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We picked up a new 20mm 2.8 yesterday (primarily for use on the f90x) - what a lens - and took the following of my wife who humoured me for a little while. Apart from a bit of ambient light, I used the sb800 in remote mode.

I bit of PP in PS - slight curves, G-blur. I actually used the B&W mode in the camera.

(Oh, and she is well aware she has freckles )

C&C welcome (in particular, your views on lighting and the composition I was going for)






Thanks and Happy New Year

P

To be honest, the composition doesn't grab me in these images. The second one seems a bit out of focus (may be intentional?) and there seems to be a bit too much pillow. The tight focus adds to that as well.

Sorry, but that's just my opinion.

However, i do like where you were going with the images. There is definitely some potential in your style.

You are a game little chicken approaching a woman close to her face with a wide angle lens. Usually has the effect of pulling the nose up closer to the lens. In this case it has been the pillow that has been pulled and as such, it gains some unwanted attention. There really is a bit too much pillow. Usually this sort of shot would be done with a 75 - 100mm focal length for a better perspective and facial proportion.

The softness in the 2nd one doesn't look right somehow. Your lighting looks good and unobtrusive, but lacks a bit of kick (on my monitor at least) maybe some SELECTIVE Curves/Levels adjustment, preferably on layers so you can massage the layer mask with a brush. The pillow is hogging the attention a bit though. Other than that, nice stuff my friend. Try & keep her in a good mood & try again. If you can get a light behind her to rimlight the hair a bit would be good too.
All the best
Col

Thanks for the feedback guys - and I think I agree with the criticism of the composition in the second photo.

The softness is due to use of Gaussian Blur in PS - perhaps a bit too much.

The idea behind the shots were to muck around with the new lens and to keep practising with off camera lighting. If I was home, I would have had access to my Metz as well for more interesting lighting.

I think the reason she was patient/tolerant is that she is 17 weeks pregnant and we had just got back to our unit after walking about 10kms around Melbourne! She didn't have the energy to argue!

My key agenda was to get a differently composed portrait style going, particularly in B&W, particularly with the new lens (did I mention I love the 20 mm? )

Cheers

P