Another Veteran's Portrait Project Session (with a twist)

tirediron · Dec 21, 2017

Had another Veteran's portrait project session today; Andrew had called me over a month ago, but there were some scheduling issues and we only just got the session done today. In our discussions prior to the shoot, Andrew's trade hadn't come up. It turns out he was a Clearance Diver, and had this morning, as he put it, a brilliant idea, of borrowing this antique hard-hat. My lighting plan did NOT include a large, more-or-less round and highly reflective posing bench, but, after a few tweaks with light position, I think we pulled it off satisfactorily. As always, comments, critique and suggestions appreciated.

CPO2 Andrew Gilmour, CD, RCN (Ret'd)

Dean_Gretsch · Dec 21, 2017

I am sure he is very happy with that. I would be!

smoke665 · Dec 21, 2017

As always, solid portrait, despite that highly reflective helmet!! Only minor negative is, I would love to see all of the helmet.

jcdeboever · Dec 21, 2017

super. put it on his head and I would have been thrilled.

tirediron · Dec 21, 2017

Dean_Gretsch said:
I am sure he is very happy with that. I would be!

I hope so! Thanks!

smoke665 said:
As always, solid portrait, despite that highly reflective helmet!! Only minor negative is, I would love to see all of the helmet.

Thanks! The whole helmet isn't really an option as any lower would mean seeing the odds & ends that supporting the helmet since the custom stand was too low! :lol:

jcdeboever said:
super. put it on his head and I would have been thrilled.

Damn... I never thought of that!

Derrel · Dec 21, 2017

Love the helmet as both a prop and as an artifact of his service!

zombiesniper · Dec 21, 2017

Great portrait and I could easily see the issues that helmet would cause.

Rick50 · Dec 22, 2017

Excellent work. Makes it hard to suggest ways to improve......

tirediron · Dec 22, 2017

Derrel said:
Love the helmet as both a prop and as an artifact of his service!

Yep, and the fanciest posing table I've ever used! :lol:

zombiesniper said:
Great portrait and I could easily see the issues that helmet would cause.

Thanks Trev; it wasn't too bad, but it did require some refining of the light angle & position.

Rick50 said:
Excellent work. Makes it hard to suggest ways to improve......

Thanks!

zulu42 · Dec 22, 2017

Very nice. Most people don't know what it takes to get an image like that.

tirediron · Dec 22, 2017

zulu42 said:
Very nice. Most people don't know what it takes to get an image like that.

Thanks!

In this case, Three light stands, one pop-up background, 21" gridded beauty dish, two speedlights, Nikon D800 & 85 1.4, and and some good, old-fashioned s**t-house luck!

vintagesnaps · Dec 22, 2017

That's really cool. Well done. Your veterans portraits are outstanding.

JustJazzie · Dec 23, 2017

Well done!! I love the background in this one. A little brighter than the ones you've done in the past? Or maybe its the monitor I am on.

Anyhow, what a cool shot! Thanks for sharing.

Gary A. · Dec 23, 2017

Well lighted on all counts, a super portrait but ... the big but ... I want him centered. The flag seems to be next to him on his right, I'd think the flag would look best behind him on his right.

tirediron · Dec 23, 2017

vintagesnaps said:
That's really cool. Well done. Your veterans portraits are outstanding.

Thanks (the other) Sharon!

JustJazzie said:
Well done!! I love the background in this one. A little brighter than the ones you've done in the past? Or maybe its the monitor I am on.

Anyhow, what a cool shot! Thanks for sharing.

Thank-you! This is brighter; it's a more "official portrait" style per the client request

Gary A. said:
Well lighted on all counts, a super portrait but ... the big but ... I want him centered. The flag seems to be next to him on his right, I'd think the flag would look best behind him on his right.

You're probably right; this is my version of an RCN official portrait, and normally, the flag would be further back, so that it cut in behind his right shoulder, but this was done in his livingroom, and there simply wasn't enough room. The background is literally against one wall, and I am on the stairway!