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Tom Rouse
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p.1 #1 · My Wife Vickie

I'm a sports photographer and work for the local newspaper. I took a photo of my wife for her business cards. I used a Alien bee ring flash and a black BD in my garage. I'm just looking for suggestions and opinions on this image. Thanks/Tommy

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Aug 28, 2008 at 02:14 PM

Geoff Wilde
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p.1 #2 · My Wife Vickie

looks like you surprised her with the flash. She looks pensive. The blur doesn't work for me with the clarity of the head.

Aug 28, 2008 at 02:16 PM

Tom Rouse
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p.1 #3 · My Wife Vickie

I used the blur because she is in the teeth whitening business and I wanted to put the emphasis on the teeth of a 57 yr old woman. Maybe I have done the opposite. Thanks!

Aug 28, 2008 at 02:22 PM

Geoff Wilde
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p.1 #4 · My Wife Vickie

Even for a business card, she should be the focus. The teeth should be white, but not the emphasis unless you shot just her mouth

More experienced people will chime in, I'm sure.

Edited on Aug 28, 2008 at 02:30 PM

Aug 28, 2008 at 02:30 PM

rpwsrw
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p.1 #5 · My Wife Vickie

i think that your lighting is too harsh. i can see how the focus of the light is right between her eyes. i would like the light more spread out over her face. it also created a dark spot on the top of her head which is too big.

the blur looks horrible to me. have her put on a black or dark shirt. problem solved.

take the light back a bit and angle it more so you can get all of her face lit evenly

Aug 28, 2008 at 02:40 PM

paulhodson
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p.1 #6 · My Wife Vickie

I won't comment on the lighting - as I am inexperienced in that regard - but I don't like the results much. And the processing is way over the top in some ways - and underdone in others. She may be 57 - and looks god on it - but the lack of skin processing especially in a world where it dominates most printed images is unkind to her.

Aug 28, 2008 at 02:41 PM

Gunslinger
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p.1 #7 · My Wife Vickie

She is a pretty lady. Your lighting is harsh. The black bg tends to consume her around the edges. I'd go with a lighter bg and then soften that light. Or maybe put your bg near a window and catch some natural light. Do her justice and she will be a very pretty lady.

Aug 28, 2008 at 04:19 PM

KABeach
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p.1 #8 · My Wife Vickie

That lighting is very unflattering for that subject... Like those above had suggested, I would go with a softer light - either a softbox, large brolly or soft window light.. since you said you shot it in the garage, the diffused light from an open garage door can also be used to create a flattering light.

The black backdrop is too much for my taste (at least without some sort of hairlight to give definition to the top of her head).

I also agree with the comments about going with a darker toned shirt.. white tends to distract from the face.

Cheers,
Ken

Aug 28, 2008 at 04:39 PM

Sam Bortol
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p.1 #9 · My Wife Vickie

I am sorry, but the lighting and the pp just are not working...she seems surprised with the flash...it does not look natural. her teeth are not as white as I would like to see i I was her client. I think you are off to a good start, just need a few tweaks. try to tone down the pp a tad bit

. try again and don't be discouraged

Aug 28, 2008 at 07:19 PM

Chris Ventura
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p.1 #10 · My Wife Vickie

I would have her in a darker shirt for sure. White teeth are NEVER going to look white compared to a bleached white shirt! ;-)

Aug 29, 2008 at 04:35 AM

SJMD
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p.1 #11 · My Wife Vickie

Chris Ventura wrote:
I would have her in a darker shirt for sure. White teeth are NEVER going to look white compared to a bleached white shirt! ;-)

I agree a darker shirt would bring out the teeth more.

best

steve

Aug 29, 2008 at 11:56 AM

ssteppe
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p.1 #12 · My Wife Vickie

The light is too low and too harsh.
1. Raise the light so it's aiming down at about a 45 degree angle.
2. Soften by shooting through a thin white sheet (unless you have a softbox or umbrella.)

Aug 30, 2008 at 12:49 AM

dgshooter
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p.1 #13 · My Wife Vickie

I agree with those who suggest a darker shirt. I would add that the shirt should have sleeves and a collar as well. Too much skin showing below the neck will distract the viewed away form the face.

Aug 30, 2008 at 12:56 AM

timhpark
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p.1 #14 · My Wife Vickie

I agree that the lighting is too harsh. I don't think the blur is very effective as well.

Aug 30, 2008 at 01:03 AM

Jim Rickards
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p.1 #15 · My Wife Vickie

I spite of all the comments, you have a nice clear picture that will improve with the changes you can make from suggestions here. Don't be discouraged, you are not far from a great shot.

Two points from me:
Look at the top of her hair, how the light has not reached the middle portion, and it blends into the background. A hair light of some other lighting to illuminate that spot is required. The second point (already mentioned) is that the blurring looks fake. Our eyes will not let us believe the top is naturally blurred. There is little downside to keeping it in focus or slightly out of focus.

Aug 30, 2008 at 01:15 AM

Speed4x5
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p.1 #16 · My Wife Vickie

A single light just isn't going to cut it. I've had success lately by just using some 12inch paraboic reflectors with a 500watt (could use a 250 watt main light and a hair light with 1/2 the wattage hanging from the ceiling with some aluminum foil directing the light and keeping the light off of the bg. By moving the light higher and to the side (short light her-if you don't know what that means do some research). Use a reflector under her if you want to lighten some shadows and use a reflector opposite the main light. Can get f4.5 at 1/30 or 1/60sec at iso 100 but keep the lights off until ready to use as the heat can build up.

Like the other posters said, a darker shirt would do wonders. Soften the skin with some PS work.

Aug 30, 2008 at 01:54 PM


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