Input appreciated

[Lesley Jones]

To cut a long story very short, this beautiful lady is my hairdresser and friend. She has asked once before if I could take a few photographs for a dating site, but on that occasion I wasn't needed at the last minute. She asked again the other week, so I took my camera along to my appointment on Friday. Our "session" was fitted in very quickly before the next client arrived and to be honest, portrait photography is not my thing. I can't direct, so just suggested locations before prattling away to calm my nerves. At one point I did notice the shutter speed was around 1/25th, but there was no way I would use flash or increase the ISO.

I would like to take the images over tomorrow evening, but I would really appreciate any comments or suggestions. I think they should look unprofessional in the right sense of the word. So, looking as natural as possible. I hadn't thought of converting to black and white, but I suppose that is a possibility, although she is only allowed ten pictures.

 

[Pete Askew]

The shot of her with the harp is very nice and has a reflective feel to it. The light on her face works well. I like the first also as it is very natural but it would be good if you could get a touch more exposure into the shadows - a reflector would have been ideal. I'm not keen on the last. It's a great shot of her dog but I don't think the play of light and shade on her face is very flattering. I suspect some outdoors with her dog would work better.

Not sure if that helps.

 

[Lesley Jones]

Cheers Pete! I can certainly get more light in the first one. I'm having problems with Color Efex 4.0 in that you can't be as precise on the shadows and highlights. You are right about the one with Hugo, but it was very cold and I had a bad case of bronchitis. It was indoors or nothing I'm afraid...

 

[Pete Askew]

Try B&W on that one with reduced contrast - it might be a bit more forgiving. Maybe the dynamic skin softener in Nik Color first even.

 

[Lesley Jones]

I don't think you are wrong, but then again, you never are! I used to love converting with Silver Efex, but I'm so rusty now. I'm not sure this is what you had in mind, but a soft paper tone has helped too I think?

 

[Pete Askew]

Pretty well spot-on I'd say Lesley. The skin tones are much nicer now I think. I'd be tempted to add a touch of vignette to the upper right and left to keep the eye on the main subjects as my eye keeps going to the Peace Lily. What do you think?

 

[Lesley Jones]

I think you are always right. I do find things like darken/lighten tend to fall off after a B&W conversion. I considered putting it back last night but it was already way past our bed time. I can call my friend today to let her know the images are almost ready

 

[Andrew Cotterill]

I like the harp one a lot. The black and white shot with the dog looks really good. Have you thought of cropping this, you could probably afford to lose the distracting Lily and the arm of the chair? (Although maybe that's just me being an over-enthusiastic cropper)

And if they ever do a dating site for dogs, he's sorted too isn't he?

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

Beautiful light and colors on all of them, Lesley. She's most beautiful on the first frame. I'd try the second B+W just because the intrument has rustic+artistic element. The third, thought it is a beautiful composition, I am not keen on it as her dog takes over the frame, and the light does not work in her favour. For the purpose number one is numero uno. Engaging and attractive.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Lovely work Leslie - I think that B&W always adds a lovely sense of glamour to portraits, and people usualy love the way they look in a good B&W shot.

Agree with Pete on the vignette - you could try adding Lens Vignette 1 in Nik SilverFX - or even try #2

I find that using yellow filters on B&W skin tone conversions works well, but then needs more vignetting to get back to the intimate look/feel in an image over all.

 

[Lesley Jones]

Many thanks for the comments - they really are appreciated. At the moment I'm getting up just after 5.00 in the morning to do the zoo and we don't finish after work until 8.00 in the evening. Last night we went to bed around 11.30. Work is manic and I have to study for a course at the beginning of May. I wanted to do a good job on this, but I'm too exhausted to think straight.

Oddly enough Chris, I used a pale orange filter in Silver Efex. I really must start converting again when I can find the time...