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It was January. My light lust was at a all time high Patrick lent me a Metz, and I was eager to try this on location...

There was some (mis) firing going on... I also broke my shoot through umbrella. It's JUNGLE out there!! Apparently wind makes the umbrella's fly? Who could have known...

Here is some results. I wanted a movie poster style with some hero's who have just conquered the world, and during their lunch break, saved it from aliens as well.



These are more ordinary portraits of friends, prior to changing in to super heros.






As usual, for your critique...
Again thanks Patrick!

In the second of these, is there a little more detail that can be coaxed from your friend's lh side? Especially around her left ear and the hair?

I like the construction of the first, however, I reckon the following improvements could be made:

1. Try to get some fill on the girl at camera left, on her left hand side.
2. Get them standing closer together.
3. Have the two girls mirror each other - either both facing out or both facing in.
4. I reckon the models should be dressed in a more edgy, hero kind of way.

I like the lighing composition and colouring in the second.

The greenish cast in the third makes the girl look unwell. I qualify this by saing my work monitor is not set up for viewing photographs well, at all. It shows about 23 colours and is uncalibrated. Also, the way she has her feet makes her look uncomfortable or an unwilling participant. Given the lighting used, I reckon you should have had her sit in a more confident pose.

Overall, I really like what you have done and post all this 'criticism' based on how I think the shots can be made even better. Oh, and having a reliable slave for the Metz would help too.

Great to see some experimentation.
For the first - there is something not quite right with the symmetry. Both girls faces have been lit from the outer sides of the frame - I don't think this quite works with both bodies facing in the same direction. Also watch out for chopping off feet. I wonder if a darker shirt (or less shirt light) may work better - as nice as your shirt is I find it is drawing in my eyes strongly making it the (unwitting) subject.
Nice work and keep experimenting!

gstark wrote:In the second of these, is there a little more detail that can be coaxed from your friend's lh side? Especially around her left ear and the hair?

Gary, unfortunately this was well and truly overexposed! The Met's is quite powerful!

Reschsmooth wrote:I like the construction of the first, however, I reckon the following improvements could be made:

1. Try to get some fill on the girl at camera left, on her left hand side.
2. Get them standing closer together.
3. Have the two girls mirror each other - either both facing out or both facing in.
4. I reckon the models should be dressed in a more edgy, hero kind of way.

The greenish cast in the third makes the girl look unwell.

Thanks for your detailed suggestions Patrick! I do need to worry less about the light and start to worry more about composition, direction etc... I need to keep that in mind. I am still trying to get the light to work for me..
In the second, I introduced the green cast because the blue on warm coloring was getting a bit old...maybe I could desaturate the skin slightly so there is less green on it... Maybe add some more yellow..

Mitchell wrote:For the first - there is something not quite right with the symmetry. Both girls faces have been lit from the outer sides of the frame - I don't think this quite works with both bodies facing in the same direction. Also watch out for chopping off feet. I wonder if a darker shirt (or less shirt light) may work better - as nice as your shirt is I find it is drawing in my eyes strongly making it the (unwitting) subject

Thanks Mitchell. I can work on the shirt quite easiliy and will see what comes out of it. As for the composition, maybe next time....