A Couple B&W Studio Portraits

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Saunders on May 28, 2009 at 11:59am

Thanks Ben, I see what you mean! I should really buy a light meter to resolve the situation as 'guessing' and trial and error mean more work in lightroom later. The three shots you sent are really good and the level I am aiming to achieve; a bit more practice needed I think!
John

Permalink Reply by Ben jones on May 29, 2009 at 6:15am

John,

The old saying "practice makes perfect" is only partially right. If you practice and practice and don't get someone more qualified than yourself to point out the mistakes you are making, you will simply continue to make the same mistakes over and over again and never get better. Unfortunately the internet has made millions of GWC's overnight "experts" about everything photographic. I see them everyday on several photographic websites responding to underexposed, out of focus, poorly lit, badly composed images with comments like "wow", "excellent", "perfect", "wish I could shoot that well", etc., etc., ad nauseum.

I have written a free tutorial entitled "The Rules of Good Portraiture" which over 90,000 others have checked out. http://photocamel.com/forum/tutorials/16516-rules-good-portraiture....

Ben

Permalink Reply by Ustina on June 25, 2009 at 9:13am

Great works!
1st has a bit disturbing background, I think less DOF would correct it. the portrait itself is great. Lighting is superb! maybe I would make it a bit harder to accentuate that he's a man already, but he is still a teenager, so it's ok.
2nd is technically perfect! But it seems the model is strained, so does her smile.
3rd is simply perfect!!! =)