Some Cool Portraits

Okay so on Friday I was testing out the new beauty dish I built for my flash, and I had my sister's Boy Friend there, who is always willing to model for me, and I just said "Hey, what would happen if I light him from below?" so I did, and it came out cool (IMHO) and it really whitens the eyes!
Attachment 62560

Saturday night, I realized it would look alot cooler if I used some of the fake blood I had left over! so re-shoot!

Attachment 62561

not a much editing as you'd think BTW. the light just really does most of the work!
Please critique and comment!

I like both of these a lot. I think you really nailed the DOF on the "bloody" shot, and I like the relief in the facial features of both. Your beauty dish, actually looks like a ring light reflected in the eyes, cool effect, and you are right about them being ultra white!

Thank you!

The second one isn't for me but probably for those who like that sort of thing it is a good one.
I think the first is very good and those eyes grab me right away.

This is great. I love that there is someone who understands what "horror lighting" is for. I can't stand all these shots where someone uses horror lighting and calls it a beauty shot. Well done.

I have to say that I like the first shot the best that is only opinion and not really based on anything beyond that. It is to bad you can see the reflection of the flash in his eyes in both of the photos, the top one is a tad soft as you move down to the chin, when you get a hold of him again try a higher aperture like 10 to get everything the hard look I think you are going for. Beyond the nit picking great job, keep up the good work.

No, it's definatly not beauty lighting, up-lighting has always been deemed scary - During the holcoust a photographer was asked to photograph some tycoon who supported the Nazis for the paper, and as a form of editorializm he decided to up-light him!
nikongod- I like the reflections I guess but maybe next time I'll try without...

The second image is fantastic. The focal length is right, the lighting is works, the eyes are mesmerizing, and, once again, the fake blood is convincing (always a good thing).

Personally, I like the catchlights, though not where they dip into the whites of the eyes. You might want to do some cloning/healing there.

I was just reading about homemade beauty dishes over in Hobbyland. I'm gonna have to try putting one together myself. Was it a real project to build? (I had a hard enough crafting a grid spot.)

I made a quick and easy turky pan beauty-dish (Look on DIYphotography.net). Thank you and I'll see what I can do about the whites