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I think you have the right idea now, but i think the back light is not subtle enough, it takes the eye awayfrom the subject still. Generally people in uniform are shot in their place of work using it as a backdrop, or with the uniform as the main interest against a plain backdrop without any other objects to distract from it. Use of backlighting can be subtle i have included a link to the cokin webpage and the champagne filter which shows this.
http://www.cokin.co.uk/pages/pastels3.htm
also it might be worth looking at the new Pentax photo gallery which has a good selection of portraits to work from. Dont know what your intended result from you shot will be so this may not be of any help but i hope all goes well for you.
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=CATEGORY&subSection=portraiture&subSubSection=149037&language=EN
Richard
http://www.cokin.co.uk/pages/pastels3.htm
also it might be worth looking at the new Pentax photo gallery which has a good selection of portraits to work from. Dont know what your intended result from you shot will be so this may not be of any help but i hope all goes well for you.
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=CATEGORY&subSection=portraiture&subSubSection=149037&language=EN
Richard
Hi Richard, and thanks for the help, I agree with you about the light and probably won't use, I should have said this is a staff 'James Bond' theme party hence the cut out silhouette, which my friend says adds interest, (most guests will be dressed in formal evening wear) I don't entirely agree with him, and think the main interest should be of the 'models'.
Hi Kieth,
This is my advice if I may...
I have just looked at yesterdays picture and in conjunction with this the white balance is incorrect in both of them. I would try the tungsten WB setting and see if this improves this and inded shoot in RAW - that way you can correct one image and then, as the lighting will be consistent for all the rest, you can just use the same RAW conversion settings for the others.
I think the cardboard cutout looks tacky - and it draws my eye away from the subject - I also wonder how many people would want a picture to take away with the cutout in it? It has a seam running through it and it has a nasty reflection on it too.
As for positioning the subjects - it was noticed yesterday that the subjects were different heights - some suggest that the shorter persons eyes should be about level with the taller persons mouth (hope that helps).
The background of todays seems a lot crisper than yesterdays - I'm not keen on it, but it looks ok - I am not sure why you have lit an area of it bottom left?
Todays upload seems to be a bit soft - yesterday somebody commented on the use of a big bulky lens - did you take their advice and use a tripod - or have you got a better more suitable alternative that you could use?
I think on the whole, the background looks better - is there anything on location that you could use that would be more suitable/appropriate? As Richard said, people are better shot in their environment - this way you could use off camera flash in their environment (KISS - Keep it Simple).
I speak from experience in getting it wrong - I rarely get it right myself
Perhaps uploading your pictures with the 'allow modification' feature would help, as I have had a play with your pics, but can't upload as Mod as this is not enabled.
I hope this doesn't sound negative - they are points that you can easily resolve, but do distract from what is otherwise a suitable image.
Kind regards,
Kevin
This is my advice if I may...
I have just looked at yesterdays picture and in conjunction with this the white balance is incorrect in both of them. I would try the tungsten WB setting and see if this improves this and inded shoot in RAW - that way you can correct one image and then, as the lighting will be consistent for all the rest, you can just use the same RAW conversion settings for the others.
I think the cardboard cutout looks tacky - and it draws my eye away from the subject - I also wonder how many people would want a picture to take away with the cutout in it? It has a seam running through it and it has a nasty reflection on it too.
As for positioning the subjects - it was noticed yesterday that the subjects were different heights - some suggest that the shorter persons eyes should be about level with the taller persons mouth (hope that helps).
The background of todays seems a lot crisper than yesterdays - I'm not keen on it, but it looks ok - I am not sure why you have lit an area of it bottom left?
Todays upload seems to be a bit soft - yesterday somebody commented on the use of a big bulky lens - did you take their advice and use a tripod - or have you got a better more suitable alternative that you could use?
I think on the whole, the background looks better - is there anything on location that you could use that would be more suitable/appropriate? As Richard said, people are better shot in their environment - this way you could use off camera flash in their environment (KISS - Keep it Simple).
I speak from experience in getting it wrong - I rarely get it right myself
Perhaps uploading your pictures with the 'allow modification' feature would help, as I have had a play with your pics, but can't upload as Mod as this is not enabled.
I hope this doesn't sound negative - they are points that you can easily resolve, but do distract from what is otherwise a suitable image.
Kind regards,
Kevin
Shoot RAW. Don't feel the cutout works at all. Rather than use the cutout, would it be possible to cast a shadow of the cutout. This will be more subtle. Perhaps you could obtain a toy gun so that the men can pose holding it. The composition of lady seated with man behind works well. Use a stool as opposed to a chair, ad the back of the chair and legs can be distracting. Sure you will have lots of fun, learn a lot, and if you get a few wrong. RAW will be there to save you.
Mike
Mike
Hi Keith,
I see you've taken on board a lot of yesterdays tips and it's working well for you. One thing I've noticed with this shot, and it is something that has given me problems lately. It is to keep sufficient B/G around the subjects. Should this shot need to be framed the frame would cut off some of the lady's foot and some of the tablecloth. Also the JB cutout would look as though it is leaning against the frame edge. Silly points I know but important to the 'client'.
Den
I see you've taken on board a lot of yesterdays tips and it's working well for you. One thing I've noticed with this shot, and it is something that has given me problems lately. It is to keep sufficient B/G around the subjects. Should this shot need to be framed the frame would cut off some of the lady's foot and some of the tablecloth. Also the JB cutout would look as though it is leaning against the frame edge. Silly points I know but important to the 'client'.
Den
Hi All,
Thanks for all your advice, Yes I shot in raw, ( I always do), removed the figure completely as I never liked it anyway, and had awful problems with reflection from it, (my fellow tog liked it)!!!!! Still used the 50 - 500 as this was the only suitable lens I had and definitely used a tripod. I will upload another from the series as soon as I have played around in CS3, and will allow mods, after all, I was not after, votes/clicks, just helpful friendly advice, which I got from you all, Thanks again
Keith
Thanks for all your advice, Yes I shot in raw, ( I always do), removed the figure completely as I never liked it anyway, and had awful problems with reflection from it, (my fellow tog liked it)!!!!! Still used the 50 - 500 as this was the only suitable lens I had and definitely used a tripod. I will upload another from the series as soon as I have played around in CS3, and will allow mods, after all, I was not after, votes/clicks, just helpful friendly advice, which I got from you all, Thanks again
Keith
