Masae Portrait

Seems like portrait-mania lately. . .
This is a friend/model/stylist Masae who came over a last week for some shooting.

I was experimenting with a beauty dish (not really fond of it for specific reasons) but this was one of a bunch that i thought the lighting worked as I liked.

My concern with this particular portrait is her contact with the camera. I have a few older portraits of her and love her dead stare into the lens. . .she has presence. Is there any of that here?

That and whatever else comes to mind about the image.

Thanks

Depends on what you were going for. It's more of a demure pose for her, which also works really well. Presence... she has it no matter what. I like the pose and gaze here because it shows a different side of her. It seems a lot more connected to me, in some ways. More intimate.

Lighting- and processing-wise... fantastic. How did you open up the shadows underneath? Reflector?

The BD is a) cumbersome and b) finicky as far as allowable distance from the model. There's a very limited sweet spot. But when you get it right, it's amazing.

She had come over to shoot in a few different looks and for this one we just wanted a somewhat sexy and classy look. Demure. . .absolutely. She is actually a bubbly charming outgoing woman but I think when she takes a more reserved and passive aproach she nails it and it works.
That is what I want, and the connection to the viewer but I'm just not sure the connect is quite there. Can't quite put my finger on it, but I like it enough to pursue it.

Your right on about the BD. With a softbox the wrap around light will work for a variety of poses along the way, whereas the BD pretty much has to be set up for the one desired pose. One turn of the head or movement of body and it can throw it all off. The real issue for me with it in the small space i'm working in is the light spill.
A grid for it cost more than the dish. . . .

I used a small box for fill about eye level, and then a strip box behind her for rim.

Thanks

Gary... my monitor shows the highlights on the cheeks and the bridge of the nose is a bit hot

I like her glare. Very good face for a portrait, her hair is just about perfect. I love this type of BG. Makeup and everything is ver good.

Overall, looking at the dark and light in the photo, the chest takes too much focus away from her face. Just by looking at the light/dark value all over the picture, the chest also creates this vertical column that I'm not very fond of. I wish the coat was buttoned. that would've made this better I think.

This is what the BD is made for, and you nailed it. I think the thing you're bothered by that can't put your finger on is a matter of the subject's relation to the camera. To get that "intensely demure" pose try shooting from a slightly higher angle, pointing down and maybe even have her drop her chin a bit further. This does 2 things:
Forces her to open her eyes wider
Takes some attention away from the body though the distortion of the short lens in the tight space.
This looks like it was shot from eye level or slightly below, try getting the lens even with the part in her hair.

Glad to see you're finding use for the strip box :D

Thanks Phil, yes your right. Its not blown on my histogram but what i did was added a diffuse light effect for a soft highlight look and it over emphasized the highlight areas even more although i applied it very gently. I agree with you on that.

Liban, I had been going back and forth on the chest lighting compared to the face, and while i did want the chest to bring the eye down in a teasing way i do believe it might be overpowering from her face. Thanks

Jet, thanks. Yes the BD does this well but I'm still not sold on it for most of what I want to do. Going to experiment with some reflectors and grids for a snooted effect. . .R&D. . .but I think i'm more in need of R&R :)
I know what your saying bout the shooting angle, and it makes sense. The thing is I have shot with her several times and I have come to learn that her chin down and certain angles from her are best. I'm just feeling that there may not be enough of that connection or contact no fault of her own just didn't catch that ideal moment I think. I'll have to see what she thinks. Thanks man.
Here is a re edit with some of the points mentioned. Subdued chest area and highlights on bridge of nose and cheek checked. Any better or worse in that regard?

Honestly, I like the first version better, it ads a bit of sheen to the skin, and doesn't look clipped from here. I'm sure she's going to love either version. I find most other folks aren't nearly as critical of my work as I am, and I'm sure the same rings true for you. The stuff I mentioned was only because you brought up a specific issue you had with it, otherwise I wouldn't have thought to even mention anything :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jetrim

Honestly, I like the first version better, it ads a bit of sheen to the skin, and doesn't look clipped from here. I'm sure she's going to love either version. I find most other folks aren't nearly as critical of my work as I am, and I'm sure the same rings true for you. The stuff I mentioned was only because you brought up a specific issue you had with it, otherwise I wouldn't have thought to even mention anything :)

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Thank Jet, I do think I'll settle with an edit somewhere in between these two. I do like the chest area more subdued, but rather like some of the glow of the first.

I like the first version way better. The second looks posterized to me. But I think your idea of somewhere-in-between would be a good compromise. I do agree that the chest area should be a little more subdued.

Ok, here's an in the middle edit from between both versions.
I do feel that this has improved upon the original posting.