Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
  #1
Erin, B/W headshot
Lens: FA77 Camera: K-5 Photo Location: studio ISO: 400 Shutter Speed: 1/200s Aperture: F4 
Posted By: Todd Adamson, 02-25-2011, 06:00 PM

I was trying out some new film with Erin today. This was just a test shot with the K-5, to confirm exposure. But I think it's nice...loved her smile in this one. Hopefully the film I'll have back next week will have an in-focus shot or two!


Views: 3,436
02-25-2011, 06:13 PM   #2
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Sailor's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Coastal Texas
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 26,205
Looks exceptional to me, Todd. Her eyes are riveting; BMW angel eyes.

Jer
02-25-2011, 09:17 PM   #3
Pentaxian
SpecialK's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So California
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,479
The catch-light from the ring-light, at the same diameter as her pupil, is a little disconcerting.
02-25-2011, 09:32 PM   #4
Inactive Account




Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NB, Canada
Posts: 85
It's a nice shot, but what I notice first and most are her eyelashes. They're so sharp in comparison to the rest of the shot.

02-25-2011, 09:39 PM   #5
Veteran Member
Todd Adamson's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 722
Original Poster
Thanks for looking, guys.

I used an edge mask for sharpening, and I may have overdone it a little in this version. I have a more stylized color version I almost posted, but then decided that most people might think it was completely overcooked, so did this quickie B/W version.
02-26-2011, 02:25 AM   #6
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Bob Harris's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Canon City, Colorado
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 18,477
Todd, look at the eyes, not quite right, right??
02-26-2011, 06:05 AM   #7
Veteran Member
Todd Adamson's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 722
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Bob Harris Quote
Todd, look at the eyes, not quite right, right??
Depends on your perspective, I guess. Are you talking about my oversharpening that's been discussed already? I may have time to go back and fix that today.

If you're referring to the lighting, well again, a matter of opinion. I personally like the ringlight, but am all too aware that not everyone does.

02-26-2011, 06:11 AM   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Finland
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,196
The ringlight reflection is an eye-catcher for sure . I think it is growing on me, keeps looking better. (This implies coming back to the image which is praise in thin disguise as such, I guess .
02-26-2011, 06:33 AM   #9
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Sailor's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Coastal Texas
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 26,205
I looked again, Todd - and I still think this is a cool shot, though I didn't realize the light in her eyes came from a ring flash, but I think it's a wonderful effect. Again - you outa sell this to BMW - it'd make a great centerpiece for a commercial.

Jer
02-26-2011, 06:38 AM   #10
Veteran Member
MRRiley's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sterling, VA, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 6,275
I like the pose, expression and framing... but I have to say I hate ringlights for portraits. They produce such flat light that there is no modeling and the highlights in the eyes just don't work (for me anyway).
02-26-2011, 06:43 AM   #11
Veteran Member
Ben_Edict's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SouthWest "Regio"
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,309
QuoteOriginally posted by MRRiley Quote
I like the pose, expression and framing... but I have to say I hate ringlights for portraits. They produce such flat light that there is no modeling and the highlights in the eyes just don't work (for me anyway).
I, on the other side, like ring lights for portaits very much, but only as a fill and in combination with another main light. So, I guess, I use rls only as a convenient substitute for a beauty dish, if I am too lazy to set the bd up...

Though I agree, that I find the catch light too obvious in this shot, as it is rimming the iris too strongly for my liking.

Ben
02-26-2011, 09:37 AM   #12
Veteran Member
Todd Adamson's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 722
Original Poster
Thanks for your comments, everyone. I re-uploaded the file, with no sharpening applied, and when I downsized I used the plain Bicubic algorithm. It doesn't look much different, LOL. I guess the FA77 is just ridiculously sharp at f/4. Oh well, I'll try and live with it.

A few notes regarding my ringlight. It's not a flash, but rather a cheap-ass Chinese deal I got off eBay. Daylight(ish) fluorescent bulb, about 14" in diameter. I like it because it was cheap, it's light, I can combine it with window light, and because it directly brings me more clients. I don't like the small size, because if I want the catchlights to be obvious, I have to get it close, so can only do headshots.

It's not my favorite type of lighting, for the "flat light" reason that Mike mentioned, though I don't mind the catchlights. But while it's become an overused and inappropriately used tool in photographer circles (much like HDR), it's still not all that common in the mainstream, and people instantly notice the different look. So when I do a high school senior session, I normally send them a few small watermarked jpgs for their Facebook page. Invariably, when they post them, the ringlight shots are the ones that people go nuts over, and about half of my new senior clients ask for it when they come in. Erin is working as an intern at the studio right now, and we decided to do some film shots yesterday. I was only concerned about how the resulting film looked, colorwise, since I am just starting to mess with film, so I told Erin we could do whatever she wanted. She went right for the ringlight.

Just for fun, here's a couple more files. The same shot as above with more radical processing, plus a different shot with a low contrast look that I don't normally prefer, but I was just experimenting. Another ringlight shot, my apologies.



02-26-2011, 10:06 AM   #13
Veteran Member




Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: USA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,901
QuoteOriginally posted by SpecialK Quote
The catch-light from the ring-light, at the same diameter as her pupil, is a little disconcerting.
I get basically the same feeling. Very distacting and somewhat unsettling. Not sure if I have ever seen this kind of effect before. Is that the effect you were going for?
02-26-2011, 10:20 AM   #14
Inactive Account




Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,972
Despite what many photographers here say, the truth is...the vast majority of folks on this site are not paid photographers and this style of image is making YOU money.


That being said...I like these images (a lot) and can see why this is bringing in business for you.

Well done!

c[_]
02-26-2011, 11:05 AM   #15
Veteran Member
Todd Adamson's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 722
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by OrenMc Quote
Is that the effect you were going for?
Yes. I don't generally post accidents, because I'm not one of those people who often has "happy" accidents. LOL, when I screw up, I do it pretty dramatically.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
camera, erin, film, photo, shot
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
People Erin Todd Adamson Post Your Photos! 6 12-14-2010 10:18 AM
People Headshot candgpics Photo Critique 15 11-24-2010 09:12 PM
Macro Headshot Rense Post Your Photos! 14 05-10-2010 02:10 PM
People Headshot D4rknezz Photo Critique 6 04-16-2010 01:30 PM
People Headshot candgpics Post Your Photos! 3 11-26-2009 09:55 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:59 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top