Jake- Musician Portrait (CC wanted)

[DanOstergren]

I recently shot this portrait of a musician that I've been following on instagram for a few years. I have wanted to photograph him for a long time, but it wasn't possible until I recently relocated. Anyways, I want to know what anyone might think about this photo and what they might critique. The model is picky, and while I have my own notes about this photo I wanted to also hear what others think of it.

Shot in natural light with a silver reflector. Canon 5D, Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens set to f/4, 1/640th sec, ISO 400.

 

[jcdeboever]

I've got nothing, it looks great.

 

[Derrel]

Very gritty and realistic. The pores in the scalp area look a little like blackheads...maybe make them less-obvious? I dunno'...it is either fabulous and realistic, or "too photographic" and "too real"... there are two sides to every coin. You say he is "picky"; has he seen this shot, and if so, has he said anything about it?

 

[texxter]

I like the grain and grit treatment. I like the simple background. I wish the ink crossing the subjects left side of his head were not visible. Also there seems to be a loss of detail on the nose (too bright) and the moustache (too dark) - but it could be my monitor. The musician's eyes are a magnet. Great portrait!

 

[tirediron]

Two additional pieces of information might help: (1) What genre of music does he play; and (2) what is the purpose of the image (eg album art, his personal use, your portfolio, or ?)

 

[vintagesnaps]

I like the intensity of the face, and I think he's a great subject in B&W. I'm not sure if I might like it not quite so shallow to have the tatoos in focus. Otherwise it works for me.

 

[DanOstergren]

Very gritty and realistic. The pores in the scalp area look a little like blackheads...maybe make them less-obvious? I dunno'...it is either fabulous and realistic, or "too photographic" and "too real"... there are two sides to every coin. You say he is "picky"; has he seen this shot, and if so, has he said anything about it?

I actually reduced a few of the pores on his scalp, but yes I felt that some of them looked like they could be blackheads. I agree that even still they skirt the line of being too noticeable, but also they are hair follicles and I didn't want to change their appearance too much. With male retouching I think I'm still trying to figure out where to draw the line as to what amount of retouching is too much or too little. I find that it's different with each subject, and felt that the safest direction with this particular subject was to be very minimal.

He actually has weighed in on the photo, and his final word is that he doesn't like the lighting.

 

[DanOstergren]

I like the grain and grit treatment. I like the simple background. I wish the ink crossing the subjects left side of his head were not visible. Also there seems to be a loss of detail on the nose (too bright) and the moustache (too dark) - but it could be my monitor. The musician's eyes are a magnet. Great portrait!

Thank you.

 

[DanOstergren]

Two additional pieces of information might help: (1) What genre of music does he play; and (2) what is the purpose of the image (eg album art, his personal use, your portfolio, or ?)

He makes pop music reminiscent of the 80s, and this is simply the "look" that he portrays himself in. The purpose of the photo was social media promotion and as a headshot. This is definitely not a photo of mine that I would approve for album art.

 

[DanOstergren]

I like the intensity of the face, and I think he's a great subject in B&W. I'm not sure if I might like it not quite so shallow to have the tatoos in focus. Otherwise it works for me.

Thank you.

 

[Derrel]

Thanks for the detailed responses to our several replies to you. It is good to hear some of your thought process underlying your work

I know what you mean about retouching; in today's world, it is all too easy to overly retouch. Many people secretly want to look highly retouched, or at least I think so. We have become accustomed to seeing high levels of expert retouching, and I think this has infiltrated to every level of society, and to all occupations.

A few years ago I was watching an episode of the Beverly hillbillies, and I was startled to see the extremely yellow teeth of the actress who played Mr. Drysdale's wife. In today's Hollywood she would not even make it through the first round screening process, but in the mid-1960s she was a 65-year-old actress. Time changes the way people expect to be portrayed. In the 19-teens women were seen in photos with basically no make up. By 2010 we were used to seeing Kim Kardashian and her ilk in makeup so heavily applied that it was difficult to tell what she "really" looks like.