Model portrait

[armando_m]

As I mentioned in the viewfinder , this weekend I went to a portrait/fashion workshop

Here is a shot I grabbed while other photogrpahers were were exchanging the remote for the flash

This one has no flash, wide open, sun in the back , light in the eyes is the sun reflected in the soft box



Perhaps a bit dark but I liked it

Comments or critiques ?

Thanks for looking

[LeeIs]

Yeah, the face seems to be in the shadow, that's the thing that caught my attention right away before I read your description. She has such a great strong face. Looks like a very natural type portrait and the pose and everything else about it works for me. the only thing is the darkness and the face being in teh shadow!

[gahspidy]

Nice shot, Armando. Yes, the face is in shadow, but the reflection caught by the eyes from the softbox as well as the ouline of her face right side is "saving" this shot. The pose and look is good, and although their is much dark area on the face it still works well because of the other positive points. You should be able to come up in your overall exposure aby a 1/2 stop or more and that may give a bit more punch.
It was a nice grab.

[armando_m]

Thanks Liban and Gary!

here is a second version , with added light on the face

[gahspidy]

Much improved. Looks good.

[daq7]

Second take is much better, but in general the facial skin is not as vibrant as it could be had it been lit a bit brighter.

[GB1]

Oh no, now we aspiring model photogs have more competition, and good stuff too!

Nice pic and I think you did pretty much all you could, esp for a grab shot where you can't really pose the model. Her features come off very well - broad, strong jawline, and confident eyes. The DOF is also very good. I think the 2nd one is a tad better but I would much rather have her face in shadow than be blown out in any way.

Just out of curiosity, I ran it through Portrait Prof to see what it would do; not a lot, it turns out. But I also thought that the original's lips were too close in color to her face, so I darkened them a tad too also using that software. Here it is!

G

[armando_m]

Thanks for the comments Gary Daq and Greg

This is my first time working with a model, so when it was my turn I didn't know what to tell them I tried a few things but not much , there was a girl in the class , she was great directing the model, also I could see the model relax and do more modeling, all in all a fun experience.

The shots with no flash ended up being probably the best, at those takes everyone was shooting at the same time, while the main photographer was telling the model what to do.

From the 300 or so photos I have to choose a max of 4 and send to the "teacher" for critique , I'll post them here also. It will be interesting to compare what I hear on both sides.

Photoshop is not allowed, only lightroom for general adjustments , curves, color balance, white balance , vignettes, crops, etc ... I'll use capture nx2, should be ok .

[jetrim]

Very nice shot Armando, as GB noted, it's good to see some other folks getting involved in this type of shooting. Learn all you can from people like the girl photog you mentioned, once you're comfortable interacting with & directing the model, it gets REALLY fun

Tough break on the "no photoshop" rule, I can think of 1 specific adjustment that would really make this pop, but isn't available in Lightroom (need ability to create layers)

[armando_m]

Thanks Jetrim,
here is yet another version , landscape crop and avoided the highlights


What's the suggestion that you have? I can try it even if I do not send that particular version for critique ..

[zerodog]

To me the last one is looking pretty desaturated and odd color. Maybe go with that and go completely B&W if that is allowed for your class.