Amie

[PaulButler]

One from a 1 2 1 workshop session with Chris Conway (shadows, gels, creative lighting etc - areas I need help in ...). As always constructive crit appreciated.

The model is the lovely Amie Boulton, someone I've wanted to work with for a while. Chris has been recommended to me by other photographers and I now know why too.

Amie_Boulton_D810-4109-Edit by Paul, on Flickr

 

[juggler]

One from a 1 2 1 workshop session with Chris Conway (shadows, gels, creative lighting etc - areas I need help in ...). As always constructive crit appreciated.

The model is the lovely Amie Boulton, someone I've wanted to work with for a while. Chris has been recommended to me by other photographers and I now know why too.

Amie_Boulton_D810-4109-Edit by Paul, on Flickr

Yep, I've had similar training from this pair too. Good, aren't they?

I like this pic, lots of good stuff going on.. but find the angles of both hands a bit odd.

 

[PaulButler]

Good, aren't they?

Yep, very good

Hands - Odd in which way?

 

[juggler]

Yep, very good

Hands - Odd in which way?

I can see just part of of the fingers on her left hand - all or nothing would be better. It wouldn't matter if she hadn't presented the large area of the back of her hand to the light, thus highlighting it.

Similarly, I can nearly but not quite see the right hand.

But really, this is small stuff - the framing, lighting, expression, processing are all great. Knowing how Amie works I wouldn't necessarily try to refine the pose at the time as there'll be another one along in a second. I just wouldn't have selected this one to process. Probably.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I do not like the hand pose at all a cross between picking her nose. and giving the one finger sign. with an expression that suits it.
However the lighting balance is fine.
I do not think the shadow or vignette is interesting enough to add anything to the composition.

But most likely a useful exercise

 

[PaulButler]

I do not like the hand pose at all a cross between picking her nose. and giving the one finger sign. with an expression that suits it.
However the lighting balance is fine.
I do not think the shadow or vignette is interesting enough to add anything to the composition.

But most likely a useful exercise

Thanks Terry.

 

[PaulButler]

I can see just part of of the fingers on her left hand - all or nothing would be better. It wouldn't matter if she hadn't presented the large area of the back of her hand to the light, thus highlighting it.

Similarly, I can nearly but not quite see the right hand.

But really, this is small stuff - the framing, lighting, expression, processing are all great. Knowing how Amie works I wouldn't necessarily try to refine the pose at the time as there'll be another one along in a second. I just wouldn't have selected this one to process. Probably.

Thanks Simon, understand what you are saying - I still have loads to work through, in the end I just chose a few almost at random - yep I know ...

 

[ryanyboy]

What focal length was this shot at?

 

[PaulButler]

What focal length was this shot at?

50mm on fx

 

[ryanyboy]

50mm on fx

The reason I asked is her hand looks really large in comparison to her face. A wider lens would emphasise this. But maybe she just has big hands!

Either way it's a well lit portrait. Not mad on the hand (big or small) but the main thing is you got to learn some new techniques

 

[PaulButler]

The reason I asked is her hand looks really large in comparison to her face. A wider lens would emphasise this. But maybe she just has big hands!

Either way it's a well lit portrait. Not mad on the hand (big or small) but the main thing is you got to learn some new techniques

Thanks Ryan, feedback is appreciated. I've looked at other images shot with an 85mm and her hands are in the same proportions so maybe they are large

 

[Kodiak Qc]

I do not think the shadow or vignette is interesting enough to add anything to the composition.

I'd go the other way… I think they do!
Instead of being a boring, flat BG they suggest the use
of directional modifier acting like an oblique spot — like
the Magnum — for more subject/scene wrap.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I'd go the other way… I think they do!
Instead of being a boring, flat BG they suggest the use
of directional modifier acting like an oblique spot — like
the Magnum — for more subject/scene wrap.

Boring flat backgrounds are a separate issue. And I tend to not care for them at all. I do not feel that throwing shadows on them helps them much at all.
Though we have perhaps, all tried to do so at one time or another.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Boring flat backgrounds are a separate issue

Indeed they are a separate issue.

As a publishing photographer, I would only use the
wrapping idea when the AD asks for it… since they
are easier to generate in the graphic room than erase.