Shooting solo:

Hi,

Here are 2 images I shot a couple of weeks ago with a friend of mine.
It was our first in a studio (my first solo shoot).

C&C are welcome, even needed!

Thanks in advance!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/NY5V​68

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/P3EG​hq

I WILL CRItiQUE NOW!!!!

I see a lot of background. I see that it's grey. Also I see a lot of stuff on it. It should not be like that. I should not see the background.



I mean - the way the lights are, it's boring.
First image: I think the huge step to better image would be a separation. Let the background go dark. And the light on the woman is aaaa, so uninteresting. She's is not SO interesting by herself /god forbid, I am not offending here or whatnot/ and barely competes with all the greyness.

The second one has less excuses. Our dirty background with applied blacks/clarity/whatnot went over the roof and won a piggy award. If you shoot this stuff, you have to be prepared to clean this stuff up as well. I understand also, that with that "blacks/clarity/whatno​t" you tried to add an edge to a subject, but, I am afraid, it made her look unclean as well. Those extra dark edges on the arms are unjustified - everyone has this sickness at one point or another, but you it's important to let it go. I think so.

ALSO, if you are not doing any shadow and light plays, skintone in B/W is as important as in color. You have there... a patient of leg transplant. Also... don't show the image to model just yet. How to avoid that? Bigger light, extra light, reflector... in post you can do that, but it's always a pain and works bad overall.

ALSO - let the body breath - for this pose the crop is too tight. Not by much, but still.

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All the best, mate. I wrote this without any hate or whatnot :] cheerio!

Thanks for all the feedback and remarks.
It seems I have still A LOT to learn.
I took note of your opinion and try to use it for the next shoot.

I like the lighting on the subject in #1 except that it doesn't work with the background illumination. Because of no rim light subject left, the edge of the subject is black, makes for a cut and paste look. Darker background or rim light to match key would have blended subject to background better.

Thanks for the feedback. I understand what you mean.

I agree w/ whats been said above. More separation needs to be achieved between subject and background.

I mocked up a bit of this in PS on image 1. Not exactly as I'd want it but just to demonstrate the difference it can make.

Good gravy!

Got halo? Gees-oh.

Separation is not at all a problem in picture 1.

What do you mean? (sorry, English is not my native language )

I was referring to the bright white area that was created around your subject in the picture above. That shouldn't be there.

opinions...

saea501 wrote in post #18184077
Good gravy!

Got halo? Gees-oh.

Separation is not at all a problem in picture 1.

I presume, that subject blending together with background is not a purpose with this particular studio shot. I really think the image with separation not blending with boring grayness behind would be much better. So calling it "not at all problem" would be astretch :]

About that halo - I guess our friend just made a fast mock-up to get a point across