need critique please!

[kiralee82]

Hi, this image is for an assignment on portrait lighting. Basically the only guidelines are that it has to be artificial lighting on a female, no B&W and be creative. I wanted to do something a bit outside the box and away from the general idea that female portraits are flattering and "pretty". I don't own lighting equipment so i have used a reading lamp to backlight and another table lamp to camera left with fill-in flash The feeling i wanted to create was dark and melancholy with the subject like a clown but more make-up style than face paint. So i would really appreciate your feedback and critique, how is the lighting?, focus? etc, even your feel towards the image I am really trying to learn so all feedback negative and positive is taken onboard.

[tomservo51]

I think you achieved most of what your going for. I like it, focus looks good. If it were my picture I'd play with the colors more. The purples look over-saturated and the photo feels a little warm to me. Curious to see how it would look if you desaturated the purples and cool it down a bit!

[tomservo51]

See attached. What do you think? This feel more depressing to me. lol. I also added some clarity to the face, makes it grittier

[kiralee82]

Originally Posted by tomservo51

See attached. What do you think? This feel more depressing to me. lol. I also added some clarity to the face, makes it grittier

looks fantastic! thank you will give it a try definitely suits it better. If you were mainly marking for lighting though do you think your still able to see where light etc is coming from?

[EmyB]

My first reaction was - YEUGH! So I think you've achieved what you're going for hahaha. Very creative and interesting.

[tomservo51]

Originally Posted by kiralee82

looks fantastic! thank you will give it a try definitely suits it better. If you were mainly marking for lighting though do you think your still able to see where light etc is coming from?

I think you did a great job with what you had but I'm no lighting expert.

[ccting]

is that done via lighting or makeup??

[kiralee82]

Originally Posted by ccting

is that done via lighting or makeup??

not 100% sure what your asking but if its referring to the mood i think the lighting and make-up play an equally important part in this image. Its just that i'm wondering whether it would be suitable for an assignment on artificial portrait lighting, have i lit the subject correctly to convey the mood/idea that i had? and also open to other suggestions on all areas