Pure portraits

There didn't seem to be any threads for just portraits, and since the discipline has really grabbed my interest I thought I start one. The pic below is my first result using strobes, so a first attempt at lighting using a large softbox to the left of the pic, and a fill softbox umbrella to the right.



I won't claim it's great, but since it's my son I think it's pretty good. If I had more time, or rather a more patient son, I'd work on shortening the DoF to blur the background. And try and get a catchlight to ping the eyes out a bit. Actually looking at it now, I'd also crop the right a little. (It's a big temptation to do the above in Photoshop, but that defeats the purpose of learning to control the light somewhat.)

Edited by Angusdog - 27 May 2007 at 13:19

Hallo Angusdog, working with light is something else, ain't it. Just one good advice. Try to work it out with the camerasettings and your lightning sets. You can always do some work at the computer, but everything you can manage with the camera is better (IMHO). For the rest..keep on shooting. (ok..another suggestion, use a doll or a mannequin doll (right word ?!?)to try some lightning settings, they won't run away and also will be still for a long lime LOL!!)

Here are two portraits I took, one with studio lighting (just 2 Minolta 5600HS wireless, an umbrella and a reflector)and the other one outsite with a 5600 HS mounted on a tripod with a small softbox attached to it, also used wireless. And as you can see, still learning every day !! Greatings Theo

Thanks for the advice, and as it was my first image posting I'm very open to suggestions. The image as posted was saved out of Photoshop as JPG with lower quality than I'd use for non-online stuff. However, it was shot as JPG and I had to pull the midpoints up more than I'd like, I'll shoot only as RAW from now on(Which means I'm off to buy some more CF cards). I've also got a flash meter on the way which will help, no doubt.

Here are a few portraits that I've done - all taken with the 7D.

1. Glamour Portrait:



2. Family Portrait:



3. Child Portrait



Bob S.

A spontaneous one from last week.


7D; Vivitar 100-3.5

A100 + Tamron 90SP

over exposed intentionally, any comments?

Do candid shots count also, or should it be a "formal" portrait?
If the former, here's my entry - "Oh, that terrible Sun!":