B&W Portrait

[Vic Shaw]

This weekend I got roped into shooting a fashion show for a small designer that my wife used to work with. I must confess to being a little nervous because I'm not really a people person and these girls were professional models, so I was wondering what it was all going to be about really.

The shoot along the 'catwalk' was rather tough as the lighting was crap and I only had a flash set up on camera and nothing really to bounce it off. I was to take one shot as they walk along it and another as they posed at the end for me. I wasn't really happy with those shots although the designer was so thats ok. When the show was over some of the girls asked me to take some shots of them again the lighting was rubbish as was the locations, although after having a nose round the building I found an old deserted stair well that was ok to use.

This is pretty much the only shot I really like so I thought I'd share to see what you guys think.

The good thing to come out of it is that some of the girls want to work with me again so now I have access to some professional models, some old run down buildings and some designer clothing. I'm also a little bit more comfortable directing people as to what I want so it was a worthwhile thing for me to do.


Vic

 

[Pete Askew]

Hi Vic. Thought you'd been abducted by aliens!! I like the high contrast and the eyes. I think a square crop would work well with this (losing the tiny bit of black at bottom right and cutting into the hair a touch). What do you think? The high contrast has revealed a bit of 'unfortunate' texture on the skin. You could try making a layer copy and clone lighten / clone darken to remove them and reduce opacity to make it look natural. Best done before the B&W conversion though.

Looking forward to the derelict designed model series!

 

[Hamish Gill]

I'd echo everything Pete says pretty much word for word (probably more shoddily written if I'd said it mind)

Where yo bin at Vic man?!

 

[Pete Askew]

I think my guess at abducted by aliens was probably right. But they threw him back!! Didn't you miss us Vic?!!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Mmmmm Vic reappears with stories of young sirens and pictures to boot...

Kidnapped by Femaliens I'd guess...











I'll get my coat..

 

[Vic Shaw]

thanks for the CC guys, first this young lady was not one of the professionals but had a lovely face but as Pete pointed out some 'unfortunate' skin, i thought I had remove it but it seems it can still be seen, although I cannot see it on my monitor. Funny that little bit of black bottom right did bother me a little too, but i guess I was just happy with the shot so I left it.


I have been around guys and of course I missed ya, I've just been lacking on the photo front. I started my new job and I kinda thrown myself into that because the place was a mess and it needed to be sorted for stock take that was due this weekend, now it's all pretty much ship shape I can relax a little. Found a nice little shot to take in the building too, just waiting for the right lighting conditions and I'll grab it.

I'm very excited myself about the new challenge with the models. It has some great possibilities, well I say models only one is professional the other is my daughter but they are both keen to work with me and each other. It's a pity I was unable to control the lighting a little better on the night.

Here's the pair of them, yes the shots are rubbish and have many faults but look ahead to the future. I just hope I get it right!

Vic

 

[Pete Askew]

Hey Vic. Not rubbish at all. Are there more? That stairwell looks promising. Have you got a reflector?

 

[Hamish Gill]

Such self deprecation!
Even I they were rubbish, which they aren't, it wouldn't matter if it's part of a learning curve eh?!

It's a can of worms this area of photography I reckon... Interaction with the models alone is a skill I think ... Good luck with it Vic, I think you will get on just fine at it!
The shot of the black girl (I assume she is the pro by her pose) is really nice, the pp suits her darker skin more than it does white skin I think! Could the bit of pealy paint above her right shoulder (below her ear) be removed .. Its slightly distracting I think!

So were do you stand on skin blemish removal then ... You going to get in to that? Before you know it you will be air brushing bigger boobies on to women ... Haha

 

[Hamish Gill]

Such self deprecation!
Even I they were rubbish, which they aren't, it wouldn't matter if it's part of a learning curve eh?!

It's a can of worms this area of photography I reckon... Interaction with the models alone is a skill I think ... Good luck with it Vic, I think you will get on just fine at it!
The shot of the black girl (I assume she is the pro by her pose) is really nice, the pp suits her darker skin more than it does white skin I think! Could the bit of pealy paint above her right shoulder (below her ear) be removed .. Its slightly distracting I think!

So were do you stand on skin blemish removal then ... You going to get in to that? Before you know it you will be air brushing bigger boobies on to women ... Haha

 

[Thomas brookes]

Wow vic what an oppertunity!!!!!! Great shots, I like the second shot it has an urban edge to it!

 

[Vic Shaw]

Thanks chaps, these are really the best of a bad bunch, the full set can be seen on the PB site. I wont post any more on here but if you really want to have a look the password for the album is shoot1.

Pete I don't have a reflector ATM as I've really only done stuff indoors I've managed to get stuff around the house to use. I do suspect I will have to invest in one shortly. The second shot was taken on the stair well, it's a pity the paint wasn't more peeling, but you can't have everything. it may just be possible to get access to this place again this time in the day time so I wont have to use a flash. Although considering that these were taken using a flash mounted on the camera I don't think they are that bad.

I don't really have a problem removing stuff, be it gardening or skin blemish's I wont ever add things to a shot although I guess that by removing stuff you are 'adding' to the shot.

Yes Thomas it is a great opportunity, one that I thought would never happen to me and if it did I wouldn't take. This has truly fired me up again though. I think there's only so many shots you can take of people walking past door ways before it becomes dull.

Vic

 

[Pete Askew]

There's certainly a few more good ones in there (eg 21 and 23) and I think, with a bit more PP, some of the catwalk ones will really shine too. Maybe even a partial BP with a heavy vignette. What do you think? Or what about those other Red Paw filters?