Portraits

[Geoff M]

of my youngest daughter, Phoebe. Sometimes she just does not want her photo taken and will run away and hide and at other times she asks for her photo to be taken as was the case on this occasion. All taken with the 60mm f2.8 Micro and SB800 off camera bounced from the ceiling.

[Yi-P]

They're all great!!

I like the last one, I think its best of the series here
Definitely worth printing!

Got to say she has some natural talent in posing

[DJT]

The last 2 are terriffic, can't decide which one I like better, print them both

[AndyL]

Geoff,

The last is also my pick. Is the third a crop of the first? I like the third, but would have cropped it square. Somewhere in the B&W treatment the gradations in skin tone is lost. I realise that you may be after a certain look, but it may be a little overdone.

Cheers

EDIT: PS I could be wrong about the gradations, but they are hard to discern on my laptop.

[Antsl]

Hi Geoff ... I think the last image is the best. The problem with the first two images is that you have the main light positioned beneath your subject and this is creating a light that is unnatural. Typically, light from beneath the subject is known as grotesque lighting and why it does not work is because it masks the usual definition and form we expect to see in a face.... with this lighting there is no shadow beneath the brow and nose and for the same reason, the chin appear to disappear into the neck. This form of lighting can only be used in certain conditions if you are very careful about how you pose the subject. Bottom line on the advice here is not to eliminate this form of lighting from your repertoire but to be very cautious about how you use it in the future! Hope this is a help.

[makario]

Hi Geoff,

I like that last one and the pose is the most natural as well

Cheers
Mak

[chewlinyip]

Beautiful pictures Geoff.

Print them all.

[GMD]

Nice photos, the first very natural and shoing the innocence of youth through their eyes. I also like the last one in b&w, i think would look great framed in a black frame with some non reflect glass, giving it an even smoother finish to it.

Having kids of my own i understand the comment of having to take the photo when they are in the mood!!! you have to make the most of it....great job capturing a moment in her life!!!

Well done Geoff!!

[Oscar]

Last two for me as well.

Third shot looks like a cropped version of the first (?) with some additional PP which works for me. Maybe clone out the spots (if you want to).

Cheers, Mick

[dawesy]

The first thing I thought looking at #2 was that there is too much light on her face. It's not blown, but it seems too bright to me. Viewing on a monitor that hasn't been calibrated for a while.

I agree with others about the other 3, very nice!

Cheers.

[Killakoala]

The last one, totally brilliant.

[christiand]

The last one is a beauty - very nice indeed.

CD

[Geoff M]

Thank you all for the critique, Its always helpful to improve next time she volunteers. After about 10 mins she got bored and said " No more photos", so did not get much time to try out differnet lighting.

The posing is all down to Phoebe....as soon as the flash had fired, she changes the pose........always with her hand lifted to her chin / neck strangely enough

Yes, the third is a crop of the first.

Hope to try again at the weekend, if she will let me

[colin_12]

I'm with the others on #4.
A lovely picture.
Regards Colin

[devilla101]

Pictures are gorgeous. I have to go with the status quo and pick 4 as well. Nicely converted to bw. Very classical looking photo