Portrait Project

[adam7731]

Originally Posted by TheIllicitOne

Yea, I always shoot in manual anyways. I guess my real question is how to get the correct exposure with a black background. If I am correct I would just incident meter the light falling on the subject and use the settings the meter gives me? Or would I open up or close down a few stops from what the meter gives me for accurate skin tone?

reflective you would open up 1-1.5 stops. when i say get close i mean get close but dont through a shadow on your subject when you pop your flash.

meter (in camera ) will meter to the highlights. we have all seen it when you get a blown out window and your subject is dark. You dont have to really worry about that the bk is dark. that's good to have a dark back ground. You are shooting the subject not the back ground. I understand this is for school they should be teaching you how to place an exposure.

with chrome film it would be a reflective reading and then you place the exposure.

from the sounds of it you got one strobe and some black velvet. You wont be able to put enough light on velvet to get any details. put your light up a little higher then the models head and hopefully you have a softbox if you do great. get it about half the distance the sb is wide. Take a reading on the light side and dark side. take a fstop that is in between. You will be fine. You are shooting neg film you have 5 stops to play with.

this might help you understand about placement and whats going on...http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tu...e_system.shtml

[TheIllicitOne]

Thanks you guys, I appreciate the help. After the pics are taken and I get in the darkroom and do the developing, I'll scan a few and let you see them.

[anorcross]

Originally Posted by 84NETgal

check out this great photographer with his project: The Snowsuit Effort. Some great natural-light subjects off the streets. http://snowsuit.net/

Wow! That's quite a photoblog. Inspiring and saddening at the same time.

[Steelsun]

If you need more subjects, show up at one of the TPF Photog Meetups. I'm sure alot of us would volunteer as subjects. Heck you could get some really weird ones with some of us.

[saroy]

Or, try something like this: Candy Cane for your Portrait. They set up on a street in Brooklyn, bought a box of candy canes (it must've been Christmas time), and asked people if they could take their photo and in return, gave 'em candy.

I love the idea, and love the results. Someday I'll have to find a good place in Houston to do this.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by saroy

Or, try something like this: Candy Cane for your Portrait. They set up on a street in Brooklyn, bought a box of candy canes (it must've been Christmas time), and asked people if they could take their photo and in return, gave 'em candy.

I love the idea, and love the results. Someday I'll have to find a good place in Houston to do this.

That is pretty awesome!! I have done so much worst stuff for a candy cane

[saroy]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

That is pretty awesome!! I have done so much worst stuff for a candy cane

heh heh.

You know, most people are pretty friendly and willing to let you take their picture as long as you ask nicely. Heck, most people will do a lot more....you just gotta ask.

[engstrom]

So what kind of film will you be using? You mentioned developing in the darkroom so I assume it's black and white film. What kind of film - that can make a big difference.

[TheIllicitOne]

I got a few decent shots even though I am still scared of using my strobe. I developed the film and did 3 prints on thursday. I'm going to be doing a little more printing tonight and maybe I'll scan them in for you before the weekend is over. I am by no means a *good* photographer yet, but I am looking for any critiques that will help me improve. thanks.