Black and White Nude

[Oz_Beachside]

Hello,

First shoot with my first flash units, Bowens 500s. I had the flash outside on the balcony, bare, shooting through the timber venetians, to get the stripes.

Please let m eknow what you think?

I would like to get the contrast much higher in the RAW

WARNING: CONTAINS ARTISTIC NUDE (YOU MAY SEE A BUM).
http://www.pbase.com/oz_beachside/image/62565865/medium.jpg

regards,
Oz.

[Alpha_7]

I like it, not bad for a first try with a new setup. Nice bum too!

[Oz_Beachside]

thanks, I like the end result, but my main lesson from the shoot was the set. A backdrop, through to floor sheet, to isolate the subject may have been better, but still learning lots. I have since got a cloth muslin backdrop, planned for the next shoot.

THanks
Oz

[leek]

Very nice shot Oz... btw... the Original version is much more interesting... (Beware... someone could get a very printable version from that...)

If I had to suggest some improvements:

1. it would've been a lot more complete if you hadn't chopped the bottom of her foot off...
2. Her right arm is missing... it might look like an amputee???

That said, I'm jealous that you had the opportunity and I hope to arrange something similar for myself in the future...

p.s. I'd love to know how you got the height / angle...

[Oz_Beachside]

thanks John,

nice feedback , very useful.

Agree, I was dissappointed I had cropped off her toes

As for height, I used my legs, and stood at the end of the bed...

Agree on her arm, my mind was focused on the effect of lines, and not the overall image, thanks!

[rokkstar]

Very nice Oz, tasteful.
I like the lines - ad's a "second" point of interest. Yep, nice.

[christiand]

Very nice body and BUM

I aggree that the toes need to be preserved.
I'd probably increase the contrast and light a little; however
the subdued image is nice.

Cheers,
CD

[Matt. K]

A classical nude. Nudes are notoriously difficult to do and you have done a fine job with the posing of this one. However, on my monitor the image lacks contrast and is very subdued. This might be a look you intentionally created but I think a dramatic increase in contrast would bring this particular image to life. Well done!

[Oz_Beachside]

THanks for all the feedback so far.

One question to a seasoned digital audience, what tips can you offer to increase the contrast in a situation like this? (RAW, straight from the camera, not PP). She was very tanned and the light source was weak to get the more solid lines from the timber venetians. Are there changes to shutter or aperture that would improve contrast?

thanks

[xerubus]

good stuff getting into lighting... it's a complete new world and a lot of fun.

I like the shot... and I think with some more practice you've got a good eye for doing nudes.

couple of comments:

- some more contrast... seems a bit flat
- the obvious feet crop. and talking about feet.. they are a bit dirty
- you're lighting is great. shadows are nice, detail is good, and it's a nice clean image.
- the little tattoo on her left hand lower back is a little distracting for me

i'd be very interested in seeing the colour version of this. depending on the colour of the bed cover, i think it may work nicely also.

keep up the good work and look forward to seeing more.

cheers

[gstark]

Nice image, but the points already noted are spot on.

As to your questions regarding contrast, what sort of in-camera contrast settings are you using?

Have you tried uploading different curves to the camera to give your images a different "feel"?

Do you have Curve Surgery? This might be a useful tool for you.

[Oz_Beachside]

Hello,
thanks again.

I have placed the color (unedited) on the album. I have also posted another with her leaning on her arm.

Let me know what you think? The reason I originally went to black and white, was because the bed covers did not provide enough contrast. ALso, I thought they were too sharp in detail, compared to the skin tones...

I am new to DSLR, so I have not explored the contrast curves yet. Just readying in the manual now, not much info. Any tutorials for D70s? Or good user guides?

I picked up a white paper (Superior Seamless, Snow) yesterday, can wait to lear how to light this too!

As you can see in color, here foot is not dirty, think its from 15 years of Ballet...

No, I dont have "Curve Surgery". Google tells me its a software package, is that correct? what is its application?

thanks kindly

[wendellt]

nice one, great use of the strobe to produce those sexy lines over her body
as others have said it's just contrast that needs to be added to this shot

[Oz_Beachside]

thank, the contrast is my primary question. gstark mentioned contrast curves, which I will investigate.

ANy others?

[leek]

Oz-B...

Just looking at the original bed shots in detail again, it looks like you have the bedspread in focus, but the girl is slightly soft... Was this your intention, or did you apply PP...

Still a great sensual shot though...

[Oz_Beachside]

not intentional, I think it appears that way as the material has sharp patterns, and the skin tones do not.

Also think my DOF was short, needed a higher f-stop. But it was my very first day with a light meter, and my new monoblocs, so lots to learn.

[Raskill]

I like the colour image of her laying down on her arm. I would have been tempted to get the tattoo more in focus, but thats a minor thing imho. I gather your model was happy with the results, she sure looks good.

Well done!

[Oz_Beachside]

thinking back now I recall that focus was not on my mind at the time. So i think some of my mistakes are in framing/composition and focus. THe key purpose of the shoot was to learn the lighting, and I am delighted with the results as a first shoot ever with flash, being a 2x500ws setup.

Agree on the tattoo being out of focus, she mentioned lots of togs ask her to put her hand on her hip a lot of the time to cover it up, but I wanted a relaxed pose...

For my next shoot with her, can ayone offer some advise, and creative ideas? I would like to use some satin, underneath, perhaps twisted around her body?

I need to do some learning on backdrops.

Would I be right in thinking that the use of Bokeh, through f1.8ish would not be applicable, as I would want to keep her lines sharp? I was thinking f8-f22 which means my background would be in focus, so a carefully selected backdrop would be key?

thoughts?