Portrait help please!

[Alpha_7]

I can reshoot Wayne, and your right .. the should thing was an issue for me too..

The Pink.. is sadly because I'm stuck at work with 2 non calibrated CRTs and they both look SOOOO different to each other. I have no idea where the happy medium lies.

[Greg B]

The lighting works for me too, creates separation from the BG and looks great.

Agree with other issues raised.

[Alpha_7]

Just to give you an update I had another one same deal this morning. I tried to get the help of window light, but just when we start shooting the clouds came over and reduce the affect so this was what we came up with.



This was the first time I have shot one of these with my new 50 1.4 and it makes a big difference over the kit lens (not that it did a bad job when handled correctly).

This was taken 1/60 (a bit slower then it should of been) at f 4.5 @ ISO 200.

[PiroStitch]

Brilliant!

It's great to see how you much you've progressed Craig during the duration of this thread. Top stuff bloke.

[owen]

Hey craig, what other lighting did you have here besides your cloudy window light?

[gstark]

Craig,

That image stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Seriously, this is good stuff, and you're obviously paying attention, and learning as you go.

And learning well.

[Alpha_7]

Thanks for the comments I think this thread is a great example of the different the forum feedback can make.

The side / rear lighting was from the window and the main light was the SB-800 dialled down 2 1/3 stops with diffuser on bounced off a fairly low roof.

[johnd]

Great result Craig, you've come a long way with your portraits. I'm just starting to play with portraits and I know there's a lot to learn.
Cheers
John

[ABG]

I'll add my voice to the chorus. Well done grasshopper, you've learnt well. That is one very good photo mate.

[Alpha_7]

Another two from today, this one was most challenging due to having to use late afternoon light from about 4:40ish. I'm not sure if I managed to do it cleanly, but the guy was happy with the results.

Feel free to share you thoughts, I possibly need to make the blacks in the background a little blacker on this monitor.

[johnd]

Craig, IMHO the lighting is perfect. I assume you used some fill flash but it's hard to tell. Great shot.
Cheers
John

[gstark]

Craig,

Why are you asking for help on these now?

I cannot offer anything more to you, the lighting, clarity, in-camera cropping ... It's all nailed.

[Alpha_7]

Thanks Gary and John, I was posting them here more as a reference for anyone else who needs to try to reproduce similar images.

This shot did use some dialed down flash, SB-800 off the roof with standard difuser on. The tricky aspect with this one was the afternoon sun was coming through louvres (?) so I originally had stripes of light, but by changing the angle I managed to get light coming from left of frame and bouncing back of a white wall to light the left side as well. I then used the flash to balance it all out, the best bit was getting the shot done and approved in less then 10 minutes and only taking eight shots with the guy, by locking in the exposure as best I could before her got there. The only mistake I made was keeping the ISO on 800 (oops, thankfully the noise wasn't too evident).

[PiroStitch]

You're just showing off now dude

It's all nailed, but out of the last two, I prefer the 2nd pic. It's bit warmer and the tighter crop is perfect.