Gentlemen

[Geoff M]

I work in community services and today I had the pleasure of attending a Gentlemens club where four of the gents were celebrating their 90th birthdays. I was also permitted to take their portraits which I present here. Thanks for looking.

Apologies, I have posted five images. Let me know if you want one taken down

Robert


Tom


Fred


Donald


Hal

[surenj]

Hi Geoff, these have a lot of potential but I am not a fan of the color cast though. Here is something to give you some ideas.

[chrisk]

Agree, the shots look too flashed and the wb andlighting is a bit harsh. Mono conversions would be an improvement and id even bump the exp up a stop.

Charles...that rework is bloody brilliant. Can you share what u did pls.

[ozimax]

Classic photos Geoff. I love old people. The craggy face of an old bloke makes for a great subject. The piano image is especially good.

Ozi.

[ATJ]

Donald is my favourite. The image shows so much character in this nonagenarian.

I should add that I would lighten up the shadows a tad (Fill light in Lightroom).

[Geoff M]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Hi Geoff, these have a lot of potential but I am not a fan of the color cast though. Here is something to give you some ideas.

I like what you have done here Surenj, it is my intent to have a go at some more gritty versions when I have time! The colour does seem a bit warm looking at these again, WB was set to flash in camera, lighting was a single external flash (studio flash) bounced into a white brolly above and behind camera.

Agree, the shots look too flashed................. id even bump the exp up a stop.

Rooz can you explain to a ludite? Statement seems contradictory (but maybe that's just me).

These guys have so many stories to tell although some are reluctant to speak on certain subjects, i.e. Robert was involved in 'operation chastise' other wise known as the Dambusters in WWII, not sure what part he played though.

[chrisk]

Rooz can you explain to a ludite? Statement seems contradictory (but maybe that's just me).

i should have been clearer, sorry.
there are essentially 2 exposures here, there is the ambient light and there is the light from the strobe. both are working in the same frame here and the less light you draw from your ambient exposure the more light you're strobe needs to work hard to produce.

imo, in non studio environments unless you can provide better light from your flash that's a little softer and broader then you need to try and balance that ambient light to make the pics look less flashed. ie: give yourself another stop or 2 of ambient light and your flash uses less power so illuminates the subjects a little nicer and minimises any shadows. haven't seen the histogram but i bet its pretty heavily stacked to the left.

this is just of course my preference, not a rule per se.

[surenj]

Charles...that rework is bloody brilliant. Can you share what u did pls.

No problem Joshua.
1. I simply tried to correct color in LR. By mistake the white point eye dropper clicked on a random area and I liked the greenish cast so kept it.
2. Contrast/black/fill lights
3. vignette
4. grain
Notice I cheated by using the strongest photo of the lot. [That is often the key to post processing ]

Also Geoff, I can think of some ideas for you if you can post a overall picture of the room and the possible available props. For these oldies, I reckon some environmental portraits are the go if possible.

Interms of the lighting, I think it's too direct. More from the side & up MAY have been better as would hard light to accentuate the wrinkles with a bit of fill (either with ambient or with second flash).