Portraits of Danny (four images)

[texxter]

This morning I worked with Danny, a man who's had a tough life and the strength to overcome hard difficulties. I tried to capture different aspects of Danny's personality. I welcome comments, especially about how well the images capture my subject's story - more so than nitpicking on technicalities. Do the images connect with you enough to want to know more about the man and his story?

#1. I did this image for me more than for him - I wanted to show a hard working man with straight ethics. I chose to use hard light on him but also a white seamless as background. Total of 6 lights, 2 on the background to make it white, two rim lights pointing to his back, one key and one fill. Key light was on a beauty dish with a grid to camera right and fill was a 5 ft. octabox behind the camera.



#2. Continuing with the theme of hard work and reliability, I wanted to give some clues as to Danny's hard life - see the scars on his hand that I chose to show here. Lighting here was the octabox as key, no rim lights, and a large reflection panel to camera left as fill. Three lights total.



#3. The domestic and healthy side of Danny, with strawberries and milk, and a great smile. The octabox was directly above him with the large reflection panel laying horizontal and providing fill in a clam shell configuration. I also used the rim lights and background lights, so 5 lights for this one.



#4. Danny looking at the future with some hope - I chose two lights only here, the octabox in front of him as key, and a bare bulb strobe with a grid on it as rim to light the back of his head. Conversion to B&W with Nik Silver Efex Pro software.

[bryanlindsey]

THAT'S what I'm talkin' bout. Nicely done.

[texkam]

Yep, 4 distinct feelings. Nice range. Good expressions.

I like what the Nik Silver Efex Pro is doing except on the rim lighting. I would knock that white back just a bit.

[auddii]

I think all of these are really great, and I don't know much about lighting to help. I really like his glasses in #1, and I kind of wish they had been incorporated in the second picture. Seems like they add power to the picture. Maybe if he was holding them in his left hand.

Love the colors of #3, but #4 I think is my favorite. The only thing about #4 is that I'm finding the bright spot on the back of his head a little distracting.

Wonderful series of shots!

[texxter]

Bryan, Mark, Audrey, thanks for commenting on the photos. I agree completely that the rim light on the last image is not only too intense but too harsh too - it was the last image of the session and I didn't bother to measure the light, so it came out rather random. I'll try to fix it because I like his expression. I have a few more images with the glasses on, I'll post one or two more when I get a chance.

Thanks again!

[johnr78735]

Paco,
I look at portraits with a "Would I pay for it if it was of me?" eye...to me the last one is pure money.

John
Austin, Texas

[texxter]

Thank, John. I guess that's a good way to assess a portrait, would you pay money for it if it was your portrait? I'll remember that!

The last one was done with a huge octabox against a white background. Because the background was not lit it turns into dark gray. Because the subject was very close to the octabox in front of him, and there was no fill, the sides of his face went dark quickly because of the rapid light fall off. I point this out because sometimes we think we need a grid or snoot and a dark background to create a dramatic portrait - in this case it was done with the same equipment I used for image #3, light key image. I think this is interesting.

[groovyone]

Very nicely done. I really like the way the face is lit in #1, and as others said #4 is fantastic. The bright spot on the back of the head may be a touch distracting, but it doesn't bother me.

[Kirk]

I agree on #4 that the back light might be too much, but I personally love the photo. Great job.

[Photogdude]

Awesome. Awesome set. But since you went CC, I'm gong to nitpick on the 2nd shot. Its the hands. The front hand looks too big, try not to have the flat of the hand showing, also the back hand the way it's bent, it looks like rubber.

Again, these are awesome shots.

[texkam]

Continuing with the theme of hard work and reliability, I wanted to give some clues as to Danny's hard life - see the scars on his hand that I chose to show here.

I'm gong to nitpick on the 2nd shot. Its the hands. The front hand looks too big, try not to have the flat of the hand showing, also the back hand the way it's bent, it looks like rubber.

Normally yes, but I think this choice by the artist works in this case.

I agree completely that the rim light on the last image is not only too intense but too harsh too

For me it's not so much the harshness, rather I'd prefer it to match the tone of the section below the ear, an easy tweak. The textures you've played up in the skin and the shirt work well together.

[Redneck]

I really like #2 to 4. He has a great and very strong appearance which is everything you could wish for in a model.
#1 - I don't know, for me the lower part of the image is way under exposed. Maybe on purpose but it still doesn't work for me.

[cstewart1977]

#1 says "high school teacher" to me. In a good way:)
#4 Is the most natural look and is my fav.

[Phanee]

Paco, Thank you sharing images. Love images #2 to #4.

[texxter]

Thank you for the comments, guys. Andre, the underexposure on the first one was intentional to create a focal point of interest in his face and expression. I see your point of view. The model was also not crazy about this photo but I like it!