Heads and Shoulders

[Alexs]

Hi...

Haven't posted here in a while, thought I would try and get some feedback on the following shot.

I am looking for feedback on the BW conversion in particular (I am most unsure about that) but if anyone wishes to comment on the lighting, processing etc please feel free.

Thanks in advance



Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 100mm
ISO Speed : 400

Lighting:
Softbox as main cam right (from above)
Shoot through as fill cam left (from below)

[Alexs]

OK...no replies yet after ~95 views, had to check if I'd broken any posting rules

The only thing I can think of is maybe I should be more specific about the critique requested: I do not usually do BW conversions and wasn't sure if the skintones are okay (to everyone else's eyes) after the conversion - which is why I included the colour version.

Having said that...any critique is welcome. There are a lot of very talented portrait photographers here and I know I still have a lot to learn about lighting (hot spots on the face?), post-prod (skin too smooth/fake?), composition, etc.

Thanks in advance

[graciousness]

I think people have a hard time assessing the image because one, you have two images (well, four) and you can't see composition that way. You really just need to stick with one photo (it's the forum rule, anyway) so that people can really focus on one image and remark.

I'd put one photo, a B&W one, and if you want the others to look at the other ones, maybe put the flickr link in your post so people can view if they want.

Let's just say this will be part of editing you need to learn about - choosing the RIGHT photo/s to show clients/others and to keep in your portfolio.

I like the images enough, composition is ok, I mean, it's great if you're attempting to take her passport photo.

Now having said that, you see what I mean about posting one proper photo for inspection? The example you provided with 4 images looks like passport photos.

Do yourself a favour and put a more proper one

[Alexs]

Hm...fair enough. Putting it on the forum was more of an afterthought I guess, didn't mean to break any forum rules however I wasn't going to re-edit the photo since it was already up on flickr.

Appreciate your reply but I don't think all head shots are necessarily passport photos (although all passport photos are head shots )...anyway, I digress as i'm not here to argue if head shots fall within portrait photography or not. My intention was to show a colour pic vs the BW and get some input on that...I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been the first one to do THAT in here

Again, thanks for your response.

[ajax_andy]

I quite like the shots... the skin tones and lighting work really well I think.

I definately prefer the black and white conversion... something about B&W on a white background works better than colour for me.

Only thing I could really see wrong (imo) is that the side on shot fits perfectly in the window height, but the facing the camera one is less tall... it makes it feel a little unbalanced.

But yeah I like the pics

[Niresangwa]

Lighting is nicely done... how did you set it up? It looks like the key was high camera left and you had another light low camera right? The key light, (left) seems a little hot, but it hasn't ruined it.

I prefer the BW version, though the colour is done well. The BW could do with a levels adjustment however as there are a lot of greys.. lighten those and bring up the blacks to give it a more targeted contrast. The bridge of her nose is getting lost against her cheek, again a function of the lower range across the face. The BW version displays the range better than the colour, which is why I think its innately more preferable.

Ultimately were I going to recreate the shot, I would have tried to get more shadow in there, (drop the power on the low right fill), and probably would have gotten a rim or hair light behind her. It may seem like a moot point given the white background, but I would add it and have the background more of a grayer tone with some shading to it... white backgrounds just don't do it for me.

[graciousness]

Originally Posted by Alexs

Hm...fair enough. Putting it on the forum was more of an afterthought I guess, didn't mean to break any forum rules however I wasn't going to re-edit the photo since it was already up on flickr.

Appreciate your reply but I don't think all head shots are necessarily passport photos (although all passport photos are head shots )...anyway, I digress as i'm not here to argue if head shots fall within portrait photography or not. My intention was to show a colour pic vs the BW and get some input on that...I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been the first one to do THAT in here

Again, thanks for your response.

No no, I didn't mean that the photo/s you posted were quality of passport photos - it's arranged/cropped like one (with 4 head shots in one photo). Putting four head shots (albeit 2 are the same but different colour) seems like you were trying to get critique TWO head shots in 2 different colour modes (even though one is appropriate as per rule). You would have done with critiques if you had put one appropriate photo, I think, as people can also see composure, etc and get better perspective of your image.

And no, of course not all head shots are passport photos. I think you may have misread me and felt insulted. Sorry if it my reply insulted you - it didnt' mean to be read that way. I was only trying to help you by posting one appropriate photo.

Also, if you wanted to have comparison shots, there is a section where you can do that (called Comparison)

[Alexs]

@graciousness: No, it's fine I wasn't insulted I just thought you were entitled to your opinion. We're all here to learn from each other so no harm done. I wouldn't have posted it in Critique if I wasn't prepared for criticism! I was trying to explain where I was coming from and why I posted an image with 4 heads on it I wasn't aware of the comparisons section, I will do that next time, thanks.

@ajax_andy: Agree...this was my first shoot with a white background and I did think that BW worked better, but just wasn't sure on my execution of the BW conversion. And yes I see your point about the imbalance, I should have resized the second shot. Thanks.

@Niresangwa: Yes, you are correct, except the top image(s) are inverted so the key was actually high camera right and fill was low cam left. Yes I agree, there are hotspots but I left them in there because I also thought that they looked ok.

Thank you for your input re the BW conversion!! That was the insight I was looking for. I will play around with the image keeping what you said in mind.

You're right I redirected the rim light to the BG in favour of a white BG, that was just the look I was going for. I know what you mean with the backgrounds though...sort of like a Jill Greenberg type background with a gradual light falloff? I'll try that next.