C&C&Advice for Black and White Portrait

[bevin]

Hi Guys,

I like this photo I took of my husband but I feel that it's not quite there. I'm not really sure what it's missing and I'm hoping you could give me some advice. I love the eyes but maybe the ears should be in focus too, does it distract too much? Maybe a dark background instead of light. I don't have any sort of studio equipment or flashes unfortunately. I got my camera and gorgeous lenses before we started our family so currently all that's out of the budget. I just have natural light to work with



Canon 50D, 24-70 f/2.8L, Av, 70mm, ISO 800, f4.5, 1/200sec, no flash. Can't think of other info to add about it.

I really really like this following type of photography. I'm not sure what the name of it is but I definitely don't know enough haggard old people to practice. It's the style I was going for. Disclaimer: the below photo is absolutely not mine, just found it on Google for reference.

And, accordingly it was removed. TPF policy does not permit the posting of images to which the poster does not hold rights. You may post a link if you wish.

 

[Light Guru]

I like this photo I took of my husband but I feel that it's not quite there. I'm not really sure what it's missing and I'm hoping you could give me some advice. I love the eyes but maybe the ears should be in focus too, does it distract too much? Maybe a dark background instead of light. I don't have any sort of studio equipment or flashes unfortunately. I got my camera and gorgeous lenses before we started our family so currently all that's out of the budget. I just have natural light to work with

View attachment 43071

Its not quite there because the eyes are not in focus. You have to shallow a depth of field. His chin is in focus but not the eyes.

 

[tirediron]

In addition to the above, if you're going to shoot up at a subject, have them incline their head slightly toward you; the inside of someone's nostrils is not generally considered the ideal view. Also, watch your lighting; you have a very bright highlight image right on the temple area. A simple position change and a reflector might well have allowed you to use that light to advantage by increasing the contrast on the subject's face.