Opinions on this portrait piece? So hard to capture someone looking natural...

[dug777]

The missus:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dug777/NPortrait.JPG

It was shot as colour, but i've black&whit-ed it, and just used the default 'auto' brightness adjustment, as it was a bit dark to start with, but i really couldn't decide how much to brighten it up

EDIT: it think it's perhaps a little too bright as it is...

 

[randomlinh]

just a hair too bright in the face maybe. what lighting did you use? The shadow casted is a bit distracting I think

And yah, it's hard to catch stuff when you draw so much attention w/ an SLR

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: randomlinh
just a hair too bright in the face maybe. what lighting did you use? The shadow casted is a bit distracting I think

And yah, it's hard to catch stuff when you draw so much attention w/ an SLR

Just the inbuilt flash, under CFLs

I would like a SB 800, but that's some way down the track i think

 

[randomlinh]

www.strobist.com I'm starting to try to learn this stuff.. I notice things, but still have no idea how to do it all right, hah.

 

[troytime]

I would get rid of the beer bottles in the background, they form a 'line' that intersects with the missus's head

as far as the B&W conversion and brightness, how did you convert it to b&w?
I've always liked the outcome of B&W when each color is desaturated seperately (producing a sepia look, or other low tone color look)

My wife is a post processing guru, so i usually have her take care of all my toning and leveling when i can't make up my mind.

The shot is good though, she looks natural

 

[alrocky]

I would much prefer to be able to see her eyes.

 

[episodic]

Can I post my interpretation of it?

 

[dartworth]

SB-800?

Pick up a SB-600...all you need for now...

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: troytime
I would get rid of the beer bottles in the background, they form a 'line' that intersects with the missus's head

as far as the B&W conversion and brightness, how did you convert it to b&w?
I've always liked the outcome of B&W when each color is desaturated seperately (producing a sepia look, or other low tone color look)

My wife is a post processing guru, so i usually have her take care of all my toning and leveling when i can't make up my mind.

The shot is good though, she looks natural

Picture Project

@episodic: go for it. use your own judgment as to whether it's appropriate

 

[AndrewR]

Good shot, though you might consider touching up her forehead to remove the "shine", presumably from the flash. Blur it out. I also agree with the comment about her eyes -- if she were glancing up at the camera, it would be a really nice shot.

But, hey, it's easy to be a critic.