Black and white portrait

[o hey tyler]

Played around with some 35mm black and white film for an impromtu photoshoot. Cropped slightly in LR.

I apologize for the facebook quality.

Any critiques are welcome.

 

[runnah]

I like it. I am struck by the fact that the dark side of the face is facing the camera and the bright side is facing away. It's different.

It also has that nice feel to it that only film can add.

 

[o hey tyler]

Thanks fellow Maine friend. Are you struck in a good or bad way regarding the light?

 

[kathyt]

I really like it. The contrast is perfectly fitting for his expression. I think the way you lit this works very well.

 

[kundalini]

I like it. I am struck by the fact that the dark side of the face is facing the camera and the bright side is facing away. It's different.

Often refered to as Short Lighting. Particularly flattering for heavy set or round faced people due to its slimming effect.

Nicely done Tyler. :thumbsup:

 

[o hey tyler]

I really like it. The contrast is perfectly fitting for his expression. I think the way you lit this works very well.

Thank you Kathy, I appreciate it!

I like it. I am struck by the fact that the dark side of the face is facing the camera and the bright side is facing away. It's different.

Often refered to as Short Lighting. Particularly flattering for heavy set or round faced people due to its slimming affect.

Nicely done Tyler. :thumbsup:

Thanks to you as well Kundalini. He isn't particularly heavyset or round faced but I liked the way it worked.

 

[runnah]

Thanks fellow Maine friend. Are you struck in a good or bad way regarding the light?

In a good way, it's different.

 

[michael9000000]

I'm a fan... I think it's a very bold and striking image.

 

[kundalini]

He isn't particularly heavyset or round faced but I liked the way it worked.

True that, just throwing out the info for those that might want to know about lighting patterns. I'm guilty as most for not employing the pattern enough. It can be quite effective, as you have demonstrated.

 

[amolitor]

I'm a guy who loves the inky pools of darkness as much as anyone, so I am kind of back and forth on the right side of his face. Letting it go to flat black works, I think, but I think a little more texture in the shadow would work better. I assume that the negative has a great deal more shadow detail and that this is a scanning artifact or a JPEG artifact of something.

There's also something a bit weird with his eyes, I can't quite put my finger on it. He looks slightly corpse-like for some reason I cannot articulate. Since I have no idea why the eyes look like that to me, I can't speak to whether it's a photographic thing, or if he just has a touch of cataracts or whatever.

These are, obviously, pretty minor quibbles. It's a nice picture.

 

[o hey tyler]

I'm a guy who loves the inky pools of darkness as much as anyone, so I am kind of back and forth on the right side of his face. Letting it go to flat black works, I think, but I think a little more texture in the shadow would work better. I assume that the negative has a great deal more shadow detail and that this is a scanning artifact or a JPEG artifact of something.

There's also something a bit weird with his eyes, I can't quite put my finger on it. He looks slightly corpse-like for some reason I cannot articulate. Since I have no idea why the eyes look like that to me, I can't speak to whether it's a photographic thing, or if he just has a touch of cataracts or whatever.

These are, obviously, pretty minor quibbles. It's a nice picture.

Thank you Andrew for the thoughtful feedback. You have some good points. I can't tell you what the deal with his eyes is though.

 

[runnah]

I am more impressed that you found a black guy in Maine.

 

[KrisztinaK]

I can't put my finger on what it is about this portrait that I like so much, but I just wanted to tell you that I really like it.

I think it's the combination of his expression and the lighting, they really do complement each other.

 

[o hey tyler]

I can't put my finger on what it is about this portrait that I like so much, but I just wanted to tell you that I really like it.

I think it's the combination of his expression and the lighting, they really do complement each other.

Thank you Krisztina! Glad you like it.

 

[KmH]

I like the light. I would have had him tilt his head down a tad from the neck, and then lean forward from the waist just a bit.
That would give a bit more regal looking pose. As it is, the head position looks disdainful, or haughty.

I've always liked short lighting.