While this is not the same style as my previous post, I was more interested in the actual portrait and less interested evoking a "look" here, it is still the same basic lighting set up. One big light over to the left of frame, a soft transition to shadows and then shadows with less fill that many people like.
I'm less happy with the background; I wish it was less uniform in tone and more out of focus.
If I remember correctly this image was done with a conventional APS-C camera but with an adapted Hasselblad 80mm f2.0 F series lens. I should have turned the flash down a tad and opened up one more stop. It would also have been in keeping with my usual strategy to use brighter but less uniform light on the background. Live and learn. That's why we constantly practice.
But taken just as a portrait and not as an exercise in lighting I am very pleased with it. I think my friend, Lou, looks amazing.
She does!
ReplyDeleteAgain, the art of engaging with the subject!
I think it's healthy that we look at our own work with a critical eye. I like the portrait though and it works.
ReplyDeleteAs mostly a travel/landscape photo guy, while I find both this and the portrait in the previous post very pleasing and I agree with your comment on the background on this one, I have to say I find the lighting on this one better. On the previous one, I am pretty sure I would have been pulling the LR shaddows slider far to the right ....
ReplyDeleteI will note that if you right click and open in a new tab, embiggen, and just look you'll be amazed at the subtlety of the tones as they change across her face.
ReplyDeleteJay
Kirk, the background in Michelle's portrait does seem to complement the subject better. It seems to match the skin tones without competing with them.
ReplyDeleteBut I prefer the depth of field in Lou's portrait.
It seems to me that the focus fall off in a shallow depth of field image becomes a feature. So the photo becomes about that, rather than the personality of the sitter. My eye gets distracted and I keep bouncing between Michelle's eyes and her right ear. Same thing for the edge of the lips and side of the cheek.
Both lovely photographs though.
As good as the portrait is, what tickles me most is that it was made with a D3200. I’d have bought one of those had it not been for the viewfinder — which was much like trying to look at the subject through a soda straw.
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