make it better

[shruggy63]

:-) I've been doing similar pics lately: winter weather, what can you do? I'm assuming you're using a tripod & the camera on timer? I'd move the figure further away from the background & use a small DOF to blur the background a little. I have to agree that the white is slightly grey, so I'd pin down the white as white, though I'm not up on your PP software.
Cutting the subject off at the knees doesn't really work.
One thing I've found that's fun with a figurine like this is to light it from below so that it takes on a sinister undertone with a looming shadow.
It's good exercise though isn't it!

[studysession]

Originally Posted by shruggy63

:-) I've been doing similar pics lately: winter weather, what can you do? I'm assuming you're using a tripod & the camera on timer? I'd move the figure further away from the background & use a small DOF to blur the background a little. I have to agree that the white is slightly grey, so I'd pin down the white as white, though I'm not up on your PP software.
Cutting the subject off at the knees doesn't really work.
One thing I've found that's fun with a figurine like this is to light it from below so that it takes on a sinister undertone with a looming shadow.
It's good exercise though isn't it!

That sinister look for all them is what my end goal is. Very cool that someone is thinking similarly. I have been using these clown figurines to practice my lighting etc.... Cutting him off at the knees was because I was trying not to show the base he is mounted on....

Playing with the light and make one all happy and nice / then move the light and make the same picture look a little evil is what I am trying to do.

Thanks for the input and advice. Lighting is such a huge topic and so many possibilities. Right now I am playing with fake cosmetic jewelry today with the reflections of the lights etc... Not as fun like the figurines been gives me more ideas and trying to be creative using the lights and flashes I have.

[shruggy63]

I found this dog in the street. I used an LED bike light to give a harsh shadow but I should've moved the subject further forward on the edge of the chair so that I didn't get that brightening on the cushion? I was pleased with the hard shadow though it could've been bigger.

[studysession]

Nice! I agree about moving it forward but it does give it that bit of evil look.

[shruggy63]

If the dog had been sitting further forward I'd have got a bigger, looming shadow?
Anyhow, your next challenge is to make your figurine look like it's a character in a film noir ;-)