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first E-10 fashion/portrait pics!!!

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Well, for a first try I'd say they are pretty good. The two things that stick out "in general" are:

1) Could be my monitor but the highlights are on the verge of being blown out. Looks a little overexposed, except for the last one.

2) The background is too bright in all but the last shot. The last one is lit funky. Looks like you only lit about half of the face from top to bottom. Also, the background is too dark.

With that said, it still beats the hell out of anything I've done as far as portraits! :-)--PW
 
hey thanks, pixel! yes, this is the absolute first time i have ever used strobes on HUMANS.

yeah, so on the last 20 or so shots, i changed settings and was getting that overexposed look so we went with it. the model liked it, thought it have that 'hot studio' look. here's a random shot from earlier when it was more 'balanced.'

http://www.pbase.com/image/1412023/original

as for the 'funky' lighting, that was done by pointing a light at the ceiling right above the model's head and bouncing it .. that's the only light in that shot. she liked it, thought it made her look stately, like a congresswoman, or something, lol. i agreed : ) ..

anyway, thanks for weighing in! i'm really happy with how rapidly i'm progressing with this!

best,
k
Pixel Warp said:
Well, for a first try I'd say they are pretty good. The two things
that stick out "in general" are:

1) Could be my monitor but the highlights are on the verge of being
blown out. Looks a little overexposed, except for the last one.

2) The background is too bright in all but the last shot. The last
one is lit funky. Looks like you only lit about half of the face
from top to bottom. Also, the background is too dark.

With that said, it still beats the hell out of anything I've done
as far as portraits! :-)
--
PW
Nikon CP 990
Olympus E-10
Click to expand...
-- http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999http://www.mysteriousarts.com
 
Kollin said:
and, to be completely frank, my first fashion/portrait pics EVER
with any camera! i shot about 150, and i pulled out a few that on
a prelim skim looked good.

please let me know what you think, esp in general : ) )









thanks!
Click to expand...
Kollin,

Quite frankly, the only one I like is the first and the light is a bit hard on that one.

The second makes her face look quite fat with no detail between her left jowl and neck.....I think I would have lit her from the other side.

The third is blown out with light.......at least on my monitor.

And the fourth just doesn't do it for me.

You have some interesting poses, I just think you need to look at other lighting arrangements and softer light. Just my opinion of course.

George
kmb said:
K
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
 
Kollin said:
and, to be completely frank, my first fashion/portrait pics EVER
with any camera! i shot about 150, and i pulled out a few that on
a prelim skim looked good.
Click to expand...
Looks good...a promising start...I would say in answer to the brightness, maybe moving the lights back a bit would help.

I see you did a few with the subject off center, always a great idea. Next time I would have her up and moving around more. Also more smiling, one thing to try is to ask the subject to laugh. Then ask them to laugh harder. Then REALLY laugh...moving their head up and down. Try it...it gets pretty funny and you end up getting some natural and fun poses.

I would also try props...even a scarf or something simple. Encourage the subject to move.

Anyway, just a few off the top things. Most of all I would move the lights back a bit..try also having one light on one side and one in back of the model on the other side.

Good pics though...you're rolling now!

Frank

-- http://www.franklinmcmahon.com/
 
hey thanks to everyone who weighed in. your insights are all of great value to me.

i was going for a 'hot', overexposed look often used in contemporary fashion fotography, and imho i think i got really close on my first try ; ) ...

I would love to hear from anyone else out there who does fashion photography or has some opinions on how to get that 'hot' look.

thanks!!!!!!
Kollin said:
thanks!

K
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
-- http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999http://www.mysteriousarts.com
 
wow, thanks frank. you really come through!

i actually did have some nice laughter shots where there were some good crack up moments : ) . . are those good to use? for some reason i thought the 'playing it cool' looks were more saleable. but what do i know??? not much!

thanks for taking the time

kollin
Frank McMahon said:
Kollin said:
and, to be completely frank, my first fashion/portrait pics EVER
with any camera! i shot about 150, and i pulled out a few that on
a prelim skim looked good.
Click to expand...
Looks good...a promising start...I would say in answer to the
brightness, maybe moving the lights back a bit would help.

