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Forum
Critique
Portrait of a local girl in Senegal
#PORTRAIT#GIRL
Sergej Maršnjak PRO
1 month ago
This photo of a local Senegalian girl was rejected. I am not arguing about that, it's a fair decision. But I am wondering how could I improve the photo, if possible at all. I know it's just a plain portrait, without any added value, except the very bright colored clothing. I agree that such a photo might not not suitable for 1x, but maybe it can be improved in general, for my archive, or some other competitions.
 
The photo was cropped horizontally from a landscape orientation, so vertically I don't have any reserve. The photo was taken in a city named Touba in Senegal. When my group stopped and exited the bus, this girl ran towards us, not asking for anything, just looking, probably being curious. I showed her a camera, and she agreed to be photographed.
 
Canon EOS R5 + RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM.
Focal length 74mm, F 4, ISO 100, 1/800s
 
 

 

Edited: 1 month ago by Sergej Maršnjak
Daniel Springgay CREW 
1 month ago — Senior critic

Hi and welcome great subject and well captured. If I had ti pick a weakness it would be the bright white sky. I did try and change the background just to see what it looked like see attached I also put you image through Portrait Pro just to see if you can see ant difference's Thank you for sharing.. This was done on the quick more time better the detail..

 

 

 

Elizabeth Allen CREW 
1 month ago — Senior critic

Hello Sergej

 

Thank you for sharing this portrait with us. African portraits are frequently published here so it might be worth resubmitting yours. I like Daniel's edit with the dark background but I also wonder if a closer crop of just head and shoulders might be worth considering. The bright pink detracts a little from the girl's face and the white sleeve doesn't add to the appeal, so I think head and shoulders could work better.

Good light, Elizabeth 

Sergej Maršnjak PRO
1 month ago

Thanks to both. Yes, I see now that the background might be too bright and distracting. However, completely removing the background and replacing it with something else, might not look as natural anymore, it will feel like a studio setting, but the girl does not look like one, who would go to the studio. Will try to do, like Elizabeth said, with a more drastic cropping (and maybe some vignetting, to remove the brightness).

 

However, might it also be ok, if I tint the magenta color into something less distracting, like darker red?

Edited: 1 month ago by Sergej Maršnjak
Elizabeth Allen CREW 
1 month ago — Senior critic

Yes, Sergei, I think it's worth trying a more subdued colour than the magenta.

Elizabeth