A Couple o' portraits

A few I've done over the past week or so. I'm getting pretty excited, I'm thinking I should be where I want to be in the next 6 months in terms of knowing the studio and lighting, but in the meantime I'm making progress I'm really happy with.

Comments are appreciated.

Self portrait

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Hey, those first two are great... the last two don't really have quite the same zing. Love #2's expression.

Nice photos, I like 1st shot the most of all

I like the fourth one. The others don't do anything for me. A couple are just daft facial expressions. The first one I don't see it: just you with a tie around your head Very good technically as usual, but somehow lacking, but if they are what you want to be shooting keep it up.

Eh they're nothing special as far as content wise, the majority of my shooting the past few months has been educational. Namely, I'm trying to get my technique up to par that I'm comfortable going into business and well, not quite there yet

So these days, most shots are getting the lighting down, when I get a beatifully lit portrait, then I'll work on the other side of things

Ok, got it. In that case I likee

First of all, I recommend that you join whatever professional photography group that is close to you. I have belonged to my state group since 1978 and still learn a lot at every meeting. We have 10 days of speakers and seminars a year on portraits, weddings, and business.

I'll comment on your 1st image. You have a butterfly lighting on a guy. (shadow under his nose) That is used on female models. Also, there is no light in his eyes and no catch lights.

If you are trying to get a studio going ... forget the silly poses. The 1st pose is getting there but the others do zilch for me. Please post more portraits and forget the snapshots. Your 1st pose shows promise ... build on that.

D. Craig Flory PPA Certified, Cr.Photog., ASP
loryphotog@mindspring.​com

i like these alot

your girlfriend is beautiful, i love her dreads

ps what lenses were used for these shots?

Off track.....but your girlfriend is gorgeous and i love your self portrait - reminds me of the wedding i shot last week where the girls had to find a tie and put it around their heads for the bouquet hehehehehehe

Your girlfriend has such a nice face. Her features are defined, but feminine.

I'm not a fashion expert or anything, but I think that headband is supposed to go around your neck...?

Nice shots. I like #1 and the last one of your girl. i think it might look better if the light coming though the window at the top was cropped out......

"Paramount" lighting works well with people whose eyes are not quite so deep set and who are not smiling. This type of lighting (which you used in each one of your images) works great for sultry movie stars with upraised noses. Paramount lighting tends to leave dark shadows in the eye sockets of people whose eyes are rather deep set and/or are looking straight at the camera (if the sitter raises her nose it will erase the shadows cast by this type of lighting.) Also this type of lighting does not work well on people who are smiling because it tends to give them "bags" under their eyes. Again this is because of the shadows cast by the overhead light. Side lighting works much better as it fills in the eye sockets and is easier on the bags under the eyes.

Benji

Thanks everyone, I'm rushing out but wanted to drop a quick response to some of the comments.

First, much obliged for the comments on my girlfriend, she's wonderful

First one was shot with a Sigma 28-70 2.8 . The rest were shot with a Tokina 19-35 F3.5-4.5.

Poses.... eh, like I said. I'm just learning right now and you can only do so many straight shots of the same people before it gets repetitive. Personally I don't mind the poses either way, I'm not going into corporate portraiture or classical portraiture since it isn't really my interest.

Lighting, Benji that's useful and I'll try that out for sure. As for butterfly lighting on men, I have to respectfully disagree. That's something you see not to use as a "rule", but most of the photographers I really like make prominent use of the lighting with men and I think it looks good. Most of them do extremely well no less

I am going to try bringing the angle of the light down a bit, but for some examples,

Jill Greenberg
http://davidoverholt.c​om/blog/manipulator.jp​g

Platon
https://www.phaidon.co​m …/spreads/071484​408x_5.jpg

Eolo Perfido
http://www.eoloperfido​.com/portfolio_portrai​t.htm

And true, some might not like the look and consider it something to be avoided, that's ok. I personally do enjoy the effect it produces.

If I misunderstood something in their lighting techniques and I'm using something different, please please do enlighten me, it makes my life easier

If I missed anyone, I'll get a response tommorow, I'm just on my way out so I hope everyone has a wonderful night.