Artsy Soccer Portrait C&C

[astroNikon]

I'm trying to get more artsy and take pictures of people. LOL
So a little C&C on a photo I took of my son of soccer.

I didn't want to take just a pictures of him holding his soccer ball like the billion other general quick sport photo.
So I wanted to be a little more mysterious, if I could.
Took me about 60 shots to get the way I wanted ... I used myself in 55 of them to get my concept and tweaking down.
Very minor Photoshop fix.. mainly "trying" to get rid of a beam.

 

[Derrel]

Looks kind of dark on this monitor...

 

[Light Guru]

WAY to dark.

 

[astroNikon]

actually that was what I was kinda shooting for
I wanted the ball to be the first object to be seen
then the player

I'll lighten up the exposure a bit to compare and post.

I was hoping for an "eerie" type of soccer photo

 

[Geaux]

Looks just like an underexposed image.

if you are using a strobe, try using a snoot to aim the light specifically at what you want without it throwing light everywhere. I guess you could snoot a flashlight also.

 

[snowbear]

I don't think it works. For me, the ball dominates and your son seems to be an afterthought.

 

[texkam]

There's a difference between dark and underexposed. This is underexposed. A snoot or a grid would yield a superior result.

 

[The_Traveler]

I think the ball is too light and the face too dark.
Could be there are some light reflections from the ball on the boy's face.
I would have included some of the nose.

 

[astroNikon]

I think the ball is too light and the face too dark.
Could be there are some light reflections from the ball on the boy's face.
I would have included some of the nose.

Yes, I see that now. I like that alot better with more light on my sons face and less on the ball.

It was only a couple of shots and like kids, they lose interest quickly.

I initially tested with a snooth pointed in various locations but nothing worked the way I wanted it too. Then there was too much light even at 1/128th.

I see now how I can use 2 flashes - maybe use my black music stand in between then to prevent any crossover lighting. Also use a homemade snoot on both of them and get the dual lighing effect.

 

[astroNikon]

FWIW, here's a few with increased exposure for each.
But I see now how the BALL DOMINATES the pictures.
oh well .. its my son so the ball to me isn't even there :lmao:

 

[D-B-J]

FWIW, here's a few with increased exposure for each.
But I see now how the BALL DOMINATES the pictures.
oh well .. its my son so the ball to me isn't even there :lmao:

View attachment 57245
View attachment 57246
View attachment 57247

The third does more for me than the original. It's just too dark for my liking. I also agree that I would have included the nose. The ball dominates too much of his face.

Regards,
Jake

 

[cgipson1]

Agreed.. your 3rd edit is best. Showing the ball that way could indicate his passion for soccer... but as a shot of the boy, it is not optimal.

 

[astroNikon]

I'm going to work on it. I'm going to try dual flash lighting and get more of him especially there's a soccer emblem just below the bottom, I want to get that in the picture too.

I like the half ball lite part, and half his face (though I need some nose)

I tried some stuff in LR (but I'm a newbie at that too) and I have too much to learn in LR to do much.

but not today ... I have 2 kiddie soccer games and I'm a coach too.

 

[Tee]

Third image is best. Moody does not have to be underexposed which your first pic in post 1 is.