Critique: window light

Hey, I like this forum- I just had to put up a couple of portraits I did last month using window light: both of these were done at about 4 pm, hazy light through a big window. (eos with 50mil 1.8) Randall uses ilford hp5, jan uses the new kodak CN C41 stuff.

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http://www.chrisyeager.com/digital/onelight.html

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They are photoshopped only for spotting and contrast. Never underestimate the power of one light..... I'd like to see other window light portraits if any of you feel like posting them-

at least on my pc, the qualitative difference is striking. that is,

the "jan" image is far superior in contrast and clarity. the other

image almost appears almost opaque and flat.

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again, though, the "jan" image is very effective.

Randall is markedly different in that the amount of background makes

it more of an environmental piece. The lack of background rivets the

focus on Jan - more of a traditional portrait. Both well done.

However, I prefer Jan.

Yes, the Randall neg is the harder to work with... i popped up the

contrast a bit and sharpened it for display, but for that you lose

detail.... It gave me quite a fight on the enlarger, in fact it won

the first round...

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Randall is a collector and curator of African art, I like the "bokeh

crown" behind him, this is really a semi-grab shot. (I turned him to

the window..)

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You can look at my other portraits at www.chrisyeager.com; you can see

I'm really a street shooter who dreams of someday stopping down past

F4....

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Thanks for the comments-

Good stuff, gotta love natural light. I especially like how you

included the window in the Jan shot, some nice lines as well. Nice.

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The background around Randall's head/ears would concern me.

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cheers,

Chris........just spent a half hour perusing your site. Fascinating

people - wonderful photography. I got so caught up in the

faces/ambience I forgot I went there for the photography. Thanks.

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Bill