Airborne Capoeira Artists

[MattBeardsley]

My first post for critiques.... pretty exciting!  I should probably choose images I'm more confident about, but I'm stumped and hoping for some second opinions about these.  I set up a location shoot at a Capoeira school here in Oakland.  It was an awesome experience.  I shot against a black seamless backdrop, as you'll well see, and lit for high contrast.  I like the look, it's gritty and real, but way to un-polished for my portfolio.  I tried smoothing it out completely, but it looks dumb that way, cut out and fake.  Are the good enough the way the are?  Any suggestions to make them viable for my editorial portrait portfolio?

[attachment=23372:_MBP2307.jpg][attachment=23373:_MBP2392.jpg][attachment=23374:
_MBP2434.jpg][attachment=23375:_MBP2475.jpg][attachment=23376:_MBP2491.jpg]

[jule]

I will preface my comments by saying that I have no expertise with people photography, but do have experience with images in general. The first gripe I have is the imposition of your name on your photograph which is so prominent it is forming part of the composition of the image. Without derailing your thread on critiquing, I do not want to start a debate on including your name to prevent theft, but it is very hard to evaluate an image with your name so prominently placed.

I'm not sure what the aim of these photographs is and what your portfolio is for. I don't know what an editorial portrait portfolio means. If they are to record an event or an activity they are ok, but for me they just don't cut it. I think the backdrop really is distracting and should have been more out of focus in camera. Perhaps black and white may be also be another option if you get a chance to re-shoot.

Thanks Matt for posting, and please don't be discouraged by my comments, after all they are just my opinion.
Julie

[shutterpup]

Matt,
I don't care for these at all. The dancers floating in the air with nothing to anchor them disturbs me. Just my two cents.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I find these quite dynamic and intriguing, but also somewhat unsettling. The one that works the best for me is the last one, where the action seems to be about the relationship between the two figures, but the face of the leaper isn't directed to the second figure.

It's not clear to me whether these represent "dance" or "fight theater." I do think the subject is worth exploring more.

Eric

[John R]

You have a good portfolio. And I notice that some images have an HDR look about them, like the three cyclists shot. Not necessarily bad, it just depends on your market and clients and what you intend to convey. Regarding these images, I think they work as a series that intends to show how certain manoeuvers are done, but they do not have the same dynamic quality as many in your portfolio. No question, the backgrounds are intrusive, but fine if the aim is simply to convey dramatic manoeuvers. I might add, I find the colour shirt image somewhat distracting. Looks much better in BW, as does the whole the series. BW seems to focus attention on the manouevers while minimizing the background.

JMR

[MattBeardsley]

Thanks everyone for the feedback...  I believe the consensus is to clean up the background rather dramatically.  It was an interesting shoot... in retrospect, I should have found a way to place the action farther from the backdrop or used something else.  I was so caught up directing the action, I forgot to pay attention to the critical details!  Thanks again... good luck to all.

[jule]

Thanks everyone for the feedback...  I believe the consensus is to clean up the background rather dramatically.  It was an interesting shoot... in retrospect, I should have found a way to place the action farther from the backdrop or used something else.  I was so caught up directing the action, I forgot to pay attention to the critical details!  Thanks again... good luck to all.

Matt, I remember someone said to me once - wish I could acknowledge who it was - but anyway...he said the first thing to look at when taking a photograph was the background. This has helped me, and your images are examples where this advice would have been helpful.


Julie