[Dave]

C&C welcome on this shot. Window light to right, with studio light to left on lowish power for fill in. Shame I didn't set something up for some catch lights

[Angela]

I think Dave, that she looks a bit grey! Which is fine but looks a bit strange against the background.

[cpd23]

I agree the color just does not work for me. The focus and the rest of the shot looks dead on.

[Rob Barron]

I have a feeling this one was probably better before you took the colour out Dave but I still like it as she has a gentle face. I think she's a bit square on and yes, definitely some catchlights would help greatly (even faux ones!) but still nicely lit overall with some good skin tones.

Any chance we could see the coloured version?

Cheers,
Rob

[Dave]

Here's the colour version, where I also haven't bleached the background out



Taken with Nikon D200 & 17-55mm f/2.8 lens. No tweaking apart very slight sharpen after resize. Have to say I'm pretty happy with the colours from the Nikon on this shot

[Rob Barron]

Personally I like this colour version better than the mono Dave. I think it's because in the coloured version we see a variation in the skin tones but in the mono version those tones are interpreted within a fairly narrow gamut of grey. I think I'd still be tempted to lighten that BG, if not to white then close to it, so that she stands out more. But it's a well lit picture and with a pair of catchlights would be one I am certain this model would love a copy of!

This is all a very subjective area of course so others might see it completely differently. Anyone?

Cheers,
Rob

[Les Meehan]

Personally, I prefer the colour version for the reasons Rob has mentioned, the variation in the skin.

However, I would leave the BG tone as is since, for me, there is more than enough separation of the girl from the BG (dark hair, edge fall off on arms etc.) and lightening the BG would only make the contrast higher, thus making the girl look darker because of the simultaneous contrast effect, without adding to the image. The slight creamy colour of the BG is in keeping with the colour scheme of the girl so fits in nicely.

I would be tempted to tone down her left arm since it is so much lighter than the right and distracts from the face. I'd also clone out the pressure marks near her left elbow.

Lighting, a little bit softer (softer not lower contrast! The contrast is fine!) for such a face would have been kinder but the positioning of the lights is good.

The highlight running down her nose is a little harsh, remember my tip on another thread about good old fashioned face powder? If no face powder then certainly regularly ask the model to gently dab the nose and forehead with a dry tissue to remove excess natural perspiration which leads to these highlights.

Pose, I don't mind head on stuff as it can often make a direct link into the model's personality but for me in this image its the hands and wrists that detract. Whenever you ask a model to put their head in their hands or anything else for that matter (careful) ALWAYS stress that they should not allow the weight to rest on the hands/arms. In the case of hands, it should amount to a gentle touch when the hands go to the face/neck/shoulder rather than the model actually resting the head in the hands (which causes tension effects to show).

On a more positive note, you clearly have a relaxed and good rapport with this girl which can only help you as you master the techniques since she and you are clearly comfortable with the sessions. With each session you do try to adjust your working methods based on the advice from Pixalo members, little by little, and you will get there. Don't fall into the usual amateur trap of being fixed into one method/setup just beacuse it looked OK and one is afraid to try more. Experimentation is your best learning tool (copy some moody pro shots from mags or books for practice).

Dave, great effort and the above are small points that are mentioned to help your progress, not be negative.

Now we have seen some of your 'club night' type shots let's see you do a moody, low key number that moves you outside the box!

Cheers

[Dave]

Excellent advice as ever Les ... Tx

Tx also to those who commented.

[Gary Bagshawe]

Great quality of light and use of light in this shot Dave. As has already been mentioned, catch lights would have helped but a very good image.