Self Portrait

[mwcfarms]

Well, I can't get my kids to sit still long enough to really play with my lighting set up. Trying to work on a family christmas card and been monkeying around with the backdrop light set up from Derrel.

Anyways here's yours truly.

Couple of things that I noticed. The chair arm right side is showing and bugs me and it I think I should crop it but played a bunch and couldn't decide where.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Nice..... Try again farther from lights.

 

[mwcfarms]

Nice..... Try again farther from lights.

You talking xmas or strobe?

 

[loosecanon]

Clone out the chair arm and the blue spot above it, also the white line coming off your left arm. Tone down the warmth a bit. Other than that a good shot of a beautiful model.

 

[teajayyy]

Im sorry, i just joined, but i so far I have realized people are so picky.. The average person would never notice or care for the arm chair or anything else that will be mentioned..I know this is a place for professional talk / correcting others but if your ever doing a nice picture for someone, I don't think you should stress so bad about fixing it up (if you are). Because i doubt they'd notice a small thing like this

 

[loosecanon]

In order to gain perfection one has to be picky.. the op mentioned the chair arm bugged her, so I was just pointing out some of the corrections I would make, that is the purpose of these forums (at least for me). I have an edit for her if she so desires, I usually edit a lot of the shots I see here for my own challenge that's how I practice.

 

[Derrel]

You've got a great Christmas tree + minilight setup in the background, pretty much exactly replicating the setup we talked about. The strobe's position is very good in terms of how high it is; it's pretty flattering in terms of where it's placed, but bringing it around front a bit more might be just a tiny bit more-flattering and would give even-more flattering rendering on the face and bustline. The distance between you and the background looks good, but I'd like to see the lens focal length a bit longer, so that it would magnify (and I mean literally render larger) the size of the out of focus highlights in the background. Also, I wish your hands were in the pose, to complete it...maybe holding something "Christmas-like", like a Santa figuring, or a Jesus figurine, or even a nicely gift-wrapped, small present. To me the lack of the hands coming together is the missing element...the chair arm, and the blue light are minor quibbles...add the hands coming together and holding something, or even folded, and the pose will magically be completed. This photo is just "so close!" to being perfected! As it is, it's very nice, and better than most of this type. Self-photographed shots like this are often pretty difficult to do, but the raw materials are all there...sitter, mini-lights, tree, strobe, wardrobe,color balance,all look good.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

You look great! Was this one light? If so can you tell me more about what you did with it? Thanks!

 

[Edsport]

It looks perfect to me but if i was to be picky i would clone out the chair's arm and the white line on the opposite side is a bit distracting, i'd clone that also. You look great by the way, very nice...

 

[Frequency]

I liked the image very much; the tiny lights in the back ground matches with the twinkle in your eyes. Smile never looks artificial. The golden line hair on the right side of image is confusing, because it gives a dual appearance there. If i look at this as the border of hair i feel it that way; but on closer look i see hair spread even more to right-side

So well done

Regards

 

[Robin Usagani]

I meant be farther away from the lights in the background so the bokeh will blend more, or do what derrel was saying. I love looking at bokeh on the of another especially different colors!

 

[mwcfarms]

I meant be farther away from the lights in the background so the bokeh will blend more, or do what derrel was saying. I love looking at bokeh on the of another especially different colors!

I was already about 8 to 10 feet away but had switched my 50mm out for my 35mm when I was messing around. Going to try again later today with Derrels suggestions. Thanks for all the feedback everyone. :hugs:

 

[mwcfarms]

In order to gain perfection one has to be picky.. the op mentioned the chair arm bugged her, so I was just pointing out some of the corrections I would make, that is the purpose of these forums (at least for me). I have an edit for her if she so desires, I usually edit a lot of the shots I see here for my own challenge that's how I practice.

You may always share edits of any of my stuff. I am hear to learn and grow also. Usually I am my own worst critic. I noticed the arm chair, the blue dot doesnt bother me so much. The WB is a bit warm but not sooooo much that I couldn't live with it. The chair arm is a bother and tonight will try and work on that. I did a fast clone last night but wasnt happen with the way it turned out.