I see you did a few with the subject off center, always a great
idea. Next time I would have her up and moving around more. Also
more smiling, one thing to try is to ask the subject to laugh. Then
ask them to laugh harder. Then REALLY laugh...moving their head up
and down. Try it...it gets pretty funny and you end up getting some
natural and fun poses.

I would also try props...even a scarf or something simple.
Encourage the subject to move.

Anyway, just a few off the top things. Most of all I would move the
lights back a bit..try also having one light on one side and one in
back of the model on the other side.

Good pics though...you're rolling now!

Frank

--
http://www.franklinmcmahon.com/
Click to expand...
-- http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999http://www.mysteriousarts.com
 
thanks for your honest opinions george. i will esp take note of the comment about the second and try not to make her look 'fat'. she wouldnt like that ; ) .. i do like the hard light look - was trying to go for a very contemporary 'punk rock fashion' type of look. also the model has very very pale skin.

thanks again mr. law.
p.s.i went with the travelites .. :D (very happy!)
k
G. Law said:
Kollin said:
and, to be completely frank, my first fashion/portrait pics EVER
with any camera! i shot about 150, and i pulled out a few that on
a prelim skim looked good.
Click to expand...
Kollin,

Quite frankly, the only one I like is the first and the light is a
bit hard on that one.

The second makes her face look quite fat with no detail between her
left jowl and neck.....I think I would have lit her from the other
side.

The third is blown out with light.......at least on my monitor.

And the fourth just doesn't do it for me.

You have some interesting poses, I just think you need to look at
other lighting arrangements and softer light. Just my opinion of
course.

George
George Law said:
K
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
-- http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999http://www.mysteriousarts.com
 
thanks, cappy. i was going for a hot overexposed contemporary punk rock kinda look. do you think i succeeded in that at all?

THANKS
kollin
Jason Busch said:
Kollin,

You have your model in good positions. You just need the proper
lighting to bring them out. You might try spreading the light more
evenly, making it softer on her face.
--
'I do just about everything in my CCDs...'

Forum: http://pub57.ezboard.com/bthedigitaldinguscommunity

My Website: http://e10club.topcities.com/
Click to expand...
-- http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999http://www.mysteriousarts.com
 
Kollin said:
wow, thanks frank. you really come through!

i actually did have some nice laughter shots where there were some
good crack up moments : ) . . are those good to use? for some
reason i thought the 'playing it cool' looks were more saleable.
but what do i know??? not much!
Click to expand...
It's just one man's opinion. Personally I have seen so much serious brooding from models, it's fun to liven things up a bit. If I see people who are happy in a photo, I don't know, it makes me a little more happy! Also some people who look good serious, look great when they are laughing!

Frank





Patricia serious...



Patricia happy...



Rose serious...



Rose happy...



-- http://www.franklinmcmahon.com/
 
george,

i went back and looked at my pics, because on my monitor the line between jaw and neck on second pic is completely clear and the 3rd pic isnt at all blown out with light, but full of detail.

then i went to your site and looked at your portraits. and saw that they seemed very dim.

so i thought about this, and this is my hypothesis: what i believe is that you have your monitor brightness set very high. that is why your pics are rather dark. you have turned their brightness or exposure down because to you, on your monitor it looks to be 'the right brightness'. it could be that my monitor is overdim, except that i have it calibrated.

i hope you don't think i'm flaming you, i think this could help you, and i write this out of a sincere desire to be of assistance.

kind regards,
kollin
Kollin said:
thanks again mr. law.
p.s.i went with the travelites .. :D (very happy!)
k
G. Law said:
Kollin said:
and, to be completely frank, my first fashion/portrait pics EVER
with any camera! i shot about 150, and i pulled out a few that on
a prelim skim looked good.
Click to expand...
Kollin,

Quite frankly, the only one I like is the first and the light is a
bit hard on that one.

The second makes her face look quite fat with no detail between her
left jowl and neck.....I think I would have lit her from the other
side.

The third is blown out with light.......at least on my monitor.

And the fourth just doesn't do it for me.

You have some interesting poses, I just think you need to look at
other lighting arrangements and softer light. Just my opinion of
course.

