First Self-Portrait (img)

ToddAP · Mar 6, 2005

AB800 with giant softbox right, 45 degrees from camera (f 8). AB400 with shoot through umbrella directly above camera (f 2.0). Sigma dg500 super directly behind me for background light set to 1/4.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Todd

--
Todd Putman

TMacaw · Mar 6, 2005

ToddAP said:
AB800 with giant softbox right, 45 degrees from camera (f 8). AB400
with shoot through umbrella directly above camera (f 2.0). Sigma
dg500 super directly behind me for background light set to 1/4.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Todd

--
Todd Putman

--------------------------------------------------------------

Lots of good aspects to compliment ... really! When pushed to be critical I see the following ... for a classic 2/3rds pose, your head needs to be turned slightly more to your left .... so there is no detail past the 'plane' of your face. For a masculine pose, your body position looks good, but your head shouold remain more perpendicular to your shoulders, not tilted toward one side. I prefer more contrast, broad side to short side, but that is your choice. Background light should be reduced and restricted to a glow around your shoulders, but not to the extent shown, which tends to distract from 'your' portrait.
Those are my thoughts.
Thank-you for posting.
TMc

Carlos C · Mar 6, 2005

Great first attempt. A lot better than my last attempt...many past my first. Good comments from the previous critique.
Keep trying
Carlos C.

TMacaw said:
ToddAP said:

AB800 with giant softbox right, 45 degrees from camera (f 8). AB400
with shoot through umbrella directly above camera (f 2.0). Sigma
dg500 super directly behind me for background light set to 1/4.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Todd

--
Todd Putman

Click to expand...

--------------------------------------------------------------
Lots of good aspects to compliment ... really! When pushed to be
critical I see the following ... for a classic 2/3rds pose, your
head needs to be turned slightly more to your left .... so there is
no detail past the 'plane' of your face. For a masculine pose,
your body position looks good, but your head shouold remain more
perpendicular to your shoulders, not tilted toward one side. I
prefer more contrast, broad side to short side, but that is your
choice. Background light should be reduced and restricted to a
glow around your shoulders, but not to the extent shown, which
tends to distract from 'your' portrait.
Those are my thoughts.
Thank-you for posting.
TMc

bm bradley · Mar 6, 2005

ToddAP said:
AB800 with giant softbox right, 45 degrees from camera (f 8). AB400
with shoot through umbrella directly above camera (f 2.0). Sigma
dg500 super directly behind me for background light set to 1/4.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Todd

--
Todd Putman

--
bm bradley

YoungJedi · Mar 6, 2005

Hello Todd. Nice picture. Havent seen you on here in a long time.....Hope you remember me?.....

ToddAP said:
AB800 with giant softbox right, 45 degrees from camera (f 8). AB400
with shoot through umbrella directly above camera (f 2.0). Sigma
dg500 super directly behind me for background light set to 1/4.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Todd

--
Todd Putman

Klyment Tan · Mar 6, 2005

Great shot. =) Though I have to agree with the first reply that the background light should be scaled back a bit. If possible, make a snoot out of card board or something to get some vignette around the corners of the backdrop to drive more attention towards the subject. I'd also try shooting for more contraast. =)

I can't comment on the actual pose but you have the face of an amiable and approachable photographer. =) The expression seems reasonably natural and genuinely welcoming to people who may see such a portrait on your website when looking for a photographer with whom to work. Still, I think you could be a bit more relaxed. Perhaps smile a little if my assessment of the personality you're trying to convey is really what you want. =)

On the negative side, I can't say I'm a big fan of the backdrop.

K

ToddAP said:
AB800 with giant softbox right, 45 degrees from camera (f 8). AB400
with shoot through umbrella directly above camera (f 2.0). Sigma
dg500 super directly behind me for background light set to 1/4.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Todd

--
Todd Putman

--
http://klyment.com/serendipity/ - photography-oriented journal

Ryszard · Mar 7, 2005

Klyment Tan said:
I can't comment on the actual pose but you have the face of an
amiable and approachable photographer. =) The expression seems
reasonably natural and genuinely welcoming to people who may see
such a portrait on your website when looking for a photographer
with whom to work. Still, I think you could be a bit more relaxed.
Perhaps smile a little if my assessment of the personality you're
trying to convey is really what you want. =)

On the negative side, I can't say I'm a big fan of the backdrop.

K

ToddAP said:

AB800 with giant softbox right, 45 degrees from camera (f 8). AB400
with shoot through umbrella directly above camera (f 2.0). Sigma
dg500 super directly behind me for background light set to 1/4.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Todd

--
Todd Putman

Click to expand...

--
http://klyment.com/serendipity/ - photography-oriented journal

--
Ryszard, Arkansas USA. Currently I own 25 years old Canon A1 on 35mm film.
Very good job, congratulation.
Ryszard

Wayne Solum · Mar 7, 2005

What brand/model/size is it?

Klyment Tan said:
On the negative side, I can't say I'm a big fan of the backdrop.

K

ToddAP · Mar 7, 2005

Thanks for your comments and suggestions!

