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sb800 far right w/bounce card raised: +2
sb600 high left with softbox: -1

i prefered this to any of the shots where he was looking down the barrel for some reason. has a kind of "private moment" feel to it. what do you guys think of the shot and the selective colour ?

I like the private, contemplative feel to it, however, the bear looks a little oversaturated and takes away from the rest of the image, in my opinion.

agree with Patrick - love it but perhaps fade the bead a tad
Deb T

To me the bear seems to become the focus.

Agree with above, tone down the bear.

You've captured the expression really well. I like that he's not looking at the camera.

While it's good that he's not looking at the camera, your angle of view is, IMHO, a little too high, and looking down towards him. I think a lower angle of view would have helped immensely.

And make the bear B&W. I find that the use of selective colour is usually unbearable and I don't think it adds anything to this image.

gstark wrote:And make the bear B&W. I find that the use of selective colour is usually unbearable and I don't think it adds anything to this image.

I remember a children's book I used to read entitled "Unbearable bear in London" many eons ago...

I for one really like this treatment, especially the vivid saturation of the bear, plus the unusual angle of the portrait. Well done.

Ozi.

gary, i like selective colouring although i know its not for everyone. good suggestion about the angle. i agree with that. i little lower would have worked better and still had the same effect i was after.

to clarify...the bear was actually intended to be the primary focal point i guess. whether that works or not is a different matter !

looking again...the bear needs a desat.

thanks for the helpful feedback.  btw: if any flash photography people see this, some comments/ tips on the lighting/ exposure would be appreciated.

Really great expression captured!

May I ask, how did you mount a softbox onto a SB600/800?

Rooz wrote: btw: if any flash photography people see this, some comments/ tips on the lighting/ exposure would be appreciated.

I am not expert in this area, but I reckon you have done a great job on light placement and ratios. If I was to try anything different, it would have been to adjust the FC on the left light to 0 instead of -1. A little more light on his right side (head) would be good. (I say this looking at my crappy monitor at work).

Yi-P wrote:Really great expression captured!

May I ask, how did you mount a softbox onto a SB600/800?

its a very complex task...

Ingredients:
1 x case of Corona
1 x tape
1 x baking paper

tools required:
tape
scissors
sb800 + flash stand
old bodgy tripod

Recipe:
Remove all Corona beer from box
Consume Corona
staple baking paper inside box to line box interior. (waxy side facing up)
Consume Corona
cut top of box out to leave large opening for face of lightbox
Consume Corona
trace head of sb800 onto other side of box
Consume Corona
cut opening to insert sb800; cut opening to tightly fit
Consume Corona
tape sheet of baking paper to large opening
Consume Corona
insert sb800 into box from small opening
Consume Corona

Project complete.

Rooz wrote:btw: if any flash photography people see this, some comments/ tips on the lighting/ exposure would be appreciated.

I think you have the lighting just right on this one.

If anything - and this is very minor - the conversion could do with a nudge in the contrast area, as there are no real blacks here that I'm seeing. But that's a very minor aspect.

Rooz wrote:Ingredients:
1 x case of Corona
1 x tape
1 x baking paper

You could probably use a case of real beer as well, couldn't you?

lol i'm all ears patrick.

Rooz wrote:Recipe:
Remove all Corona beer from box
Consume Corona
staple baking paper inside box to line box interior. (waxy side facing up)
Consume Corona
cut top of box out to leave large opening for face of lightbox
Consume Corona
trace head of sb800 onto other side of box
Consume Corona
cut opening to insert sb800; cut opening to tightly fit
Consume Corona
tape sheet of baking paper to large opening
Consume Corona
insert sb800 into box from small opening
Consume Corona

That's very strobist, that DIY approach

This is awesome, love the selective colour

After coming back for a second look and reading all the comments, I think you've done a great job with the photo, lighting and selective colouring, considering the bear was 'actually' your point of focus.

I also like your DIY and will have to save some of my 'insert Mexican beer of preference here' cartons from now on.

Cheers

Simon

Rooz wrote:lol i'm all ears patrick.

Far be it for me to recommend a beer

I like this shot, agree the bear should be toned down and love Gary's idea of a lower angle.

As to a beer, you need this

Reschsmooth wrote:

Rooz wrote:lol i'm all ears patrick.

Far be it for me to recommend a beer

Was there a mis-spelling in this thread's subject line?

gstark wrote:

Reschsmooth wrote:

Rooz wrote:lol i'm all ears patrick.

Far be it for me to recommend a beer

Was there a mis-spelling in this thread's subject line?

My thoughts exactly!