It's headshot season.... - DPChallenge Forums

07/30/2007 10:14:32 AM · #51

someone gave me this link a while back, and i keep up with this guy's work quite often.

//www.headshot-photography.com/

his name is Kevyn Major Howard, he's amazing. shoots out of a garage, with natural lighting / reflectors...such amazing work.

check him out

**edit to add hyperlink*

Message edited by author 2007-07-30 10:19:26.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/30/2007 10:33:38 AM · #52

Originally posted by jerowe:

He's been mentioned here a few times and in some other threads.

I've been visiting his site a lot for the past year or so. I like most of his work but also think some of it is not the greatest. That first shot on his site is beyond stunning.

There were a few threads on the net about his work where people who used him weren't very happy...at least not for the price ($1,200 or more, at this point). They posted the images and...it looked like there was no magic compared to later shots re-done by other guys.

It happens all the time but in itself, an interesting lesson...seeing a before and after scenario.

I noted how tight some of his crops are. He'll cut people right above the eyebrow or even cut the eyebrow itself. There's one where he cut off the chin...didn't like that one much...

Cut off chin 2nd and 6th images down from the top. A big DPC "no no" that he got a paid a ton for. LOLOL

Message edited by author 2007-07-30 11:04:39.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

07/30/2007 10:37:08 AM · #53

Originally posted by jerowe:

his name is Kevyn Major Howard, he's amazing.

I've been following him too, nice work! A bit of trivial info about him, he was in the movie Full Metal Jacket, in the role of 'Rafterman.'

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/30/2007 10:52:39 AM · #54

On this KMH portfoilio page (six image down)there's a really lanky guy, where he cut the crop right down to his eyebrow and most interesting he muted the colors drastically, except on the models shirt and the eyes. This really makes the guys body frame jump out along with the eyes. An odd shot but brilliant. Bold choices used to great effect.

I think it's cool that not all his shots look the same. The brightness, saturation, crops, degree of gaussian blur, greenish or yellowish filters(hues) all seem to be used or mixed very well to suit the model.

An odd shot but brilliant. Bold choices to great effect.

Again, this was a test shot taken over a few glasses of wine, where I tried the same editing style that he used on that guy. I don't know if I like it or not...it may be a little too desaturated...perhaps too Morticia Addams but if you see what I based the edit on, it might make some sense.

Michael Calas has some interesting ideas.
Robert Halper is also cool. His music folder is superb, IMO.

I find it more interesting to see how these guys handle the non-startlet/hunk types. Older or heavier women/men, present more of a challenge. Seeing these guys take those shots with style and grace is where I'll learn a lot.

Message edited by author 2007-07-30 13:30:08.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

07/30/2007 12:59:22 PM · #55

Originally posted by jerowe:

his name is Kevyn Major Howard, he's amazing. shoots out of a garage, with natural lighting / reflectors...such amazing work.

Yeah, I like his stuff. Really simple to do too. He's the one I was "imitating" with the headshot images that I posted earlier in the thread.

Rompy

Canon EOS-5D

07/30/2007 02:46:41 PM · #56

Here are a couple I did earlier this year. Just got the 85 1.8 though and can't wait to use it!

literaryradical

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/30/2007 02:58:03 PM · #57

I've seen KMH's photography over and over cited as "the best" and it just has never grabbed me. The photographs just look too dated and generic. With a headshot, I want to see a smile, a spark of life in the actor, not just a perfectly lit photograph.

For headshots, Jordan Matter has been one of my favorites for years. His photographs really make me want to meet the people who are in them. His before and afters are especially stunning.

Rompy

Canon EOS-5D

07/30/2007 03:02:03 PM · #58

Originally posted by literaryradical:

For headshots, Jordan Matter has been one of my favorites for years. His photographs really make me want to meet the people who are in them. His before and afters are especially stunning.

He's my favorite too.

jerowe

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/30/2007 03:17:53 PM · #59

hah, dwterry i completely missed where you mentioned his name earlier. i'm loosing it ;)

Message edited by author 2007-07-30 15:25:43.

