Black Night

[infocus]

A shot of a model I was doing some portfolio work with. I was going for very dark sad kind of look. I am looking for critique on the contrast is it to much? What of the emotion of the model? does it draw you in or make you feel her emotion? Thanks in advance for looking.

[SusanH1970]

I think softer light and a moody BW conversion would work better to convey the mood. Cool idea though. Her expression looks good.....the running mascara might be a little overdone, though.

[infocus]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

I think softer light and a moody BW conversion would work better to convey the mood. Cool idea though. Her expression looks good.....the running mascara might be a little overdone, though.

I am sure this look won't be for everyone, but I am trying to enter the fashion end of photography where strange is good so I wanted to be near over the top on the mascara.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by infocus

I am sure this look won't be for everyone, but I am trying to enter the fashion end of photography where strange is good so I wanted to be near over the top on the mascara.

I hear ya...I'd love to see a BW, though, with a little less contrast. I played with it a bit and it looked pretty cool.

I look forward to your threads, actually...I like your work (especially because it is SO different from mine - I shoot kids and families, but love this kind of stuff!).

ETA: Nice job on keeping her dark hair separate from the background.

[natek313]

Personally, I think the hard(er) light fits pretty well. I do, however, agree with Susan on seeing a black and white version.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by natek313

Personally, I think the hard(er) light fits pretty well.

Must be a girl thing...when I think "sad girl", I think more ethereal, soft.

But (and correct me if I'm wrong), now that I look more, I think the photo is perhaps to convey desolation and how hard life can be (correct me if I'm wrong, infocus), rather than simple sadness - in which case, on an artistic level, harsh lighting can work quite well.

If you want to keep it color (though I'm still begging for a BW, lol), the skin is too red/warm.

ETA: My 12 year old son, who is also into photography, just came in and said he thought this was an excellent portrait and asked if he could give his opinion. I scrolled up so he couldn't see your original description and asked him what he thought the photo meant. My kid said she looked "very sad, depressed, and possibly suicidal". So, there's a 100% honest opinion from someone who knows little about lighting, contrast, etc., but has no problems reading raw emotion and is not afraid to say it. Sometimes kids can be quite good at reading feelings, no?

[daddyoproductions]

I'll be honest, there isn't quite enough anguish there for me in her face. Almost, but just not. Maybe the bw would help with that, don't know. The rest I think is good, lighting and all that (I'm no expert), though the drip marks on the bottom of the mascara trails are too obvious (I'm guessing you've never cried with mascara on ). One thing I would fix is one side of her hair is good and messy and the other is too neat...looks like you cleaned it up.
~C