Please comment/critique these 2 shots

Steve, I like the 1st one the best. The pose is more relaxed and he seems comfortable. The lighting is better here as well.

 

I hate to critique someone else's portraits cuz I know how hard it is to do, but I will make a couple of comments, based on what I see.

I like #1 with the exception of the area around the board. It's very confusing to the eye, with the image on the board, the boot on the board, and the bent knee behind it. I think it's a great concept but I think it needs to be less distracting. My eyes are roaming around that center area trying to figure out what everything is. Not sure what to suggest as it's a kind of awkward prop. Love the fact he's sitting on the back of the boat, though.

I like #2 alot. My only nit is the bench in the background is distracting. Otherwise I like this one.

Since the board is shorter than he is, could you have it completely vertical and have him rest his bent arm on it with his one leg bent across the other? Might work. Just thinking out loud.

 

One other thought: I'd try to keep the board as a secondary item in the pic. The senior should be the primary point of focus with the prop being a supporting, not competing component in the shot.

 

I have to agree with Kevin. Also, Both shots seam to be directly into the sun, Try getting him back-lit and use a bit of fill to increase the contrast on the front of the face and body. This will open up his eyes and make him a little more relaxed. In the first shot you have a lot of shadows on the torso, a reflector can open them up a bit and soften them.

 

Steve, the other guys had some great points, so no sense remarking on the same issues. I like the first image very much and you can tweak the particulars as you see fit. In the second image, I think shooting him from the side straight on makes him look skinny because the board is too dominant. If you re-do the shot, I think you might consider having him twist at the waist to show more width in his chest. That's just my 2 cents!!!

 

Re: Thanks all, my reply to you all....

Steve, if you have a white reflector that will do wounders, keep the light soft but yet kick up the fill.

 

as said before by other people, it's always difficult to comment on other pictures. But here's my 2 cents.
On both pictures i find the background a bit disturbing.

A possibility for the first one, just try to face the back of the boat to the open water. take a little less DOF so there will be no more distracting things at the background.

Nice kid BTW.