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View Full Version : B&W Self Portrait C&C please

Rooz
07-21-2007, 09:08 PM
my first ever self portrait and using multiple flashes. :D

this was shot in a moment of extreme weariness and i wanted to convey that emotion with the shot. i think i probably got that emotion thru but not too sure about the lighting. my hands look too light and the left side of my face looks too light aswell. would really like some help and comments from the lighting experts here...estorra, cw, andy, adam etc

70-200mmVR f4 1/60s 130mm

sb600 front right bounced off white kitchen cupboard @-0.7.
sb800 front left bounced off ceiling @ +1. with orange gel filter, (which added nice darkness to the image)

is there any way you can record exif from the remote flash settings ? onboard flash diffused using coldy's genius method of an empty teabag lol mind you at that distance away i dont think it gave any light anyway.

btw: i actually shot this in B&W rather than convert in PP so effectively this shot is completely untouched
AdamW
07-21-2007, 09:40 PM
Rooz--I think it looks great. I agree with you that the hands are too light. To me, that makes them the focal point of the composition and that makes me think more of "prayer" than "weariness."

Well done!
Rooz
07-22-2007, 12:07 AM
To me, that makes them the focal point of the composition and that kakes me think more of "prayer" than "weariness."

yeah, i agree.
AdamW
07-22-2007, 12:23 AM
Okay, so you can darken the hands a bit (fairly easy), or you can leave it the way it is, change the title to "Prayer," and tell everyone "I meant to do that!" :D
Rooz
07-22-2007, 12:26 AM
lol, sounds like a plan mate. :D
T06
07-23-2007, 04:53 AM
...yeah I'd probably try to hide my nose if I had a hooter like that too.:D
Rooz
07-23-2007, 05:14 AM
lmfao :D:D:D
toriaj
07-24-2007, 11:58 PM
Very nice, Rooz. I love the DOF. And may I add, you have very nice fingernails :D
Lilchilichoco
08-01-2007, 10:15 AM
Love it! And like Tori said.....your fingernails were the first thing that I saw. Lovely healthy shine. Did you get a manicure done?;)

The pose could convey both weariness and prayer. As Adam said...the first thought is prayer. But intense prayer born of weariness. That wrinkle formed on your forehead by the tips of your fingers gets the intensity of the emotion across.

I think it's a great self portrait.



Best Regards.
Esoterra
08-01-2007, 04:29 PM
my first ever self portrait and using multiple flashes. :D

this was shot in a moment of extreme weariness and i wanted to convey that emotion with the shot. i think i probably got that emotion thru but not too sure about the lighting. my hands look too light and the left side of my face looks too light aswell. would really like some help and comments from the lighting experts here...estorra, cw, andy, adam etc

70-200mmVR f4 1/60s 130mm

sb600 front right bounced off white kitchen cupboard @-0.7.
sb800 front left bounced off ceiling @ +1. with orange gel filter, (which added nice darkness to the image)

is there any way you can record exif from the remote flash settings ? onboard flash diffused using coldy's genius method of an empty teabag lol mind you at that distance away i dont think it gave any light anyway.

btw: i actually shot this in B&W rather than convert in PP so effectively this shot is completely untouched

Great shot rooz. The black and white really works as it pulls out the detail. I like the angle of your face to the lens- "your" left eye has more detail than "your" right eye ~ mabey a higher fstop? Just my two cents. As mentioned earlier, the hands are a little bright-a little dodge n burn outta fix that. Try cropping the picture portrait and see if that adds more impact to the "prayer" aspect of this image. I am a big fan of appropriate vignette~ who knows it might work. All in all as a first impression this image tells me that you know what your doing and do it well!

Hope this helps
Rooz
08-02-2007, 04:47 AM
ty tor and bella. nice to know my fingernail care has not all been a waste. lol :D

good point chris, next time i will have to use a higher fstop. if i knew how to dodge and burn i think that would work too, but i pretty much suck at doing that. besides which i want to try and get my lighting as close to right striaght off the bat. perhaps a higher f stop would aslo have toned down the hands aswell. will try. :)