Beginner to OCF and portraits

[billybookcase]

Thanks in advance to the critiques. I was wondering if I can get some tips on OCF lighting as I seem to have trouble with the lighting ratios still. The pictures below were taken with a 580EX II on a softbox either camera left or camera right at 1/8 or 1/16 power.

1. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/3957428120_0bd09c94b9.jpg

2. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3957410980_4c00e98cff.jpg

3. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/3956638577_15fb0d523e.jpg

The ideal setting would've been a nice studio background but i had a kitchen at a friends place while they were half paying attention :(

[gonzogolf]

I like the lighting on the second and third shots. I cant really critique the first one because it looks like a candid. Almost the same comment on the second one, but I like what you did with the light, but her looking away pretty much destroys it as a portrait. I like the third and its the only real portrait in the set. Keep up the good work with the exposure and the light and find some subjects you can actually engage and I think you'll make great photos.

[Robert_Lay]

In #1 the lighting is execellent on his face but a little less effective on hers.
In #2 I find the lighting is too flat and depicts her face about as poorly as can be imagined.
In #3 the lighting would be more effective if from higher and further away.
As it is, the lighting is too harsh and the left cheek is too hot.

In all three of the shots there is too much contrast, so a little fill light from a reflector would have tamed the contrast.