New Black Belt

[Q-bert]

I've know this guy since he was knee high to a grasshopper. His mom called me up to see if I could do a rush shoot. He had just earned his Black Belt and was wanting to have some pictures done to put in his home school graduation booth. Graduation was in 4 days. Anyway I think I ended up with a couple of keepers and a feeling that I myself am getting old.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3523086122_3d2e8cbdab_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/3522279195_316bfccf65_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3522279121_3d253154e1_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3522278951_bee129eba6_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3522279065_0dd5f72f50_o.jpg

[EOS450D]

I love the second image the best, the guys eyes are amazing in that pic

[Semmonka]

IMO gi, fight stance and smile does not work together. Pics would show more attitude if he had serious and focused expression.
In last shot shadow across his chest is distracting but it can be lightened in PP. Kama blades are almos disappearing in dark BG.
It would look much cooler if you place the lights so that the blades shows some glare.
#3 is my fav. It shows action, consentration and dedication as this kind of pics should.

[asysin2leads]

The pics seem a bit dark and the colors are off. I like the action in #3, but it's soft/blurry. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the mom was thrilled with the pics.

[Q-bert]

Semmonka
I know what you are saying about the smile, but that was his mean look. I kept trying to get a more serious look out of him and that was the best I got. I guess I could have called his momma a bad name or something:confused:;). His mother kept saying he couldn't look mean if he tried.

The Whole shoot felt off to me It didn't get started until about 20:35 because they were late. I had suggested using a gray backdrop, which I think would have gave me more flexiblity, but the mother wanted black. The kama blades me trouble, I moved the lights all over the place trying to get those things to show up well.

The mother seemed happy enough with them. Me personal, I felt like I was stumbling through a dark room. I haven't been shooting much lately. I wish I had a readily availible free model to practice on. I guess, I just need to get a good tripod and a remote and be my own model.

[Semmonka]

Semmonka
I know what you are saying about the smile, but that was his mean look.

Hahaa :D If the mother was happy, I think everything went ok.
Good thing about making mistakes is that when you look at the pics after the shoot and there are something you dont like, you can always study that and improve in next shoot.

I think gray backdrop can be fairly easily changed to black in pp if needed. Black however is pretty difficult.

[texasreddirt]

There seems to be red reflecting off of something in the room.