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At a recent shoot with Dawesy, Anita and Erin we each took turns developing a concept, the lighting scheme (sometimes simple, other times fairly elaborate) and then shooting the concept (or in some cases anyone someone else shoot the concept if they were appearing in front of camera).

These three shots all use very similar lighting (slight variation between them) and the same two models, but I hope they each carry their own flavour of menace as the title suggestions. Given this is very experimental and conceptional stuff I'm really hoping for some honest and direct feed back on these, and what you think I could of done to improve the shots themselves on the concept as a whole. Thanks to Dawesy and Anita for modelling in this one.

General Strobist Info
Back Light: SB800 Full Power Gelled Green.
Hard Snooted Uncorrected light camera left in line with models directed primary at male model. Sb-800 1/4 Power
Snooted Sb-800: 1/8 CTO (varied amount of feathering) to Warm female model.

Hostage


Assailant


Predator


Please fire away with the feedback.

Thanks,
Craig

#1 really doesn't work for me. I think it's his eyes. THey are gentle & looking to the camera. I think they should carry an element of menace & be looking at the knife.

#2

#3 This time, it's the girls expression that lets it down for me. It's more "Do we HAVE to visit your mum again so soon" rather than "Please don't kill me Mr bad guy"

Conceptually I like these shots but, and it’s a big but, I feel that the one thing missing is blood on the knife. This would take the shot into another realm.

sirhc55 wrote:Conceptually I like these shots but, and it’s a big but, I feel that the one thing missing is blood on the knife. This would take the shot into another realm.

Chris,
Surely the blood won't be there until after he's done with the girl

Excellent concept and very good lighting!

The middle one is my favourite. The last one would be great but I agree with Mr. Darcy's comments.

Well done,

Alex

Alex wrote:Excellent concept and very good lighting!

The middle one is my favourite. The last one would be great but I agree with Mr. Darcy's comments.

Well done,

Alex

I couldnt put it any better

Look like a very interesting day great to see soemthing a bit different too..

hoping for some honest and direct feed back on these, and what you think I could of done to improve the shots themselves on the concept as a whole

On a general note for all three images/composition i find the scenes flat, lacking depth or a 3d effect. I think i see this because the background wall, all shots are pretty much perpendicular to the wall giving them a flat look, does that make sense? A composition with a wall with features that tapered off into the background which the main subject placed along the wall might give the scene more depth.

I do like the use of the window, i think it adds much more than just the bare, prison like wallls.

The first two images are clearly better in my mind, i find the expression of the models critical to making this so. In the first two Anita's expression and body language, particularly the exposed, stressed neck muscles and deeply furrowed brow really give that sense of fear. In the second I think Jon needs to tense muscles in the face/neck etc to give that look of extertion and adrenaline...

The second image i think could also be improved by cropping it in tighter, remove some from the LHS, RHS and top to really get the viewer looking at the two parties, nothing else (maybe some window tho).

& looking to the camera.

I think they should carry an element of menace & be looking at the knife.

or even better at the eyes of Anita..

The biggest thing for me when lookign over these images was the flat 2d look, something like a tapering wall or background composition that gives more depth (3d) to the image would make these really good.

hth.

Craig, really lie 2 and shows to me how important the expression of the model is. The expression is just perfect in two and works very well.

Mr Darcy wrote:

sirhc55 wrote:Conceptually I like these shots but, and it’s a big but, I feel that the one thing missing is blood on the knife. This would take the shot into another realm.

Chris,
Surely the blood won't be there until after he's done with the girl

If this shot was of Dexter in action then there would be plenty of blood from previous usage

Ok, as usual, I'm going to go against the grain here.

My fav is #1. And I like the creepy looking eyes of the bad guy looking straight into the camera - menacing and yet strangely unemotional (not sure how I see both as that seems to be a contradiction). They make me think that this guy could easily slit her throat with not a second thought. This shot looks to me like an actual proof of life photo or still of a ransom video.

The other two don't strike me as 'real'. Kind of like a TV show. I'm not sure why - sorry!