A portrait of Dawn

**Paul** · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 21:48

Photographers Comments
This photo was inspired after taking my previous two portraits that I shared here a couple of days ago but the lights were already set up and I was only responsible for framing and a little PS work afterwards. This time Im responsible for everything including the lighting!!

I'm keen to find out opinions on those catchlights and would welcome any other comments of how this photo could be improved.

Dawn is my lovely wife who kindly offered to pose for me this evening! I hope to show you more sometime soon.

Serious Critique Required: The photographer has requested he/she would like a more serious level of critique for this image to obtain more constructive critiscism from other members. Please make sure the comments you leave are indeed constructive and aim to help the photographer see the image from a different perspective and/or provide help and guidance to how the image can be improved.

**Photo Phil** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 22:10

Hi Paul,
the blown out areas of the hat top right are a little distracting, as a result the lighting on the skin tones appear slightly blown out on the right of the face (Dawns left). I feel that the lights were positioned slightly too close to your subject, and therefore needs to be toned down a little in areas. The focus on the eyes appear pin sharp and for me, the catch lights add life and sparkle. This used to be a very common effect during a stage in the 70's and 80's with the ring flash. (I would maybe clone out the smaller catchlight reflection just leaving one large catchlight in each eye).
Overall a beautiful image of a beautiful lady where the only thing wrong with the lighting IMHO is slightly too close.

**Paul** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 22:23

Phil many thanks for your comments. Looking at it now your right that hat is indeed blown out and luckily that is because of my PS actions. I'll see if I can fix that! I didn't notice until now, thanks for pointing that one out.

The lighting was one softbox above looking down and a triflector ii. I did raise the light quite a distance above but didn't think about moving it back, I'll try that next time. The small reflection was one piece of the triflector.

Many thanks for the comments again Phil, you've given me some good things to think about and try next time.

fayswon · #4 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 23:08

beautiful lady, Paul..would also like to see more detailing of her hair, which is obviously one of her assets

**Paul** · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 09:05

Hi Fay, the desired effect I was looking for took the detail out of her hair but I've attached another copy of the image without this processing which will show more detail which is one of the many alternative options I made for this photo. I think I made 9 different variations in PS but the attached is the least processed.

**Photo Phil** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 09:15

Hi Paul,
I take back my comment on the lighting. Here it appears to be spot on, so, it must have been your processng techniques which has blown out the highlights.

**Paul** · #7 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 09:24

That's ok Phil, your comments thought me that when applying affects I really need to be careful of the highlights especially if the effect I use is going to blow them out. I knew I was going to have a little trouble due to the position of the light which was directly above on that white hat.

Thanks again.

Newbloke · #8 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 09:25

Hi Paul, I really like this - it caught my eye straight away and I think its simplicity is what makes it work. I love the very direct expression - good rapport between subject and photographer. nice work!

**Paul** · #9 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 09:39

Thanks Andy, I really appreciate your comments. I'm a little nervous when it comes to posing someone especially when they are not used to posing and I am not used to or know various poses but towards the end of the shoot I started to remember posing techniques from the back of my mind, I could feel myself getting more confident in what I was asking Dawn to do and things really started to look natural. Dawn was also starting to get more comfortable with posing and from that point the photos really started to show good results.

cyclone · #10 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 10:19

Hi Paul, really like this one too.
I prefer the less edited version, makes the first one you put up look way too contrasty, which lost some of the detail in her eyes and that's a shame because they are absolutely stunning mate.
She looks to have the same colour hair as my girlfriend, I always think it looks better warmed up a bit so I try not to use auto white balance...