Nora 9473

I'm not sure about this one. The lips seem a little too tight (even after

retouching; they were almost white in some parts), and the earring feels

way too prominent. But, it's a nice look for Nora, with her hair up.

This is a magnificient portrait! Well posed, well lighted. Her eyes just make the photo pop! However, in my opinion, your large logo pasted on the bottom ruins it. It is so conspicuous as to be obnoxious.

I agree Doug, not much else to say. How are you lighting these shots? It looks like an umbrella from the catchlight but a softbox from the effect.

Jerry, thanks for commenting. Regarding the logo, I remember you made a similar comment some time ago. Is the logo too large? Or is it just the plain fact that it's there? Are there any examples you can direct me to where the photographer's logo is not obtrusive? I'm pretty sure it's there to stay, for me, so I'm interested to see how other photographers handle it. I would like it be more than a scan of my signature, because my signature is illegible.

Jeff, I fiddled with the lights incessantly, but judging by an enlargement of Nora's left eye, this was with a standard, white umbrella as the main light, on the left, and a shoot-through umbrella fill light on the right.

 

Except...judging from the shadows....it appears the fill light is acting as the main light and the main light is acting as the fill light. More proof that I don't know what I'm doing...

 

Also, you can see I doctored the catch light.

 

The umbrellas were made by Photek. I don't know if they're in business anymore. I bought them in the early 90's, late 80's. The lights were WC Buff White Lightnings. Not sure if they're made anymore, either.

 

 

Doug, many thanks. It's reassuring to hear that you struggle with lighting too. I thought that I was the only bozo around who had such difficulties. My recent work has been with bottles for a winemaker friend who needs them for his website. Landscape is so much easier.

Jeff, I told Nora while we were shooting that I spend most of my energy during a studio shoot fussing with the lights, and to a lesser extent, the camera gear. Moving the lights back and forth, altering the umbrellas, altering the flash output, changing f/stops, changing lenses, fighting with the tripod, etc. You're right: Landscapes are simpler. My problem is that I've scaped all the land around my area and so now I'm turning to other stuff...and finding it challenging, and rewarding.

Now that I think about it, that's why I bombed as a product photographer: There were just too many ways to light something. True, everything had its best approach, but after that, the nuances just killed me.

excellent.. O.B

Doug.... Ahhh, "bombed"!! I can tell from just this one portrait that you recall more about light than most of us will ever learn. I, too, have long wanted to take better portraits, but just haven't been dedicated enough to jump in. This is exquisite, with her real parts showing, not overly slicked and smoothed in PS. Thanks for sharing, I'm really enjoying your new portrait series... Mike

 

 

Although viewing nice pictures is enjoyable in itself, you should jump in, anyway, Mike. Don't let fear of failure hold you back. Anyone on here whose work you admire can surely produce hundreds of failed images from when they were beginning. I approach ever shoot with a terrible feeling in my gut that I'm not going to get anything useful, but the anticipation of possibly succeeding pushes me. Thank goodness, I've gotten past the point where entire shoots have no results. Now, I hope for at least one good shot. Just one. If I get more than that, I'm extra happy.