Portrait People - Give some Feedback on my first portrait

[Mike D90]

Ok I shot this again today. Same clothing and hat to keep things as close to the same conditions as last time.

What I did differently:

- Moved farther from back drop as suggested by @Marcel
- Added a hair light as suggested by @ShootRaw
- Shot with my 50mm f/1.8 as suggested by @Krs_2007
- Changed from large brolly box to smaller soft box attachment
- Shot at f/8 instead of 2.4
- Changed my body position a couple of times
- Moved camera closer to subject




So here are the results and my favorite shot is the first shot.

 

[Krs_2007]

The shadows look better in the 3rd and 4th. 1st had a big shadow on your shoulder and the 2nd has a shadow that makes it look like you have no neck. The brightness of the 2nd and 4th look better to me. Background, composition, eyes all look pretty good. The 2nd and 4th look warmer than the other 2.

Just my humble opinion. Still a very good job at a self portrait

 

[Mike D90]

The shadows look better in the 3rd and 4th. 1st had a big shadow on your shoulder and the 2nd has a shadow that makes it look like you have no neck. The brightness of the 2nd and 4th look better to me. Background, composition, eyes all look pretty good. The 2nd and 4th look warmer than the other 2.

Just my humble opinion. Still a very good job at a self portrait

Maybe I need to finish my beauty dish and add it as a fill light

 

[Krs_2007]

That will help with the shadows, just need to find a victim to hold it for you.

 

[Lawrence]

Of all of them I prefer the first one that started the thread.

 

[Mike D90]

Of all of them I prefer the first one that started the thread.

That is because my whiskers were longer. I have shaved since then!

 

[Marcel]

That is because my whiskers were longer. I have shaved since then!

I don't think so. I thought the light was a little more dramatic in your first trial. The last ones seem a little flat lighted (no shadows to sculpt the face). The baseball cap is really problematic since it prevents you from having the main light high enough to create a nice nose shadow that should go down to around a straight line from the mouth.

 

[Marcel]

As I just look at your light reflected in the eyes, I can see that for the last session you used a smaller light source that was maybe farther away. I think this made for a less interesting lighting for portrait. Again, just my humble opinion.

 

[Mike D90]

@Marcel and @ShootRaw and @ Krs_2007

Ok, I have tried this again. I moved this into my living room where I have taller ceilings and much more width.

I lost the baseball cap too.

Are any of these closer to what is "correct"?

 

[Marcel]

The third one is the closest but your light is still a little too low. But you're beginning to see the light triangle on your left cheek and there is also a spot of light near your lips that should go away if the light was higher. What I like to see is that light triangle on the cheek to be closed and defined by the light. If you don't mind, I could do a screen capture and draw on your photo to try and show you where this light triangle should be, but if you search for master portrait photographers like Karsh you'd probably find out what I'm talking about.

 

[Michael J.]

I like those photos a lot.

 

[Mike D90]

The third one is the closest but your light is still a little too low. But you're beginning to see the light triangle on your left cheek and there is also a spot of light near your lips that should go away if the light was higher. What I like to see is that light triangle on the cheek to be closed and defined by the light. If you don't mind, I could do a screen capture and draw on your photo to try and show you where this light triangle should be, but if you search for master portrait photographers like Karsh you'd probably find out what I'm talking about.

Feel free to show me whatever! I did this to learn. I am aware of the triangle and also others such as butterfly and Rembrandt.

Now I sent these to my brother and he returns and says "There should be no shadows in a portrait". I am flabbergasted at his remark. Portraits are all about the shadows.

 

[Scott Murray]

Feel free to show me whatever! I did this to learn. I am aware of the triangle and also others such as butterfly and Rembrandt.

Now I sent these to my brother and he returns and says "There should be no shadows in a portrait". I am flabbergasted at his remark. Portraits are all about the shadows.

Have you seen this? - 6 Portrait Lighting Patterns Every Photographer Should Know and this? - http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/how-to-create-multiple-portrait-styles-with-one-speedlight/

 

[Marcel]

Feel free to show me whatever! I did this to learn. I am aware of the triangle and also others such as butterfly and Rembrandt.

Now I sent these to my brother and he returns and says "There should be no shadows in a portrait". I am flabbergasted at his remark. Portraits are all about the shadows.

I think your brother is half right. You need shadows, but they have to be subtle and soft. This is why larger diffused light gives out nicer shadows that are less noticed. You need a larger source of light or bring your large light closer to the subject.

Here is what I tried (but did not succeed totally) to show you what I meant.

 

[Marcel]

I think your brother is half right. You need shadows, but they have to be subtle and soft. This is why larger diffused light gives out nicer shadows that are less noticed. You need a larger source of light or bring your large light closer to the subject.

Here is what I tried (but did not succeed totally) to show you what I meant.

View attachment 69926

Chute, I just realized I took the wrong one to work with... Ah, it's getting too late for me.

One thing I was going to mention, this will be extremely difficult for you to do if you use yourself as a model. You have to have the person in front of you and see the light. Try to get someone to pose for you, it should be easier.

 

[Mike D90]

Have you seen this? - 6 Portrait Lighting Patterns Every Photographer Should Know and this? - How to Create Multiple Portrait Styles with One Speedlight – PictureCorrect

Actually have that page up as I am shooting and that is the link I sent my brother.

 

[Mike D90]

this will be extremely difficult for you to do if you use yourself as a model. You have to have the person in front of you and see the light. Try to get someone to pose for you, it should be easier.

I am using flash not constant light. Won't make much difference as I can't see the result until I have shot it. I have not yet built my continuous lights.

 

[Mike D90]

Last attempt for tonight.

I got the brolly box set up and I used my home made beauty dish as a catch/fill light. In my living room I was able to get the key light up higher and pulled in closer to me.

I have tried several different styles here and I think I am closer.

Personally, I like the ones that have more shadow detail. I am not a big fan of higher key light style.

My favorite is the first shot. That is how I see a portrait as being "my style" and is like what I would want if I were paying for my portraits.

Anyway, let me know what, or if, I have corrected anything.


My pick

 

[Scott Murray]

I think they all look good in their own way and it all depends on what you are trying to portray in your shots. The main thing is that it looks good to you, as you are the subject and see yourself in a certain way
But it do like the first one, maybe use some camouflage backing and some black smudges on your face to give it some real feel ;-) you could even include a machine gun for kicks

 

[Marcel]

The first one is my preferred one too. As for getting the light higher, if you can't, you can always lean your upper body a bit forward and this will simulate having the light higher. You can also see the catch light in your eyes and the bigger it is, less the shadow's definition.

If you could tape a mag lite to your flash to simulate the light a bit, maybe it could help you with the light placement. This is why studio flashes have what are called modelling lights...