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okay not work safe but I don't think they are tacky either.. my first attempt at nude portrature and my second time in a studio so I am still trying to get the hang of the lighting thing lol..

bindii, love the negative space you used in the last 3. also love the white backdrop and the hi-key style. definately tasteful and no tackiness at all. they are beautiful.

the lighting is a little shadowy in the first. looks like it could have used a bit of fill light in some instances where the shadows are a little distracting especially from the elbow and fingers.

I think they work really well Sue. Godo lighting, poses, exposure and nudity. What more could you want in a work of art. (Although that said, I am not keen on the second last one. Your model's pose seems a little jumbled and confused. There seems to be a pack of a focal point to my eyes.)

Sue,

Nice images, but I'm not happy with your lighting, nor with your choices of focal lengths.

Chris has already commented on the lighting in the first image, and his comments are spot on, but they also, I think, apply to most of the other images.

Look, for instance, at the last image. You have a light to camera right which is throwing light onto the side of your model's face, her lh shoulder, and both of her thighs. But much of her torso is in shadow; did you not have any light towards camera left, but basically adjacent to where you were shooting from? I think that a light in about that sort of location, may have helped. Probably need about .7 of a stop between these two lights, and expose for the primary light source.

The penultimate images suffers similarly (IMHO) but not quite to the same extent.

Those two images were shot using 50mm and 60mm respectively. On the 5D2, I would think that something in the realm of 105mm - 135mm would have been more suitable for these images.

Well done Sue,

If I'd achieved that on my first attempt at shooting nudes, I probably would have been very happy...

I simply love #2 & #3 and the last...

They may look even better in black and white and with a little more contrast - give it a try.

I personally don't mind the shadows here and there... In nude photography light illuminates, but shadow reveals (credit: Walter)

Shadows create form. I think you have achieved an excellent result and they are very classical and artistic. Have you tried converting them to B&W? They might work well without colour and gain something more.

Great stuff, I wish I would manage that!

+1 for the monochrome conversion.

Interesting poses, Surprisingly you dont really get drawn to the private bits.

i'll mention the poses, they are all very refined and elegant right through to the fingers. You have achived beautiful sensual lines, my question is did the model just pose for you or is it under your direction she composed herself

as for the lighting i would of used 2 lights one on either side to minimise the shadows but leave the one on the right brighter to get some definition

wonderful jobn for your first go

Thanks for you feedback everyone.. its much appreciated!

And Wendell.. I asked the model to pose but she came up with some of them and I just asked for some slight adjustments if I thought it necessary.. in hindsight I should have paid more attention to her hands as they seem too promiment in some of the images.. *sigh* but I guess we live and learn.. oh and I did use two lights but both were softboxes with the one to the left (behind) not as bright (or directly on her) as the front one to try and bring out some shadows but it seems I might have overdone it huh?

I had a go at converting one... just a quick conversion but I think it still needs more work.. too tired to worry about it too much tonight though lol..

Yes on closer inspection you did use 2 lights with ratio lighting
She's a really good model and you work well together, one way you can tell is a model has a lot of experience or just the knack is if they finish off their poses with beautiful delicate fingers the fingers and pose on 3 is exquisite
It just makes you feel like you know how she feels

Anyway as a 2nd suggestion if you shot these against a black backdrop it would negate the need for a 2nd light to cut shadows
1 light is more than enough to show off the female form will also add more mood and contrast

Usually 2nd light is used for rim lighting
Which you could try next time

Great work anyway
I looked twice

can't give you any advice as i know nothing about lighting .... but i love #1 ... it looks fantastic to me ...
brings out all her good bits and doesn't show any bad bits ... looks very professional to me