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nice pose & composition

This really is a great image John, and the striped stockings absolutely make the photo. Tonality is great and the pose is perfect. Balance of ambient and fill flash is perfect. And, in my opinion at least, she has as close to a perfect figure as you can get!

The only thing that bothers me are the shadows in the background from the fill flash. They are kind of distracting. I minimized and softened them in PS. What do you think?

Wonderful Scott, thank you. Frankly, I rarely bother with this kind of thing and would probably make a mess of it anyhow ... in fact, I often like a shadow in a context where the model would leave one anyway (I've said this before, to my knowledge only Ghosts don't have them), but in this particular case I will agree that it is not warranted and it is certainly worth the effort to reduce it.  Hmm, now I will have to get around to working on the original .. many thanks again.

 .. and I have yet to succeed in photographing the ghost that frequents my summer house, but I'll prove my theory one day .. :-)

Very nice

Best regards

Xavier Corcobado

xcorcobado.blogspot.com

John, wonderfully composed as always. Also, the model is flawless in her execution of her pose. I was going to make the same comment as Scott. He cleaned up the shadow perfectly. To your point that only ghost make shadows, I think that for me anyway, I think the shadow detracts from the feeling of a stolen moment in time. The thing that amazes me about some of the images of people on this site is that I often wonder how they were lit so perfectly when at times it does seem like a truly spontaneous moment.

You continue to inspire me, as do your models.

I like this image, her dramatic facial expression is enhanced by her shadow and the dramatic change in contrast between her skin and the background. My compliments to you both.

Jim Phelps 

Hy Clemson, always a pleasure to have you pop by ... I'm all with you as regards  moments captured, but a young lady sitting on a couch next to a lamp will in fact leave a faint shadow next to her .. what I like personally about bounce flash indoors is that it often enhances the ambiant light without interfering much with the remainder.

It  is different here of course, first it is outdoors and secondly it's posed ...  though even daylight and/or sunshine will often leave a strong shadow in a setting such as this  .. meaning dark room, subject in the doorway of the terrace.  In this particular case though it is indeed  the flash that's responsible and the shot looks better with the shadow reduced .. many thanks for your comments.  John 

Hi dear John,

Great shot.Nice details and pose.

Very well b&w tones.

Take care.

Best regards(Bobby). 

Jim thanks, I didn't see your message while I was typing my reply to Clemson, Bobby, and Xavier too.

everything is excellent. the pose, the bw, the crop.... rate 7

Really nice shot that the two of you have created!

Regarding the shadow... Another way to control that, in a situation of this sort, is to add the 'fill-flash' selectively in post-processing. I use the technique often, mostly to brighten the shadows without significantly altering the highlights.

beautiful work and model. very good pose & composition. i like very much. regards patrick

Hi John,  

OK, you get 99% on this one.  The 1%?  A ding for the white reflection (?) growing out of her right hip (picture left)  

The socks really do make the picture. I could not help but wonder what the effect would be if the socks did not match.  Or were full of holes?

I have come under criticism for allowing a nude model to wear a Christian cross.  It doesn't offend me but one must allow for all kinds of audiences.  I think I really offended them by saying I thought she was praying for a new wardrobe.

Regards,

Jerry

Thanks Jerry  .. I saw it, but I"m sooo lazy.  As for the cross, a regular feature in my photos, along with the cigarette and champagne glass, I can certainly think of more offensive props that some people use, both materially sepaking and symbolic-wise.  Nothing wrong with a sign of piety nor does nudity interfere with it.

Another great image John and the model sure knows how to bring off great poses. I'm curious John since you post a lot of fabulous black and white photos. When you are actually taking the shot do you contemplate at that time posting it in B&W or do you look at the color photo vs. B&W and then pick the one that you like more? In other words would you be "confident" just shooting with B&W film or do you like to have the option before deciding? I know I'm not "good enough" (yet) to decide ahead of time on most of my shots.

Well, as usual, I have to scroll down through three pages of comments just to make one myself!  It must be hard to be so popular!

All good comments, and I do like Scott's softening of the shadow.  As others mentioned, those socks just pop the image.  It's amazing what props can do.

Anyway, excellent as always John, and a beautiful model!

Excellent!! (7)

Cheers.

Another wonderful shot, my dear friend!:-)Mau!

Many thanks to you all for your support my friends .. it's what makes it all worthwhile. A special thanks also to the wonderful model, a close friend, whose beauty, grace and elegance are responsible for three quarters of the result.

WARREN:  That is an interesting question, thank you. I have always favoured black and white for "artistic nudes" .. I find that it somehow reduces the glamour component of the shot. Not that I don't go for glamour sometimes, but I do have a distinct preference for the former of the two.

In earlier days, I worked with Ilford Film, no ambiguity about it, I set out for black and white at the outset. Today when I shoot digital, I always keep in mind the black and white possibilities and shots such as the one above are more often destined to that than otherwise. 

In regards to my indoor work (not the case above), I always point out to my models that it will be primarily in black and white .. it enhances the cinematographic style I like to work in. The girls often understand this and respond acordingly .. it has to do with attitude. Black and white is also less invasive, and the models are less self conscious about how they pose. This is my experience, others may differ in their views of course.

John,

Black and white still reigns supreme! And I'm not talking about grayscale conversions of digital images. I'm talking about film, and getting your hands wet with good old fashioned darkroom chemicals! Just my opinion, but that is where the true art of photography comes in.

I will admit (lamentingly so) that I am doing more digital now than I ever have, but a lot of it stems from clients wanting proof sheets immediately.

When it comes to my own stuff, I still prefer to shoot film, either 35mm or 6 x 4.5.

Yes Scott, I was up the whole nght sometimes doing that in university days .. but time has become such a priority nowdays .. : -)

I do  like the inclusion of the crucifix. Her pose (don't know how to say exactly) to me, suggest the same.

That is an interesting observation Meir, thank you.

somthing mappelthorpe might have done.