New leaf

[Newtricks]

Giving portraiture photography a go, these are my first attempts, C&C please.

 

[EOV]

The lighting is a bit harsh. What kind of setup were you using? If it was on camera flash I would use an index card or something similar to bounce the light off the ceiling. As it is now you can see the shadows on the wall behind the young man in 2&3. I appreciate your willingness to try and learn.

 

[The_Traveler]

Too much light and thus too little characterization.
we are not dermatologists.

 

[JosephW]

I agree. You need a much softer light, especially around the eyes.

 

[The_Traveler]

Just a relook at the first.

Note that the hands and lower arms are quite bright because they are closer to the light.
And the light is so harsh that any skin wrinkles, pores etc are emphasized.
The background is irregular with blobs - and there is a lot of it.

I would change all those things as much as possible to soften the impact.

 

[Newtricks]

The lighting is a bit harsh. What kind of setup were you using?

The 1st shot was taken in daylight, no flash, 2nd & 3rd I used a diffused flash. Sounds like I should use an indirect/bounced flash for a softer look? As a side note, I'm using a 300mm f/4 lens as it's the best glass I have.

 

[Newtricks]

Just a relook at the first.

Note that the hands and lower arms are quite bright because they are closer to the light.
And the light is so harsh that any skin wrinkles, pores etc are emphasized.
The background is irregular with blobs - and there is a lot of it.

I would change all those things as much as possible to soften the impact.

I understand exactly what you're saying Lew, yet the shot was taken outdoors in daylight no flash or fill light how do we change that?

 

[The_Traveler]

Get a bunch of cheesecloth and stretch it over a home-made frame to act as a scrim.
I made one with small pvc about 6 x 8. It isn't sturdy but it doesn't need to be.
That will diffuse and soften the light.
Add layers to taste.

 

[Newtricks]

Thanks Lew,

Got it, by diffusing the light falling on the subject we can soften the overall look and feel of the photo. This has me thinking I should not have sold my old Luna-Pro.

 

[The_Traveler]

The smaller the light source the sharper the shadow.
Thus edges on pictures shot in the sun are sharp because the light is minimally diffused by the air.
Shadows on the moon are excruciatingly sharper because there is no air for even minimal diffusion.

So, do what you can to diffuse the light thus making a larger effective light source.

 

[Newtricks]

The smaller the light source the sharper the shadow.
Thus edges on pictures shot in the sun are sharp because the light is minimally diffused by the air... do what you can to diffuse the light thus making a larger effective light source.

Got it, thank you. 20 years manufacturing diffusion equipment in the motion picture industry taught me nothing about using it.

 

[The_Traveler]

You should know where to buy large diffusion screens cheap.

 

[Newtricks]

You should know where to buy large diffusion screens cheap.

I could likely get 6'x6'/8'x8' single or double scrims at cost, china silk might be a better option. The expense isn't in the rag but the frames and stands, as you stated frames can be made using PVC tubing, making sturdy and portable stands is not quite so simple.

 

[The_Traveler]

I use a relatively small pop-together 4' x 6' frame that I inherited from a photographer who realized how terrible he really was and gave up.
There is no stand, I just dragoon a helper to hold it.

 

[epeddy1]

The arm in #2 is confusing to me.