[taco]

March 21, 2011 at 11:31 am

Funny how different people can look at the same photo and think different things.
For me that blurred thing is what makes it a charming portrait.
The model is facing away from us, apparently thinking about something and that absent-mindedness towards us comes back in that blurriness.
A good mood enhancer I think.

[taco]

March 21, 2011 at 11:27 am

Hi there,

welcome on board.

You’ve come to the right place to get loads of tips and inspiration.
Just never forget you are into photography because it is excellent fun. don’t get overawed by the best photography here, just do your thing and as long as you are enjoying the results then everything is just as it should be!

Looking forward to your first shots.

[taco]

March 7, 2011 at 7:25 pm

I just tried googling on “old house portrait”. Gives a fair amount of crap, but also some quite nice ones that you can inspiration from. Give it a whirl.

[taco]

March 6, 2011 at 10:31 am

The background is indeed a bit overwhelming; except for the last two pictures. The one with the hat and the one on the stool. In the former the face kind of appears out of the surrounding shapes and that is kind of nice.
The one on the stool is a nice mix of everything. The book-case, the wallpaper and of course the model. It is not a portrait that is easy on the eyes. A bit like jazz-music. You need a bit of effort to look at it and appreciate it. And I appreciate it. It is a good one, and I like the warmed-up version best!

One little thing though: Her left arm. It is at an awkward angle. That is a bit of a pity. Otherwise a very pleasurable portrait!

[taco]

March 6, 2011 at 10:06 am

That is a biggie! It is just as difficult to answer as “Can you give me a nice tree in Ireland”. It also depends on what you like of course. Villages, cities…
But to keep it a bit general, I’d say head for Antwerp, rent a bicycle and move around a lot. The centre is full of renaissance buildings from the golden age, the train station is a nice combo of old and modern and right behind that is the Zoo, which is in a wonderful state of disrepair.
Also the suburbs are full of atmosphere. You will find the architecture to be very typical. Good photography there.
The parks are a bit dull and boring. If you have the time then head north to the dutch border. A place called Kalmthout. It has a nice heather landscapes.

Of course there is lots more, but if you want a lot in a relative small area, I think Antwerp is a safe bet.