You Decide: Wonderfully Creative, or Something Else!

[Colin Southern]

What do you think?

[carregwen]

Yes, the idea is creative. I do a lot of silhouettes, and I find they work best were there is more detail to give contrast between the dark and light areas. Perhaps if she had a crooked arm to let light through, or holding her hand up holding something? Two people maybe facing one another? I know from experience that when you see a good silhouette situation you will know it immediately.

[Donald]

This, as you know, is not my area of knowledge. What Rob says makes sense. My humble contribution would be to wonder if a shot such as this needs the head in profile, which, I suppose, is the more 'classic' silhouette pose. That being said, the wisps of hair falling towards the shoulders are, I think, attractive.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Colin,

I'll add to Donald's "we're no experts" views

First impression, based solely on the colour was "second class postage stamp" - I'd better explain that for the non-UK residents , that blue (and the pose), is quite similar to the UK second class stamp, if you re-shoot on gold, your daughter may be 'promoted' to "First class stamp"

More seriously, I think Donald and Rob are correct about it needing a little more form and shape; the absence of any facial features is probably the most obvious thing apart from body pose.

My vote is for "something creative", well worth more practice I think.

Anyway, what really happened, forget to switch the pocket wizard on?
(Dave ducks for cover)

Cheers,

[Colin Southern]

Anyway, what really happened, forget to switch the pocket wizard on?

Yeah - pretty close I'm running Elinchrom RX1200 studio strobes, triggered from a skyport; the skyport has 4 channels which I use for Key, fill, hair, and background - you can power any light on any channel up or down - but - you need to change the mode switch from "all" to "group" to make the adjustment ... and then remember to switch it back to "all" - and I forgot the last bit

In practice it's good to build up lighting setups 1 light at a time; I identified a small problem with the key and fill lights spilling light onto the backdrop - but as you can see, but the barn doors on the background light did their thing so that nothing hit the subject

[CNelson]

It's interesting. It reminds me a little of what people used to do before cameras...trace a silhouette to get a likeness. I would like this more if facial features were discernable...even if just barely.

Chuck

[Wirefox]

I can only echo the thoughts of others in that the silhouette needs more details. The hair although well captured is not enough to convey personality. I am guessing that when the operation of that monster lighting set up becomes second nature your creativity will run riot

Steve

[rick55]

It's certainly interesting: what about mounting this as a pair with one that's shot normally, either with the same background or with a differently colored background? Maybe redo this shot with a yellow background, and use violet as the background for the "real" portrait, so you can use complements without having orange?

Cheers,
Rick

[Shadowman]

Very creative, mysterious to say the least. For some reason, the figure gives the appearance of a Japanese Geisha.

What do you think?

[Colin Southern]

Very creative, mysterious to say the least. For some reason, the figure gives the appearance of a Japanese Geisha.

Of course, coming from someone with "shadowman" for a handle, I guess you had to say that!

[Shadowman]

Colin,

Was I close or did I make a text faux paux?

Of course, coming from someone with "shadowman" for a handle, I guess you had to say that!

[Colin Southern]

Colin,

Was I close or did I make a text faux paux?

I just thought it was funny that the "shadowman" liked the image with the "big shadow"