Second Portrait Attempt

[RangerGuy]

Same wrinkled sheet, different kid.



I tried clockdoc's suggestion of an index card on the flash to bounce some more light to the face. I'm pretty happy with it (which is a rare thing for me), but am open to all comments / critiques.

EXIF as reported by Flickr:
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/2
Focal Length: 9.7 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/10 EV
Flash: Flash fired

As an aside, I'd like to thank DPS and it's users for the vast info and helpful tips - A couple weeks ago I entered a local (albeit small) art show, and won second place, honorable mention, and the chairman's award on three different photos (of four entered). There were probably about 25 photos in the Adult category.

[clockdoc]

Nice work! I think you did an admirable job here with the posing (particularly the hands) and lighting. Glad the white card worked for you. Can you describe your lighting set up in a litle more detail? Her left eye seems to be catching a hot beam of light from her left side. While the dark outfit is nice, a white background and blond hair may work better with lighter, pastel tint clothing in more of a "high key" mode
Congratulations on your art show success! I look forward to seeing more of your work.

[RangerGuy]

Originally Posted by clockdoc

Nice work! I think you did an admirable job here with the posing (particularly the hands) and lighting. Glad the white card worked for you. Can you describe your lighting set up in a litle more detail? Her left eye seems to be catching a hot beam of light from her left side. While the dark outfit is nice, a white background and blond hair may work better with lighter, pastel tint clothing in more of a "high key" mode
Congratulations on your art show success! I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Thanks! She had been seeing my first picture of my other daughter for a couple weeks and wanted to have a "pretty picture" of herself, so getting her to cooperate (at least for a few minutes) was pretty easy. Being 2 1/2, she's a ham, anyway. I'd say I got 5 or six pictures of the two girls that I wouldn't be ashamed to hang up.

As for lighting, this was set up in my living room. There are two windows to her right, and an opening to her left into the kitchen where there is a sliding door. The sun is in that direction, so that's probably where the glare is coming from.

While I understand what you're saying about using a lighter colored outfit, I'm not sure I know what you mean by "a high key mode".

[clockdoc]

Thanks for asking as I sometimes forget to explain myself. 8-) In addition to your standard portrait lighting and background where everything is in a normal tonal range, high key refers to a setting where the background is light or white in color, the person has fair skin and light hair and typically wears lighter toned clothing. The facial lighting tends to be 'flatter' meaning there is less modeling using shadows and facial features such as high cheekbones.
Low-key generally refers to a portrait taken on a black or dark background, the subject tends to have darker hair and lighting accentuates facial features with strong shadows or lighting ratios. Clothing is aslo usually in the darker tones. This lends itself to a heavier, more dramatic portrait. A study of the older movie stars publicity photos often displays these types of shots.

[RangerGuy]

Originally Posted by clockdoc

Thanks for asking as I sometimes forget to explain myself. 8-) In addition to your standard portrait lighting and background where everything is in a normal tonal range, high key refers to a setting where the background is light or white in color, the person has fair skin and light hair and typically wears lighter toned clothing. The facial lighting tends to be 'flatter' meaning there is less modeling using shadows and facial features such as high cheekbones.
Low-key generally refers to a portrait taken on a black or dark background, the subject tends to have darker hair and lighting accentuates facial features with strong shadows or lighting ratios. Clothing is aslo usually in the darker tones. This lends itself to a heavier, more dramatic portrait. A study of the older movie stars publicity photos often displays these types of shots.

Ah. So if I'm understanding you correctly, "high key mode" refers to the background / hair / skin tone / clothing combo, and not an actual mode in the camera?

[clockdoc]

You are correct.

[WooD]

This thread is a perfect example of something I've thought about a lot. We post our pictures here to be critiqued by other photographers, which is great. We get multitudes of different ideas, and learn a lot.

The thing is when the mother of this little girl see that picture, she isn't going to be thinking of ways the shot could be better, she's just gonna love it.

I think we all beat ourselves up a bit too much sometimes.

By the way....... love the shot.

[shazzt]

Originally Posted by WooD

This thread is a perfect example of something I've thought about a lot. We post our pictures here to be critiqued by other photographers, which is great. We get multitudes of different ideas, and learn a lot.

The thing is when the mother of this little girl see that picture, she isn't going to be thinking of ways the shot could be better, she's just gonna love it.

I think we all beat ourselves up a bit too much sometimes.

By the way....... love the shot.

As a mother myself, I have to agree. I think she looks gorgeous (and personally I am impressed at anyone who can get a 2 1/2 year old to sit still, let alone pose!)

[RangerGuy]

Thanks WooD and shazzt.

[peeperita]

i think mom is going to love this shot too.....the lighting is beautiful and as doc requested, i'd like to know what setup you used.....

nice work!

peeper