Latest model-shoot

[Bearface]

I've been in the studio for much of this week, initially doing a hair shoot for a salon and a number of industry magazines, and then later doing a model's portfolio session. Yesterday's model, a 6' blonde commercial model called Lauren, was particularly good so I thought I'd post a shot from the session.

For this set, I noticed Lauren had a man's shirt and tie in her wardrobe, so I thought it would look great for a mono shot. However once I'd seen how the colours and the dark green background worked together, I figured I'd stick with full colour. The intention was to produce some clean, simple expressive portraits and concentrate on expressions, so I used a single, offset strobe and a large softbox to give an even spread of light, but in the absence of any fill from the left, also some nice soft shadows / contrast and a little mystique.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share that with you. If you have any comments, by all means post them. Thanks

[Pol]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Anyway, I just thought I'd share that with you. If you have any comments, by all means post them. Thanks

Are you sure? D'ya really want to hear the synopsis of the Pol and Gert discussion that's going on here?

Pol

[Stephen]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Are you sure? D'ya really want to hear the synopsis of the Pol and Gert discussion that's going on here?

Pol

Yes please

[Autumn]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Hi Tim,

What a stunner! Beautiful girl, beautiful hair. I think the shirt, tie and lighting work well.

My only critique would be the harsh green background.

It is not the pleasantist (is there such a word?) of greens.

To start, there are a three things I would try. The First would be to fade the green, but it may not give sufficient contrast for you, the second would be to still have a strong green (if green is what you want) but change the shade and the third would be to pick a pixel out of Lauren's eye as dark as is necessary to give the desirable contrast.

You did arsk!

Thanks for sharing.

[Pol]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Yes please

Aye, I just knew you would.

Well ...... FWIW ............ here goes.

We're not in complete agreement about it but near enough on most aspects. We agree it has a certain 1950s early 60s type of charm and 'glamour' about it. David likes the colours, I'm not so keen on the green but that's just a personal thing I have about shades of green and we're agreed the colours work well together.

I'm not so keen on that tie. He sees nowt wrong with it whereas I feel it's just a tad too prominent and tends to distract from her expression ....... which we agree is good. intense, captivating, sexy and lots of other possible interpretations.

We both feel it kinda lacks texture - seems a bit 'smooth' and lacking in fabric and skin textures in places.

The lighting is good in that one side is brighter whilst the other is darker and the shadows are subtle, good and about right. However - we felt there are areas on the right that a touch too bright so that some of details on the cuff of the shirt are almost lost, the earring is too white against the hair highlights and the hair texture, on that right side, lacks some texture and definition.

So - ok, it's the expression that's the most important feature and it's a good expression, as I already said. Intense and striking eyes though I'd like to have seen more eyelash detail. I s'pose that's more of a cosmetic issue. The nose details are only just acceptable on that bright side too in that the nostril is seen but not as clearly as I'd prefer.

The general conclusion .... "just a touch too high key on that right side, could be taken down a bit" (his exact words, not mine as he has more of the technical jargon than me).

My own words this time ..... ask her to lose that earring next time, or at least choose a darker one that's less likely to be lost against the bright hair and skin.

Definitely spot on with that expression though. She certainly brought a smile to Gert's face. He thinks I don't notice these things y'know ..... LOL


Pol

[coupekid]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Anyway, I just thought I'd share that with you. If you have any comments, by all means post them. Thanks

Fancy swapping jobs Tim!

Lovely shot, I think the green on its own isnt the nicest colour, but it definately works well here.

[Bearface]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Aye, I just knew you would.

Well ...... FWIW ............ here goes.

We're not in complete agreement about it but near enough on most aspects. We agree it has a certain 1950s early 60s type of charm and 'glamour' about it. David likes the colours, I'm not so keen on the green but that's just a personal thing I have about shades of green and we're agreed the colours work well together.

I'm not so keen on that tie. He sees nowt wrong with it whereas I feel it's just a tad too prominent and tends to distract from her expression ....... which we agree is good. intense, captivating, sexy and lots of other possible interpretations.

We both feel it kinda lacks texture - seems a bit 'smooth' and lacking in fabric and skin textures in places.

The lighting is good in that one side is brighter whilst the other is darker and the shadows are subtle, good and about right. However - we felt there are areas on the right that a touch too bright so that some of details on the cuff of the shirt are almost lost, the earring is too white against the hair highlights and the hair texture, on that right side, lacks some texture and definition.

So - ok, it's the expression that's the most important feature and it's a good expression, as I already said. Intense and striking eyes though I'd like to have seen more eyelash detail. I s'pose that's more of a cosmetic issue. The nose details are only just acceptable on that bright side too in that the nostril is seen but not as clearly as I'd prefer.

