Lighting Critique - Film Noir

[Tiller]

Ok, so I was trying to create a film noir type of look. (Here's a good example Lighting 102 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! )

The short version is I wasn't successful

I would like to know what you think I could do to improve.

- I had a strobe right behind me for the light on the wall and a snooted flash (with a reynold's wrap box) aimed at my face.


IMG_8566.jpg by tsmcdona, on Flickr

 

[Derrel]

Selfies can be so tough! I looked at this shot large on FLickr, and i looks like the wall behind you is really sharp and in the best focus. Your face and eyes look a tiny bit out of focus. I dunno...not too bad of an effort otherwise. Good separation of your face from the background by way of posing and lighting.

 

[Tiller]

Selfies can be so tough!

You can say that again :/

I looked at this shot large on FLickr, and i looks like the wall behind you is really sharp and in the best focus. Your face and eyes look a tiny bit out of focus.

Thanks for pointing this out. I thought I was going crazy and I couldn't decide if it was just me or not.

I dunno...not too bad of an effort otherwise. Good separation of your face from the background by way of posing and lighting.

Thanks, at first this looked like an easy shot to pull off, but it wasn't. The flip screen on my 60d helped a little, but it was still frustrating.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

I think the exposure needs to be pumped up a bit and there needs to be more contrast between highlights and shadows. This is much to gray across the board.

 

[The_Traveler]

I think the exposure needs to be pumped up a bit and there needs to be more contrast between highlights and shadows. This is much to gray across the board.

What he said

In the picture, your face is relatively flat.
Film noir has a distinctive contrast curve and flatness takes away from the impact.
(the softness of your face doesn't help)

 

[Tiller]

What he said In the picture, your face is relatively flat. Film noir has a distinctive contrast curve and flatness takes away from the impact. (the softness of your face doesn't help) <img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=58048"/>

Thanks Traveler. I will try to retake this to fix the softness issue. I think I might also bring the flash in closer to my face, to help brighten it up a bit.

Thank you both for your suggestions