Some portrait attempts

[Darxtorm]

Hi fellow dslrers. Long time listener, first time poster

I recently had a chance to play around with a friend's speedlight. Here are a few of my favourites, two of which are self portraits. Please let me know what you think, as I'm rather green, especially in the creative lighting department.

(Hope this works)

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I was using my Nikon D80 with 18-200VR on a Velbon tripod and using an SB600 on commander mode for these three.

Thanks!

[Alpha_7]

Hey Joel,

Good to see you on here finally sharing some of your work, (it's about time).

#1 I like this one, it's funny as it feels relaxed even though it looks somewhat posed at the same time. I'd have prefer if you kept the background as all of the colours wall and exluded to corner and the grey wall, move her further down the bed, and keep the background seemless. - You could crop it down, but given the composition you'd lose some of her arm

#2 I like this self portrait, it's well exposed I like how your shadow blends in with the light fall off on the background, good for a start, I'd be tempted to put a reflect to bounce a little light into the back of your head and give your hair a little pop against the background.

#3 I like it, but a few thing that jump out at me, the horizontal line in the background severs your head, a compositional no-no, and then the window does the same higher up. I'd have put the timer on the camera, to avoid you seeing the remote, but thats more a personal preference thing. I'd have also tired (with a snoot or gobo) to avoid the light / shadow from your shoulder on the back wall I find it also distracts.

Hope this helps, and looking forward to seeing a lot more photos from you, now you've made the plunge!

[Darxtorm]

#1 I definitely think I'll be moving her up the bed next time. I noticed working with the fill flash the (close) background becomes much more noticable than what you see through the finder. I basically woke Georgie up by taking Charlie in and shoving a lens and flash in her face, so some preparation might be in order next time too

#2 Thanks, a back of head reflector would have been a great idea... Where's my lackey?!

#3 Dammit, you're right and I only noticed the shadow in upper right after I posted it. Also, I hear ya about the remote... I started using the timer a few shots after this but the dark expression was too priceless in this one to lose (imho)

Hopefully once I figure out how to do more than white balance in post I can rescue some of these a little. I just realised that all three have problems in the upper right... Perhaps I need to pay more attention to that area of frame?