Playing with lighting- Portrait- You Like? No? Oh...

[Dominantly]

:mrgreen:
I figured it would maybe get a few more clicks that way....


Anyways, I got home and decided I would try out my Wescott TD5 Spiderlite.
So with no model to practice with, I, wearing my favorite hoodie, jumped in front. (Cameras creep me, I wont look at them)...

So my goal was to play with shadows. I wanted the light to be kind of dramatic, although I was only working with one so dramatic might be a bit overstated. Any opinions on things that went right/wrong, or ways to change the light up to look better?

1.


2.

3.


Thanks in advance for posting

 

[pharmakon]

Can't offer you much (any?) advise on how to improve, but I think for dramatic lighting #2 fits the bill. The reflections in your eyes in #1 are somewhat distracting, almost looks like you had white pupils. You did a good job getting a nice clean black background on all 3 of them.

 

[Dominantly]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.

Yeah, with #1, those catchlights are pretty intense. I was standing about 2ft away from the light source which is 43x30 so it's a decent size

 

[The_Traveler]

This is well lit, good focus, etc but is a 'I'm staring into the void, being cool' kind of shot.
Get some eye contact either with the lens or with something.
That's what makes a great portrait- a connection of some sort.

 

[Dominantly]

This is well lit, good focus, etc but is a 'I'm staring into the void, being cool' kind of shot.
Get some eye contact either with the lens or with something.
That's what makes a great portrait- a connection of some sort.

Thank you, and I fully agree.
I really don't like my photos to be taken, BUT I like taking photos more, so when those two collide, this is what I get. I will find a better subject, maybe I can convince the wife.