Portraits, Critique Please... - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

08/31/2004 07:39:32 PM · #1

I've just survived through my Daughters first birthday, and as part of the day I setup a 'Studio' in the spare room and took photos of some of the children, and parents attending to print/frame for them..

These are some of the results: Party Protraits

I'm trying to self-learn studio lighting, so would welcome any comments/critique about these shots.

Thanks, Me.

magicshutter

Nikon D70

08/31/2004 08:10:42 PM · #2

I think you have a great start. The most important part of portraits is posing, with lighting a close second. Make sure you meter the lights! The slightest difference between light and aperture can create seriously unflattering light patterns (shiny foreheads, underexposed skin etc.) after those two things it's just experimentation with what you like, unless you run a studio, then it'w what sells.

Take a look at my site, you might like some of my stuff.

home page (has a few pics of my twins)
portraits (main portrait page)

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

08/31/2004 10:31:06 PM · #3

I've been been thinking I need a flash meter for a while, although at the moment I've been taking test shots of the background, and taking a guestimate using the histogram as a rough guide.

I have have to start watching ebay for one going cheap. :-).

magicshutter

Nikon D70

08/31/2004 10:38:17 PM · #4

Originally posted by ohmark:

You can get one at adorama I found this one for $200 for you. They have cheaper ones but I wouldn't go with anything less than this to start. I would avoid the high end ones until you need them.

09/01/2004 04:10:55 AM · #5

Originally posted by magicshutter:

You can get one at adorama I found this one for $200 for you. They have cheaper ones but I wouldn't go with anything less than this to start. I would avoid the high end ones until you need them.

Ay, that'd work out to $320NZ or so before I got it here, which is probably a bit more than I can spend at the mo, as I'm saving my pennies to build a deck around the house this summer.. (First day of spring here).

I can borrow a sekonic one from a friend though, so I might do that and see what sort of results I'm getting compared to my 'TLAR' method (That Looks About Right).

I'm committed to flash rather than hot-lights, with all the advantages of no heat etc, but as you know the exposure is a lot harder to judge using manual flashes..

Cheers, Me.

09/01/2004 03:59:10 PM · #6

Bump :-)

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/02/2004 04:10:56 PM · #7

One last bump...

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

09/03/2004 04:15:31 AM · #8

First photo of Phoebe is really lovely Chris

kcwhisper379

Kodak DX6490

09/03/2004 05:53:09 AM · #9

I like the ones in yellow best. The others look a little dark for studio lighting. For a candid shot I think the others are great as well.

ianmill

Canon EOS-10D

09/03/2004 11:23:25 AM · #10

The first photo of Phoebe is very good, but portraits generally benefit from a wide aperture to throw the background out of focus.

Ian