Self portrait in the hall

For this one I was playing around with off camera flash (new to me) and levels adjustments in PSE, as well as a new sharpening method using the Custom Filter. I used a PC sync cord and hot shoe adapter to trigger my 580EX, which I was holding in my hand. Camera and flash were both in M mode. I am mostly happy with the result as far as getting what I was trying to achieve. Any comments on my technique or the image itself would be appreciated.

Exif (and larger size image) can be found >>here<<, but exif was something like this:
30D + EF 50 f/1.4 @
f/8
1/200
ISO 200
don't remember what I had the flash set on, probably 1/32 or so.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Redirected to error image by ZENFOLIO PROTECTED

reason for the eyes being closed?

actually i like that lomo action, never seen it before, gives it that music video surreal look to it, where do you get the action?

ChrisBlaze wrote in post #3143554
reason for the eyes being closed?

I'm a music fanatic, and I think music (good music) should be listened to with no distractions. I prefer to focus on music when I listen to it, rather than it simply being background music for some other activity. It has always baffled me that many music afficionadoes actually spend very little time simply listening to music as a focussed activity.

crackennz wrote in post #3143640
actually i like that lomo action, never seen it before, gives it that music video surreal look to it, where do you get the action?

here you go:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=278899

#2 is a cool shot. Looks like the music has 'taken you away'.

I think both images work, for the different feel each one exudes. I have a question ... how did you get such a soft flash? I mean at most it was at arm's length & it's amazing there are no harsh shadows or burnt highlights. Care to share how you positioned the flash and/or any diffusers used?

I was shooting in M (flash and camera), so I basically just used trial and error to get a nice looking histogram in the camera (exposed to the right). The 580EX can go all the way down to 1/128th power, so getting the right exposure at close distances really isn't a problem. I may have been using the Sto-fen Omnibounce, but I can't remember. Some of the images that I took were with the Sto-fen, some without. I experimented with many flash positions, but for this one I was basically pointing it right at myself...from maybe waist height and a little to image right (which is probably why the right shoulder is a little hot). I was also sitting between two dark brown doors, to minimize the bounce effect from the side. Of course I was shooting in RAW and backed the exposure off just a bit in PP. There is one shadow that kind of bothers me on the neckline of the shirt.

Thanks for the replies by the way. To this point I've basically only done concert shooting, and I think it's time I branch out and start learning to do a bit more.