Sandy on the Beach - BIKINI IMAGE - HOT GIRL WARNING - DO NOT ENTER!!!

Gavjenks · Jun 27, 2013

This is by far my favorite of the girls you've posted recently. Great colors, hottest and most flattering pose. I agree with those on the "looks photoshopped" bandwagon, but that may be not so hard to address in post? Dunno, would give it a try, but it says not okay to edit. The lighting is still doing good things to her regardless of the illusions it has with regard to the background.

DanielLewis76 · Jun 27, 2013

I want to go to the sort of parties where you meet girls like this who are happy for you to take them down the beach and take photos of them!

Gavjenks · Jun 27, 2013

DanielLewis76 said:
I want to go to the sort of parties where you meet girls like this who are happy for you to take them down the beach and take photos of them!

That would be most parties.

Have you tried asking?

It also helps if you have a card. One that links to a nice online portfolio that clearly communicates you are a legit photographer and not a random perv. And one that has listed policies that include things like welcoming the models to by all means bring escorts with them to the shoot, and where they will be given space to change, etc.

amolitor · Jun 27, 2013

As Derrel pointed out, there's two light sources going on, one of which has "popped" her from the background. It's a look, it's a look that's pretty common with swimsuit. How often have we seen the side or front lit bikini model with the sun in the background? I personally don't like it much as a look, but that's a matter of taste.

I don't think this frame is as well managed as some of your other recent stuff. I think you would have done well to push her closer to one set of rocks or the other, visually. Consider placing her to your right about 18 inches, maybe, or simply moving left yourself a couple feet. Now she's against that set of rocks camera-right, her shape echoes the shape of the rocks, her brightness contrasts and balances the darkness of the rocks. Frame it square or even vertical, and wait for a good wave or a bird in the background.

You DO lose the white wash of breaking wave on the OTHER rock, which I can see you're in love with for excellent reasons. I totally get why you wanted to put her right >there< and not anywhere else, but I think you'd have done well to simplify the frame. It's about the girl, not the rocks, man. You're loving the rocks, but nobody else is even seeing them

Destin · Jun 27, 2013

Wait.. There's rocks in that photo?

ronlane · Jun 27, 2013

DanielLewis76 said:
I want to go to the sort of parties where you meet girls like this who are happy for you to take them down the beach and take photos of them!

Remember that Bill is in sunny California. As detective Haggard in Beverly Hills Cop said, "6 ft Blonde Girls grow on trees out here." (Or something like that.)

Nice photo Bill.

Trever1t · Jun 27, 2013

Some great feedback and I thank you all.

Let me be totally Frank..err I mean honest.

-I'd never used studio light before outside the studio.
-My eyesight sucks, only thing I can see outdoors is the histogram
-My eyeglasses were totally salt sprayed over.

I really felt I was shooting blind. I am happy I was close on my exposure. Shooting on the beach is so freaking difficult with 20 knot wind blowing clouds of salt (you can see clouds!) and her hair going everywhere. I need to find a more sheltered cove or have a model live with me until the day it's flat calm!

DarkShadow · Jun 27, 2013

For someone with bad eyesight you sure take good photos and My Eyesight sucks to. My wife has 20/15 eyesight,meaning she can see things 20ft away that normal people with 20/20 can only see 15ft.I think she is a cat because she see in the darkness what I can't see in the day.That might explain the scratch marks on my back. :lol:

paigew · Jun 27, 2013

Derrel said:
What makes it look so faked is the light is coming from two obviously different directions/sources.

yes this

Also as far as posing goes (not sure if this has been mentioned in the 3 pages!!) I love the movement of her bottom half but her face is very stiff and straight on. I would have liked it a little more tilted/natural

I do like the pic though. very nice!

kathyt · Jun 27, 2013

Alright Trever, this one is going to get an A+ from me for the following reasons.
-The composition and framing is excellent.
-The way the light is wrapping the side of her face is superb.
-The range of colors is really pleasing.
-The posing is a perfect example of how to accentuate her waist and her chest.
-The wave splashing on the rock adds a little extra appeal.
The only things I would change is to blend in the area where the sky meets the rock, lift the shadows just a little bit around her lower left leg, and warm it up just a hair. Keep bringing your models into more shaded areas like this, because it is working for you. Great shot.

frommrstomommy · Jun 27, 2013

I'm seeing this just on my phone but it looks really nice! The colors are gorgeous!

cgipson1 · Jun 27, 2013

kathythorson said:
Alright Trever, this one is going to get an A+ from me for the following reasons.
-The composition and framing is excellent.
-The way the light is wrapping the side of her face is superb.
-The range of colors is really pleasing.
-The posing is a perfect example of how to accentuate her waist and her chest.
-The wave splashing on the rock adds a little extra appeal.
The only things I would change is to blend in the area where the sky meets the rock, lift the shadows just a little bit around her lower left leg, and warm it up just a hair. Keep bringing your models into more shaded areas like this, because it is working for you. Great shot.

IMO... Kathy has nailed it! I find the rocks of interest, and they do frame nicely with good texture contrast! I would like to see it minus vignette, as that is apparently what caused that halo effect I mentioned in an earlier post.

cgipson1 · Jun 27, 2013

frommrstomommy said:
I'm seeing this just on my phone but it looks really nice! The colors are gorgeous!

One thing I love about the ocean is the different colors / shades / tones of the water.... and Bill caught that here! Makes for a lovely background, doesn't it?