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Thread: Black and white portrait

  1. #1
    scully's Avatar
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    Stephen Scully

    Black and white portrait

    Took this a couple of years ago. Played around in post a bit.

    Black and white portrait

  2. #2
    Shadowman's Avatar
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    John

    re: Black and white portrait

    Nicely captured and processed.

  3. #3
    Mutley's Avatar
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    re: Black and white portrait

    Nice
    Really like the lighting and the processing.

  4. #4
    Rebel's Avatar
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    re: Black and white portrait

    Very nice image Stephen.

  5. #5
    Moderator Manfred M's Avatar
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    re: Black and white portrait

    Interesting and very dramatic shot that is well processed, Stephen.

    The "purists" will go after you on this one for breaking a couple of the portraiture "rules". I'm mentioning them more for you to consider than anything else.

    1. If it is a profile shot, you shouldn't see the back eye because it generally looks a bit strange; and

    2. If it's not a profile shot, but a more standard portrait, then the nose should not extend past the cheekbone, again, because this can often look a bit strange.

    I personally think I might be tempted to trim around 10% of the left hand side of the image off. The negative space works really well in this image, as it gives your subject someplace to look in to, but I find that there is just a touch too much and that affects the overall balance of the shot.

  6. #6
    IzzieK's Avatar
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    Re: Black and white portrait

    I am with John, nicely processed. I like the pose actually as I had seen some like this in "learning to light"...

  7. #7
    scully's Avatar
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    Re: Black and white portrait

    Quote Originally Posted by IzzieK View Post
    I am with John, nicely processed. I like the pose actually as I had seen some like this in "learning to light"...
    Thanks Izzie, I really like this type of portrait even if it is a little outside the rules. I like the negative space and I like a minimalist kind of look. I got the idea from some pencil sketches I have seen with a white pencil on black card. I will post another soon:-)

  8. #8

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    Ole

    Re: Black and white portrait

    Stephen, I really like the way you've done this. I do agree with Manfred regarding 'too much' negative space, 50mm or so. That is only my opinion.
    Cheers Ole

  9. #9
    tao2's Avatar
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    Robert (ah prefer Boab) Smith

    Re: Black and white portrait

    Hi Stephen,

    IMO, there is no "negative" space. The model is gazing along the same focal plane as the camera shot. In photography, negative space is behind/in front of/ around the subject. It's part of the composition when it's in the same plane.

    Had the model's head been tilted or turned away from or tae the photographer, then there may be an argument. There's a simple check...crop it. Ah think ye'll find that ...if ye crop it - ye cramp it.

    Ah'd leave it exactly as it is , it's a beautiful composition and artistically excellent.

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