Thanks guys. However I am near the end of a 6 month portrait training course so it's not 'natural talent' that's showing here just the application of good training.

I will also confess that number 5 was a combination of 3 different images (against the same background) merged in photoshop CC. Trying to get 3 kids to all jump to the same height, at the same time and all with a good pose was juts too much

Thanks but I can't help smiling when I read that. Little Honey was just running around, standing up, sitting down, jumping and dancing whilst I valiantly tried to keep her in focus. As such the composition on this one was pure luck Thanks anyway
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Anything is allowed. I would agree on number 4 but I feel that the 'white space' helps to make the image in Number 7. As always; we all like different things. It would be boring any other way.

Number 3 is an excellent spot on your part. I love it when people manage to capture narrow random views and make an image from it. well done.

It's probably my monitor (works laptop) but I think they could all do with a slight tweak on clarity or sharpening. Especially 1, 2 5 & 6

Search on youtube for Joe McNally, he is an absolute master at flash, in addition have a look here stobist blogspot where there is a wealth of information on small flash photography.

Getting the person into shade may help with squinting and will soften he overall effect but you may want to consider the direction of the light and how it falls on the subject. There is no hard and fast rule but 45 degrees is a good angle to go for

Nigel, thanks for the comments. You're absolutely right about the light fall off. One of the key problems is trying to get an even exposure across multiple faces. The flash power is fine it's managing to get all the faces the same distance away from it. I think the word I'm looking for here is practice, practice, practice

The dark background shots are specifically 'well' lit. There are two lights above and three reflectors below and to the sides. It's meant to be a 'make over' 'beauty' shot aimed at eliminating wrinkles and blemishes in the skin. I may well have overcooked it slightly but the girls liked the results which is a partial result.

I'll find out if I got it right when I get my professional critique next week

I needed to complete my final assignment for my portrait course and so had some family over yesterday for a 'lunch and portrait' event.

I thought I would share a couple of the images here for your comment and information. Normally I would have used my DA* 16-50 but this has had to go away, to SRS, for a warranty repair of the SDM . I needed a backup lens anyway so took the opportunity to acquire a DA 18-135 WR. It turns out that this is an almost prefect portrait lens being able to get groups, full length and heads and shoulder shots all with one lens. I also found it to be a perfect walk around lens during a recent business trip. I can definitely recommend this lens. It does suffer from purple and green fringing but this is easily sorted in Camera Raw and it isn't as sharp as my DA* but, for portraits, sharp isn't always best.

Anyway here are some of my efforts:

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Camera was a K3, ISO 100, 1/125 @ f8. Lighting via 2 or 3 Elinchrom D-Lites using a combination of softboxes and large and small umbrellas. I also used a Lastolite Tri-flector.

As always C&C very welcome.

I often feel like a hypocrite because I post images on here asking for C&C but don't feel comfortable offering opinions to others. However I thought I would try and break that cycle right here

The difficulty with making comment regarding lighting, in these images, is that you have very little control over it.

If I understand correctly, you approach a complete stranger in the street and, if they agree, you take their picture. Unless you take some control of the light source (e.g. add flash or shield the sun) or you adjust the position of the subject in relation to the light source then you will simple get what your given. Attempting to use LR to adjust for random lighting is never going to give you consistent results.

Looking at these 3 I would say that number 1 has very flat lighting and, as a result doesn't show much character. Number 2 is angled slightly which gives some depth to the face and introduces some shadows on her left. The catchlight in the eyes gives them some 'life' compared to the other two. However it's still a bit flat.
Number 3 has no eyes because he's squinting into the sun (presumably) and, without the eyes you often lose a lot of the persons expression. Once again the light is very even across the face and although there are plenty of lines and wrinkles adding character they are somehow lost because of the flat light.

The absence of light is as important as having enough. Shadows are your friends when it comes to creating character and depth in a persons face.

This all sounds rather critical but I don't mean it to be. As close-up, instant portraits of strangers in the street these are pretty good however if you want to improve your portraiture you will need to take control of the light and use it to build shadows and depth. Watch their eyes, manage the catchlights and try and 'get it right' in camera rather than playing in LR.

I am coming to the end of a 6 month portrait course and I cheat by using people who will pose and studio lights. I have the greatest admiration for you 'bottle' in doing this kind of portraiture so please take my comments as critique rather than criticism

Sorry about the download speeds guys. I have just added a link to the image on flikr. I linked to the full size image as I know some people like to 'pixel peep'

Here is a new post with 'forum shrunk' versions : link

tyronet2000 thanks for the comments. I spotted the window sign in No. 5 and took several images on a slow shutter speed to deliberately get the the right blur effect. This was, probably, bike 16 out of 30

I'm glad you like it.


DrOrloff I tried to be a bit 'creative' and not go for the standard tourist image approach. Thanks for the vote that proves I achieved it Once again I'm glad you liked it.

Some memebers couldn't open the images on my previous post so here is are are 'forum shrunk' versions.

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Original post is here : link

Thanks guys.

Nigel 2. was just taken through a window in the hotel in the corridor opposite my room and it was the combination of angles that caught my eye. No. 7 was such a gift to find the two lovers sitting there I just wish I had moved to the left a little bit so that they were more silhouetted.

I have 'tweaked' no. 8 numerous times and, no doubt, shall again until I am fully happy. I do see what you mean, it could do with a another play on the sliders