)

Use IrfanView

Matt