Klyment Tan said:
Great shot. =) Though I have to agree with the first reply that the
background light should be scaled back a bit. If possible, make a
snoot out of card board or something to get some vignette around
the corners of the backdrop to drive more attention towards the
subject. I'd also try shooting for more contraast. =)

I can't comment on the actual pose but you have the face of an
amiable and approachable photographer. =) The expression seems
reasonably natural and genuinely welcoming to people who may see
such a portrait on your website when looking for a photographer
with whom to work. Still, I think you could be a bit more relaxed.
Perhaps smile a little if my assessment of the personality you're
trying to convey is really what you want. =)

On the negative side, I can't say I'm a big fan of the backdrop.

K

ToddAP · Mar 7, 2005

Wayne Solum said:
What brand/model/size is it?

It is the 10x20 'Vienna' backdrop from http://www.silverlakephoto.com/ . I won it from their ebay auctions for a MUCH better price than listed on their website.

Thanks

--
Todd Putman

ToddAP · Mar 7, 2005

Hi, Mikieson! Yes, I remember you... Thanks for the comment.

YoungJedi said:
Hello Todd. Nice picture. Havent seen you on here in a long
time.....Hope you remember me?.....

--
Todd Putman

Wayne Solum · Mar 7, 2005

How's the quality? I hear Amvona muslins are very thin. Are the silverlake ones more substantial? I tried dying my own but it looks pretty unprofessional. I want to buy several but I'm just starting my research.

Thanks,
wAyne

ToddAP said:
Wayne Solum said:

What brand/model/size is it?

Click to expand...

It is the 10x20 'Vienna' backdrop from
http://www.silverlakephoto.com/ . I won it from their ebay auctions
for a MUCH better price than listed on their website.

Thanks

--
Todd Putman

--
http://www.pbase.com/wsolum

ToddAP · Mar 7, 2005

Yeah, I was in the same boat. My wife tried making several with dye and paint but they didn't quite look right. So, I got this one from ebay and I am very happy with it.

I am not qualified to judge the quality as this is my first professional muslin. I can say that it is pretty stiff and sturdy currently because it was soaked with paint and dried. They say it is supposed to loosen up after it's been wadded up and hung a few times.

The splotches of blue are larger than in the photo on the silverlake page, but they use the same photo for every background style.

Thanks

Todd

Wayne Solum said:
How's the quality? I hear Amvona muslins are very thin. Are the
silverlake ones more substantial? I tried dying my own but it
looks pretty unprofessional. I want to buy several but I'm just
starting my research.

--
Todd Putman

ToddAP · Mar 7, 2005

What about this one? Un-tilted head, more vignette around the background (too much?), and less power on the fill light.

--
Todd Putman

Wayne Solum · Mar 7, 2005

Todd,

I can't find SilverLakePhoto's ebay store. Could you provide the link? I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Wayne

ToddAP said:
I am not qualified to judge the quality as this is my first
professional muslin. I can say that it is pretty stiff and sturdy
currently because it was soaked with paint and dried. They say it
is supposed to loosen up after it's been wadded up and hung a few
times.

The splotches of blue are larger than in the photo on the
silverlake page, but they use the same photo for every background
style.

Thanks

Todd

Wayne Solum said:

How's the quality? I hear Amvona muslins are very thin. Are the
silverlake ones more substantial? I tried dying my own but it
looks pretty unprofessional. I want to buy several but I'm just
starting my research.

Click to expand...

--
Todd Putman

--
http://www.pbase.com/wsolum

ToddAP · Mar 7, 2005

Yep. Here it is:

http://stores.ebay.com/Photo4u2s-Muslin-Photo-Backgrounds_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

Scroll down to see their current auctions that aren't Buy it now.

--
Todd Putman

TMacaw · Mar 7, 2005

ToddAP said:
What about this one? Un-tilted head, more vignette around the
background (too much?), and less power on the fill light.

--
Todd Putman

--------------------------------------------------------------

I like what you have done since the first post. I would still like to see you go for either a Full face or 2/3rds pose. That doesn't equal 'better or worse' just would present which pose shows you off best.
TMc
.

YoungJedi · Mar 7, 2005

You might could crop a little tighter and maybe tone down the reds a little. Just a little.....

Maybe try some B&W even???....I know we've had some words over the past but I can be cool if you can..Take it easy.
By the way. I like the backdrop

YoungJedi · Mar 7, 2005

You might could even make a duplicate layer, blur, and erase where needed to give yourself a little smoother effect...Just some things I mess with from time to time

YoungJedi said:
You might could crop a little tighter and maybe tone down the reds
a little. Just a little.....
Maybe try some B&W even???....I know we've had some words over the
past but I can be cool if you can..Take it easy.
By the way. I like the backdrop

ToddAP · Mar 8, 2005

Thanks for the comments, Mike.

YoungJedi said:
YoungJedi said:

You might could crop a little tighter and maybe tone down the reds
a little. Just a little.....
Maybe try some B&W even???....I know we've had some words over the
past but I can be cool if you can..Take it easy.
By the way. I like the backdrop

Click to expand...

--
Todd Putman

First Self-Portrait (img)

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