Another one of Mark

[kdthomas]

 

[Rick50]

I like the lighting on this. Gives him some character.....

 

[Derrel]

I'm not fond of the off-center framing...it just feels off-balance. But I DO think the lighting on his face and beard and glasses is really pretty nicely handled. I'd personally like to see just a tiny bit more into the shadows on the shirt and on the shadow side, but that's just my own preference,probably just my own brain craving the chance to see more information. Still--I think this is pretty neat lighting, and this photo will stand the test of time. Now--crop off that other side a bit, and center that man up! lol!

 

[kdthomas]

Derrel buddy ... just for you ... since you helped me so much with the Speedo's ... which BTW were used to light this



I had a 36" octo softbox umbrella about 3' up and 3' right of him with a 2'x3' white card to his left facing up at 45 deg. 50% grey seamless background

 

[Designer]

Derrel buddy ... just for you ... since you helped me so much with the Speedo's ...

You're wearing Derrel's Speedos? EWWW!

As for my critique, I think for a man's portrait, trimming his shoulders the way you did is not the best, IMO. He's a man, so let those shoulders show in all their wideness.

Did you purchase only one light? I think the right side could use a little more light. Underscored little. (IMO)

 

[The_Traveler]

As said before, off center seems off-balance.
IMO, uprighting him a bit( the centered one is a bit clockwise rotated), and giving a bit more detail on the dark side might be beneficial

 

[kdthomas]

OK, I'll widen the frame for the shoulders, and crop in the shoulders. And dodge a tiny bit on the shadow side. I'll post after while ...

Thanks, guys!

 

[Derrel]

PM sent.

 

[pixmedic]

PM sent.

Derrel wants his speedos back!

 

[Derrel]

PM sent.

Derrel wants his speedos back!

Lol! I fear that it was my influence that might have pushed him over the edge and into Speedotron studio flash gear! I know he bought a Speedotron Brown Line system...I have some reviews of Brown Line stuff on my derrelator YouTube channel...some of what I call kitchen counter-top videos that detail some of the items found in the Brown Line.

I find it interesting that despite the Brown Line's lack of minute, incremental flash control,which is something that monobloc advocates today fret and fuss over almost to no end when they encounter this system's spec sheets, kdthomas has very quickly been able to buy an entirely new set of studio flash equipment, and is already making pretty good lighting decisions. Perhaps the old adage, less is more, has some merit?

 

[pixmedic]

PM sent.

Derrel wants his speedos back!

Lol! I fear that it was my influence that might have pushed him over the edge and into Speedotron studio flash gear! I know he bought a Speedotron Brown Line system...I have some reviews of Brown Line stuff on my derrelator YouTube channel...some of what I call kitchen counter-top videos that detail some of the items found in the Brown Line.

I find it interesting that despite the Brown Line's lack of minute, incremental flash control,which is something that monobloc advocates today fret and fuss over almost to no end when they encounter this system's spec sheets, kdthomas has very quickly been able to buy an entirely new set of studio flash equipment, and is already making pretty good lighting decisions. Perhaps the old adage, less is more, has some merit?

or, maybe its just someone who is willing to put in the effort to learn and practice and is realizing the near limitless potential of OCF.
you really can do a lot with only some basic lights

 

[Derrel]

Yes, it's true, the real benefit comes from the work on the ground, and not the 1/10 of an EV light adjustment capabilities that so many OCF advocates harp on all the time, or the ability to set flash power output "from the camera", or using a hand-held remote control unit, and so on and so on.

 

[kdthomas]

I decided I actually like the dark [art on his left but I thought the left eye was a little dead, so I dodged the iris a bit.

 

[kdthomas]

Yes, it's true, the real benefit comes from the work on the ground, and not the 1/10 of an EV light adjustment capabilities that so many OCF advocates harp on all the time, or the ability to set flash power output "from the camera", or using a hand-held remote control unit, and so on and so on.

Yeah ... At this point I think I need to really get some part of the (forgive me, lack of a better term) old-school ways down like simply moving the light, know how few inches eq 1/3 stop etc., I think I'll build my intuition better. I may in fact use monolights at some point, I don't want to lock myself off from any tool. But there's no doubt in my mind that experience with the pack-n-head will only serve to make me more skilled.

@pixmedic: I've learned the benefits of using a $6 shower curtain from walmart. Yay for the cheap!