 

[mwcfarms]

You look great! Was this one light? If so can you tell me more about what you did with it? Thanks!

Thanks, yes I have an Alien Bee 400 Strobe with shoot through umbrella camera left probably close to 45degree. Shot with my 35mm.

I liked the image very much; the tiny lights in the back ground matches with the twinkle in your eyes. Smile never looks artificial. The golden line hair on the right side of image is confusing, because it gives a dual appearance there. If i look at this as the border of hair i feel it that way; but on closer look i see hair spread even more to right-side

So well done

Regards

I had to go back and see what golden line you were talking about, assuming you mean my hair and the way I part it?

You've got a great Christmas tree + minilight setup in the background, pretty much exactly replicating the setup we talked about. The strobe's position is very good in terms of how high it is; it's pretty flattering in terms of where it's placed, but bringing it around front a bit more might be just a tiny bit more-flattering and would give even-more flattering rendering on the face and bustline. The distance between you and the background looks good, but I'd like to see the lens focal length a bit longer, so that it would magnify (and I mean literally render larger) the size of the out of focus highlights in the background. Also, I wish your hands were in the pose, to complete it...maybe holding something "Christmas-like", like a Santa figuring, or a Jesus figurine, or even a nicely gift-wrapped, small present. To me the lack of the hands coming together is the missing element...the chair arm, and the blue light are minor quibbles...add the hands coming together and holding something, or even folded, and the pose will magically be completed. This photo is just "so close!" to being perfected! As it is, it's very nice, and better than most of this type. Self-photographed shots like this are often pretty difficult to do, but the raw materials are all there...sitter, mini-lights, tree, strobe, wardrobe,color balance,all look good.

This^^^

Looks really nice Dee! I think Derrel pretty much hit the nail as far as how to improve it though.

That was the thing that bugged me... the lights almost compete for my attention but I think if you made them larger, as Derrel is saying, it would be less distracting and stay more in the background for me.

And if you want to get REAAAAAAAAALLY picky... (GASP! God forbid I get picky in a thread asking for C&C! ) smooth out your shirt by your shoulder

Awesome catch Emily thanks, it would bug me in the end also so thanks for pointing it out.

You've got a great Christmas tree + minilight setup in the background, pretty much exactly replicating the setup we talked about. The strobe's position is very good in terms of how high it is; it's pretty flattering in terms of where it's placed, but bringing it around front a bit more might be just a tiny bit more-flattering and would give even-more flattering rendering on the face and bustline. The distance between you and the background looks good, but I'd like to see the lens focal length a bit longer, so that it would magnify (and I mean literally render larger) the size of the out of focus highlights in the background. Also, I wish your hands were in the pose, to complete it...maybe holding something "Christmas-like", like a Santa figuring, or a Jesus figurine, or even a nicely gift-wrapped, small present. To me the lack of the hands coming together is the missing element...the chair arm, and the blue light are minor quibbles...add the hands coming together and holding something, or even folded, and the pose will magically be completed. This photo is just "so close!" to being perfected! As it is, it's very nice, and better than most of this type. Self-photographed shots like this are often pretty difficult to do, but the raw materials are all there...sitter, mini-lights, tree, strobe, wardrobe,color balance,all look good.

Thanks Derrel, will try this again tonight. You think the WB was ok then? Someone earlier had mentioned it was a tad warm and I questioned that myself.

Im sorry, i just joined, but i so far I have realized people are so picky.. The average person would never notice or care for the arm chair or anything else that will be mentioned..I know this is a place for professional talk / correcting others but if your ever doing a nice picture for someone, I don't think you should stress so bad about fixing it up (if you are). Because i doubt they'd notice a small thing like this

Thanks, I know exactly what you mean but we all tend to be our own worst critics and your right my mom and husband both didnt pick up on the things that were pointed out here.

And Emily look I have successfully tackled a multiquote. HAHA. :lmao:

 

[Derrel]

Good job on the multi-quote post. The white balance looks warm...yes...but that's subjective. I think holiday shots look best when they are warmer than normal, or warmer than neutral.