B&W portraits

[rokkstar]

In my never ending quest to understand how to light portraits I've enlisted the help of my #1 model Sam once again. This time however, she seemed more than happy to pose.

I've tried a 2 light setup here again with reflector as per other members recommendations, and also tried the BW post process. I plan to get a book on this so that I can understand it better rather than try 1, post 1 for feedback, try another, post another.....etc.

Anyway, here are the shots and would appreciate honest C&C on them:





Cheers

[Alpha_7]

Glad to see some more of your work and experimentation Matt.

#2 is my favourite out of these three.

#1 The posture and composition doesn't work well for me

#3 The forehead hot spot is rather distracting.

Please keep trying and posting!

[wendellt]

matt this style reminds me of one of the past Sydney Theatre company advertising campaigns, shoot the model raw, harsh lighting, shiiny highlights and facial spots and marks and all, it's artistic in that sense

Technically though don't know why you should complicate your lighting setup with 2 light sources

you can do a lot with 1 flash especially if your unsure about lighting - which i think is very modest of you you have doen great work previously

1. try 1 flash above and left front on pointign at sams face that position is called 10 '0' clock it's similar to the lighting position they used to shoot those classic hollywood portraits, the 10 '0' clock position lights the face from above/front and gives a nice shadow under the nose and darkens the eyebrow ridge a little, that psoitions models the face nicely

master this and then move onto ohter positions

[dooda]

I quite like this artistic effect as well Matt. I don't like the way the background get's murky on the one side though, especially in the first one.
My other niggle is the dark neck, the shadow just seems a little too harsh.

[Sandy Feet]

I had a flick through a good book in Borders on portrait photography, it was by a guy named John Freeman, called Photographers Guide To Portraits

Cheers
Rod

[rokkstar]

I had a flick through a good book in Borders on portrait photography, it was by a guy named John Freeman, called Photographers Guide To Portraits

Cheers
Rod

 LOL Thanks for the hint.

[the foto fanatic]

Hi Matt
Perhaps you might think about posing positions a bit more.

For head and shoulders portraits, particularly of females, the "square to the camera" pose is very unflattering. It may work for a boofhead footballer, but for a woman I think it is better to rotate the shoulders to about 45 degrees.

This also usually gives a more pleasing attitude to the neck and jaw.

Congrats for practising and posting; that's the best way to learn.

[Sandy Feet]

Sorry

Not a hint its just you mentioned getting a book on the subject

Cheers
Rod

[rokkstar]

Sorry

Not a hint its just you mentioned getting a book on the subject

Cheers
Rod

No worries mate, I'm only joking. I am definately going to geta book because I need all the help I can get.