Self Portrait - Low-Key

[RecceDen]

Hi, had a few spare minutes at work today so decided to have a go at my first self portrait and decided to go Low-Key.



Exif

F-Stop : f/6.3
Exposure : 1/10sec
ISO : 200
Exposure bias : -2ev
Focal length : 55mm
Exposure Program : AP
Flash : Off, Did not Fire

This is a first attempt at low key and self portrait.

I would like critique on PP and lighting.

Many thanks.

Den

[sican]

Well done! I'd try to crop the photo in a square and zoom in a bit (crop) around the face to make it a bit bigger since that's the point of interest.

Regards,
Alex Cican

[Niresangwa]

Keep the negative space and maybe emphasize it a little by taking a sliver of the right. It's a little dark for my tastes though. I love low-key, especially for portraits, but this one just makes me struggle to pick anything out, and any detail of the hair is gone.

How did you light it? single light camera left? if it was a strobe, what power was it set to, and was there any modification? It may be as simple as moving the light a little closer, but keep it on the same axis. Finding a way to get some rim-lighting into this would surely make a huge difference without losing the look you're going for in my opinion.

[RecceDen]

Niresangwa.

I have no lighting kit except for a hinge table lamp very similar to this one.

ECO HOBBY LAMP, COMPLETE WITH DAYLIGHT ENERGY SAVING LAMP, AND WEIGHTED STAND FOR DESK OR CRAFT TABLE MOUNTING IN STYLISH BLACK CHROME

Was looking for a Low-Key Ghetto look.

I to like the negative space on the left, so I have cropped some of the right side space off, not too much mind you.

If I remember correctly the light was low left to the camera. I was sat on a seat and the lamp was on the floor. I believe there was a 40w lamp in the light.

I agree with you about the hair needing a bit more light. I have this picture where there is more light on the head area. But i think I moved slightly knocking the focus off on my head. Grrrrrr......



Exif

Exposure : 8 Sec
Apeture : f/8
Focal length : 34mm
ISO 100
Exposure Bias : -1ev
Exposure Program : AP

Thanks for your Critique.

Den

[Niresangwa]

the tone in the second image is much more to my liking and what i was trying to get at in my first reply.

the 40w lamp explains why it was a little dark to get a little rim lighting you could always find another lamp and stick it behind you...flag it off so the light doesnt spill into the background, then just block it with your body, see how it turns out.

When you have plenty of time to play around with this stuff, it can be fun to experiment.