Nald

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/30/2007 03:25:42 PM · #60

Originally posted by Rompy:

Here are a couple I did earlier this year. Just got the 85 1.8 though and can't wait to use it!

Great work, left you some comments. :D

Nald

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/30/2007 04:32:26 PM · #61

Okay, here's one that I took last night of my brother-in-law's daughter.

07/30/2007 04:41:52 PM · #62

Originally posted by literaryradical:

WOWOWOWOW!!!!
I just looked through his site and I feel SO inspired! He does such beautiful work! thats awesome

07/30/2007 04:43:54 PM · #63

Originally posted by naldslc:

Okay, here's one that I took last night of my brother-in-law's daughter.

Wow...look at those eyes.

I would cast Kayla against Pacino any day of the week.

07/30/2007 04:45:39 PM · #64

Originally posted by elsapo:

Originally posted by lovethelight:

Originally posted by escapetooz:

HERE is what I am trying to work towards with my headshots. Very different style, and probably better for me being that I'm in Hollywood.

These are BEAUTIFUL!!! I have seen many like this and the two things that baffle me are: how in the world do they get the brilliant even shine on the faces and what are they using for lenses and background? How do they get the background so interesting and yet so discreet it's just wonderful!

mmm almost looks like most are taken outside with a reflector but Im not sure.

I think this is the most insingue with the gods of headshots when it came to working with reflectors in the shade....im still baffled with how i got this lighting so smooth

Nald

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/30/2007 05:45:56 PM · #65

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Originally posted by naldslc:
Okay, here's one that I took last night of my brother-in-law's daughter.

Wow...look at those eyes.

I would cast Kayla against Pacino any day of the week.

Thanks Steve!

Message edited by author 2007-07-30 17:46:34.

benjikan

Pentax K-5

Pentax SMC-DA * 16-50mm F2.8 ED/AL (IF) SDM

07/31/2007 10:34:17 AM · #66

Originally posted by lovethelight:

at least for me. I am doing headshots for many of the Young artist performers where I work and I thought I would post them all in a forum because I would like feedback on them.

I also came up with this portrait which I think might be able to double as a headshot:

Thanks!!!

Try turning the shoulder more forward to avoid extreme creasing on the neck...

nsoroma79

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

07/31/2007 11:02:42 AM · #67

Here are some that I did yesterday for a little girl whose mother wants to put her in modeling. For me, I love tight crops.... but I don't chop off chins and eyebrows...

08/01/2007 10:13:58 AM · #68

So I reedited this headshot for joelle to lighten up the wrinkles in her forhead and her neck. Any better?

08/01/2007 10:19:46 AM · #69

Originally posted by lovethelight:

So I reedited this headshot for joelle to lighten up the wrinkles in her forhead and her neck. Any better?

It looks a bit better but most important is how well it will look in print. In general though I think if used as a solo head shot she should be looking more straight into the camera.

I've seen a number of head shots where there were two windows. One with a basic straightforward image and the next where the actor is in some sort of character. This shot has that character like feel.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

08/01/2007 10:22:35 AM · #70

Yeah, I want to post a better headshot of hers but I havn't gotten a chance to edit it yet, plus I have two back to back headshot sessions in half an hour :) Im excited

ellamay

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

08/01/2007 10:59:22 PM · #71

yep I am with you
great eyes
better to see you with : )

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Originally posted by naldslc:
Okay, here's one that I took last night of my brother-in-law's daughter.

Wow...look at those eyes.

I would cast Kayla against Pacino any day of the week.

08/03/2007 11:56:55 AM · #72

I did less post processing on these, is it still overboard?

Message edited by author 2007-08-03 14:03:11.

Olympus 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED

08/03/2007 02:03:24 PM · #73

I just got the second link working

annasense

Olympus E-500 EVOLT

08/03/2007 03:17:24 PM · #74

Originally posted by lovethelight:

So I reedited this headshot for joelle to lighten up the wrinkles in her forhead and her neck. Any better?

i think the photo of her is quite nice, it's just the lack of a background and the stark whiteness that bugs me a tad. :)