George
kmb said:
K
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
-- http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999http://www.mysteriousarts.com
 
your point is well taken .. i really wanted to get a sensual punkchick futuristic look ... might have seemed out of character if she had been chuckling : ) ... i just need to get hold of some blue gels and i think i can make it work ....

btw, esp love the first shot below. very attractive!

best regards,

kollin
Frank McMahon said:
Kollin said:
wow, thanks frank. you really come through!

i actually did have some nice laughter shots where there were some
good crack up moments : ) . . are those good to use? for some
reason i thought the 'playing it cool' looks were more saleable.
but what do i know??? not much!
Click to expand...
It's just one man's opinion. Personally I have seen so much serious
brooding from models, it's fun to liven things up a bit. If I see
people who are happy in a photo, I don't know, it makes me a little
more happy! Also some people who look good serious, look great when
they are laughing!

Frank





Patricia serious...



Patricia happy...



Rose serious...



Rose happy...



--
http://www.franklinmcmahon.com/
Click to expand...
-- http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999http://www.mysteriousarts.com
 
Hi Kollin
Question:
What type of light are you using? how many watts?
thanks..
Kollin said:
i was going for a 'hot', overexposed look often used in
contemporary fashion fotography, and imho i think i got really
close on my first try ; ) ...

I would love to hear from anyone else out there who does fashion
photography or has some opinions on how to get that 'hot' look.

thanks!!!!!!
Kollin said:
thanks!

K
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
--Carlos.www.carloscuervo.com
 
greetings carlos. i used a 750 ws and a 375 ws bowens/calumet strobe, not always both at the same time. the main light had a softbox and was never turned up more than 1/4 of full power. the other had a reflector.

why do you ask? are you interested in fashion photography?

best

Kolllin
Carlos C. said:
Kollin said:
i was going for a 'hot', overexposed look often used in
contemporary fashion fotography, and imho i think i got really
close on my first try ; ) ...

I would love to hear from anyone else out there who does fashion
photography or has some opinions on how to get that 'hot' look.

thanks!!!!!!
Kollin said:
thanks!

K
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
--
Carlos.
http://www.carloscuervo.com
Click to expand...
-- http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999http://www.mysteriousarts.com
 
Hi Kollin,

Thanks for posting these. Your enthusiasm is inspiring, and it's great that you have a "look" that you're shooting for.

I like the first image. And the poses are fine on all of them. To my taste, the lighting needs some adjusting on 2,3,and 4. Where are you placing your key lights and fill in relation to the model? Have you intentionally set a ratio between main and fill? Are you using a flash meter to help with ratios?

Overall, it's a nice first effort. I'll be very eager to see you progress as you experiment with new ideas and new techniques.

Best wishes,

David
-- http://www.mongoosephoto.com
 
Kollin,

I am impressed by you getting in there and just taking shots and experimenting. That is great. You have some interesting stuff there and I think you will improve alot with more work.

My advice would be to learn proper lighting. Once you learn how to properly light a subject, it will be much easier to deviate from the proper to a more tasteful, extraordinary look.

You seem like a really cool person and I hope you dont take my words harshly. I notice you've been here about a month. Welcome. I've been gone for a few weeks so I haven't gotten to know your posts yet. I will go check them out.

I assure you that when you learn proper lighting, it will be easier to move the lights for other effects.

Take more and post more! I'd love to see em.

GageFX
 
Kollin said:
thanks again mr. law.
p.s.i went with the travelites .. :D (very happy!)
k
G. Law said:
Kollin said:
and, to be completely frank, my first fashion/portrait pics EVER
with any camera! i shot about 150, and i pulled out a few that on
a prelim skim looked good.
Click to expand...
Kollin,

Quite frankly, the only one I like is the first and the light is a
bit hard on that one.

The second makes her face look quite fat with no detail between her
left jowl and neck.....I think I would have lit her from the other
side.

The third is blown out with light.......at least on my monitor.

And the fourth just doesn't do it for me.

You have some interesting poses, I just think you need to look at
other lighting arrangements and softer light. Just my opinion of
course.

George
kmb said:
K
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
http://www.pbase.com/magnetic9999
http://www.mysteriousarts.com
Click to expand...
Kollin,

Very happy to hear that you like the Travelights...........I think they're a terrific bargin and from my experience very durable.

Sorry, if I was too critical..........I wasn't really sure what effect you were going for and photography can often be very subjective.........what strikes one person sometimes doesn't strike the next.

Oh, and by the way, I retired from 33 years of teaching in 1999............you don't have to call me "Mr. Law" anymore.

George
 
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