Moody lighting pt 2

[Tiller]

Hello folks, here's another shot from when I was trying out 'moody' lighting. If you want to see the other, you can look under my recently started threads (it was called 'prayer').

I would like CC on my lighting, and for just the shot in general. What you like, what you don't like. I want it all, Holmes.


IMG_7597.jpg by tsmcdona, on Flickr

Thanks!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The lighting doesn't do a thing for me... but that may just be because I find a serious disconnect between the moody lighting and the subject. Cut off shoulder bothers me and so does the wrinkly background. I think a different look on the subject as far as clothing and hair and maybe moving her out from the background would help but as shot I'm not a huge fan.

 

[Derrel]

I went and looked at "Prayer", which was removed, and the second edit version is still up. I liked the second edit version of "Prayer" a bit more than this shot, I think because like Whiskeyjack mentioned, the cut-off shoulder and clothes in this frame do not seem quite right...but in the Prayer shot,m the sleeveless shirt and the whole-torso, symmetrical prating pose work pretty well.

This is indeed very dark, moody lighting. I think it could use just a tiny bit more light in the darker areas, but overall, this is a pretty good start. I think in this shot, the striped shirt she is wearing, and the tank-style undershirt or whatever, and the white collar, all draw a LOT of attention away from her. The pattern of the shirt is very eye-catching, and it's,well "sportswear" so it looks kind of antithetical for moody lighting. But the lighting? Well, it's moody! I thinki it's kind of tough to do this type of lighting, it really,really is!

 

[Tiller]

Ok guys, thank you both. Very valid points. Honestly, I've never thought of wardrobe/makeup when shooting. Ill try to work on that next shoot

 

[Braineack]

the lighting is too soft and the image lacks contrast.

Why not try a high light source to try to create an effect of light dumping through a porthole/window or something, and try to create dramatic shadows across the face, possible using a CTO Gel to warm the lighting so it looks like a sunset/sunrise?

something like these in mind maybe?
All sizes | Dr.Hassan: Corporate Portrait by Siddharth Siva, Dubai photographer. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
All sizes | Dr.HassanDIB | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidsiva/324634789/sizes/m/in/photostream/

sorry about this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sidsiva/53718356/sizes/m/in/photostream/

 

[Big Mike]

There is a difference between 'dark and moody' lighting...and underexposure.

What you have here, is essentially a 'loop' lighting pattern, which really isn't a moody style.
You do have a deep(ish) ratio, which can be moody & dramatic.

But the main problem is that it's simply underexposed.

On top of that, her clothing don't fit the background or the theme. The brightest thing, by far, is her white shirt, especially the collar. So when someone is viewing the image, the part that grabs their attention most, is the collar. That doesn't make for a strong portrait. It may work as an advertizement for shirts...but I don't think that's where you're going with this.

So my suggestion, for what you could have done better is as follows.
Use a more dramatic lighting pattern. For example, Rembrandt or split.
Properly expose the subject's face, so that it's clearly the subject of the photo.
Match the subject's clothing to the background (keying), so that the face stands out more than the clothing.

 

[Big Mike]

the lighting is too soft and the image lacks contrast.

I thought that at first, but actually, I think the light is on the hard side. The nose shadow is quite well defined and the catch lights show a rather small light source.
It appears soft as it fall off around her face but I think that has more to do with her face, than the hardness or softness of the light.