Portrait for C&C

[Desi]

This is my friend Annie. She has multiple medical problems and her body is not as she wants it.

She is also an amazingly strong person with an inner core of fire and steel. With wonderful humor to top it off and she is a joy to be around.

I wanted to do a portrait of her that showed the inner strength that I see in her. I feel that I did well, which is a clear indication to show this for C&C so that I can get beaten up a bit and learn something.

The portrait is with a single speedlight with an umbrella, very close to her, and a white reflector. Could have used a hair-light.

Problems: the umbrella reflection makes an awkwardly large light in her eye, seems to throw off her gaze. She has a very red rash which I treated with some selective desaturation. Chronic prednisone has made her cheeks very round and puffy, which seem very prominent in more direct views of her face, so I chose more of a short lighting to minimize this.

Your C&C is very much appreciated.

Desi


Anne by Desi595, on Flickr

 

[tirediron]

I think you've done a good job here, but I do wish there had been a hairlight. Also, when posing subjects in the 3/4, try and avoid having their eyes all the way to one side or the other, ideally a little bit of sclera should be visible on both sides of the iris.

 

[Desi]

Thanks, John.

That is definitely part of what I don't like about the eyes....thanks for helping me see it.