Vicki Portrait

cyclone · #1 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 08:55 PM

Photographers Comments
I have toyed with posting this so much its annoying me.
There is so much wrong with it, but I like it at the same time. It was an accident really, we were messing about with one of my Grandads old flash units, bouncing it off the ceiling triggered optically by my on camera flash.
I just saw her expression through the camera and shot, my Grandad was not ready, the background is messy and I chopped off part of her left arm, hence the tight crop.
I think its just the expression I like, borderline bored silly but with just a tiny hint of interest in what my Grandad is messing about at.

We had real fun messing with this stuff, I really want a studio kit now...

**Eos1nrs** · #2 (**permalink**) 04-02-2008, 08:59 PM

good candid despite the reasons you gave above..only real thing i would add is, watch for creases and lines around eyes and chins(not appl here) with women and try to keep hair out of eyes unless done so specifically.
Other than, get going. check the help threads for lighting kit links as i'm sure someone else had the same thoughts as you for getting into studio lights
Get buying, get shooting and get posting!

whatt · #3 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 11:10 PM

Hi Merv The first think that I had seen in the photo that bothered me was the hair into her eye .. seems to cover part of it and want to put a hair clip in .. lol .. otherwise I think it is a wonderful candid shot ..
Cheers
Else

cyclone · #4 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 07:58 AM

Hi Andy, thanks for the tips and encouragement. I remember the thread you are talking about, I'm just too scared to look, don't want to spend any money haha!

Thanks Else, I never even noticed the hair, so I'm glad I put it up now as I've already learned someting new.

Tco · #5 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 09:18 AM

Very commendable Merv. I like the expression too, very candid and natural looking. Don't worry too much about the rest of the shot at this stage because the whole essence of the image is very good. Treat yourself to some lighting and you'll love it. It opens up a whole new world.

cyclone · #6 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 11:58 AM

Cheers mate,
don't give me permission, it'll cost me money!
Seriously, I keep looking a the spare room, it's the kittens room at the mo, crezy eh? Our middle cat beats him up so they have to be seperated when we're not there. It's a double bedroom so I'm thinking when he's out of there it's studio time.

Joseph Carmichael · #7 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 12:10 PM

Quite a good effort Merv, and I agree with you...... despite your problems the finnished result has it's own appeal, as well as own it's drawbacks. I don't believe cutting off your sitters left arm is a problem, as it still seams to work OK . And I don't mind the hair across the eye nor the eye wrinkles if it's a trade off for a good expression or a natural look, and this I think you have acheved.

One of the things I not as happy with is the skin tones, even tho I've Posted some below par skin tones myself, caused primlarly by the use of a cheep model camera and the use of tungsten lighting, I do feel in this case that you have underlit your subjects face. That being said I must say that I do like the deep tones in the hair and your sitters jacket. I do think this will encourage you to try again.
Quite well taken.

I just love Portraiture it's my pet subject.

cyclone · #8 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 12:35 PM

Thanks Jo,
Always good to hear the voice of experience.
I'm not 100% happy with the skin tones either, think I went 50-100K too far in the raw conversion and made it a little too warm, as you say the room lighting present probably didn't make this too easy.
Looking at it at work, it's too red, way too red if the monitor is tilted up and green if it's tilted down and pretty good from the side!