The general conclusion .... "just a touch too high key on that right side, could be taken down a bit" (his exact words, not mine as he has more of the technical jargon than me).

My own words this time ..... ask her to lose that earring next time, or at least choose a darker one that's less likely to be lost against the bright hair and skin.

Definitely spot on with that expression though. She certainly brought a smile to Gert's face. He thinks I don't notice these things y'know ..... LOL


Pol

Well thanks you two, there's plenty for me to consider there. I guess the styling and colouring is all pretty subjective, but the shirt and tie made seemed like a good idea at the time, and I use that green background pretty often coz I love the colour. But it's good to hear some unbiased, honest feedback in any case

The strong highlights are something I tend to favour in my work, but I agree with you about the earring; I think I may clone it out. Lauren had put them in for the previous outfit, and to be honest I hadn't noticed they were still in at this stage. Being of the pearl variety, they were bound to catch the light, particularly in this se. I'll consider my wrists slapped

My other half was also photographing Lauren yesterday, so she's used to seeing that knowing smile. Still, it's okay to look, innit..?

[Mike Parr]

Re: Latest model-shoot

I'd like to see a B/w conversion of this shot it might help deter from the background apart from that I like the models eyes.
Mike

[Bearface]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Fancy swapping jobs Tim!

Lovely shot, I think the green on its own isnt the nicest colour, but it definately works well here.

Swap jobs...? Well I know what you do (or at least where you work), so maybe just for one day, eh..?

[Bearface]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Okay Pol and Audrey, I've made some adjustments to the file in accordance with some, if not all of your suggestions. I think that in terms of the contrast (Audrey) and the highlights / earring (Pol), the revised version is clearly better, but I'll let you decide

[Autumn]

Re: Latest model-shoot

I'm not sure Tim. I really liked the colour of her hair on the original shot.

Some detail has been lost on her right wrist under the cuff of the shirt - it is very dark.

You see, I didn't have a big problem with the original image - it was just the green background and although it is not so obvious, I feel that for my taste it is now too dark.

The earring, I didn't mind. It was tasteful, but she is a pretty girl and can get away without being adorned.

The overall colours have altered which is probably contrast. I think I prefer the original. (I should have kept my big mouth shut! )

=================

My husband has just walked in and I asked him which he preferred. He said:

"They are both good. Probably for a portrait the one on the right is the best because it has more shadow."

So there you are.

[Archangel]

Re: Latest model-shoot

I've been in the studio for much of this week, initially doing a hair shoot for a salon and a number of industry magazines, and then later doing a model's portfolio session. Yesterday's model, a 6' blonde commercial model called Lauren, was particularly good so I thought I'd post a shot from the session.

For this set, I noticed Lauren had a man's shirt and tie in her wardrobe, so I thought it would look great for a mono shot. However once I'd seen how the colours and the dark green background worked together, I figured I'd stick with full colour. The intention was to produce some clean, simple expressive portraits and concentrate on expressions, so I used a single, offset strobe and a large softbox to give an even spread of light, but in the absence of any fill from the left, also some nice soft shadows / contrast and a little mystique.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share that with you. If you have any comments, by all means post them. Thanks

Tim,

I will not comment on your photo. You already know how good it is and there is no reason to say something you already know. The green background may not be the best choice according to my personal preference, but it makes a good contrast with the girl in the foreground.

I'm glad to see some different approach this time in terms of DOF. In your previous models shots there used to be always some part in your model that was slighlty blured due to the DOF you have used, according to your personal preference style and I always use to comment for not liking this so much.
Now I see a tack sharp model all around and have no complaints this time.
Anyway, I think it works better now like this.

George

[Ian]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Fancy swapping jobs Tim!

Lovely shot, I think the green on its own isnt the nicest colour, but it definately works well here.

Green is my fave colour, so it gets the thumbs up from me

But I do have a problem with the tie - it's just too neat and tidy and the bands are too slim - talk about nitpicking!

Ian

[Pol]

Re: Latest model-shoot

Okay Pol and Audrey, I've made some adjustments to the file in accordance with some, if not all of your suggestions. I think that in terms of the contrast (Audrey) and the highlights / earring (Pol), the revised version is clearly better, but I'll let you decide

Oh yes, yes YES!! The revised version is a big hit all round this end!

More seductive and more predatory. Even the tie seems to work well in the revised version, possibly because the tie is in line with the eyes so it adds to the intense/predatory 'come hither' seductive expression and pose (and the stripes suggest 'animal instincts')

Much better background too

In short - it's a belter now!! I love it, we both love it!!

Pol

[Tinka]

Re: Latest model-shoot

the intense/predatory 'come hither' seductive expression (By Pol)
If I got a look like that from a girl now I would probably have a coranary. A great portrait, both of them, which is down to personal taste, I think that I prefer the second edited version looking at them together, however in isolation the are both great images.