Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I don't think your light was too close, I believe the problem was her her chest so fair. Maybe an ND gel in the center of the softbox would help, I have never tried it, but it may work.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

I first learned quite a few years ago through online coaching from one of the UHH members and using a styrofoam head with a wig bought actually for a Halloween costume! I tried, and tried, and tried, but never got any praise for the shots I emailed to my teacher. Then, once I moved my shooting location to another room and with a minor change in lighting, I finally got an 'OK', then I progressed with different lights, learned more about lighting (very, very important), and then generally progressed. I took advantage of an opportunity to shoot with 7 other photographers on a couple different locations and different genres, and that was very educational and rewarding! I also purchased some instructional videos and once again received some personal instruction from a professional photographer.

After that, I attended several group studio shoots that cost me some money learning various lighting situations and shooting genres and poses. I also did a lot of research and online tutorial watching from professionals, which was all very helpful, but personal help from qualified photographers was the best. I would say the one very best piece of advice I received after the initial meetings was to practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, then even more practice!

I still make plenty of mistakes and I am still learning. When I stop learning, then I will probably be dead in the water, so to speak. Another thing to remember is to try to get some decent (no, very good to great glass) which is also quite important, and does make a difference. Also, learn how to Post Process and I also recommend shooting in RAW format all the time. There are obviously many different opinions on this, but I feel shooting in RAW format is Extremely Important.
Hopefully, something I have said will be beneficial to you.

Take my comments for what you deem you feel they are worth. I just love photography and have always loved it taking pictures of whatever I find and feel interesting. I have shot different genres and still enjoy learning as I mentioned previously. Have fun, take your time, learn thoroughly about aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and all you can about lighting and all kinds of ways to diffuse the light. Try to create lighting that is appropriate for the kind of photo you are taking - the lighting should match the mood of the image as well as the coloring. Make sure the light flows evenly across a subjects face in portrait shots, head shots, and group shots when possible. Use hard light if that is what the image calls for and use soft light when that is required for other images. Create and blend and meld and use appropriate backgrounds and DOF. Think about what your objective is for a photo and then go from there. Have a lot of fun, make your mistakes, and hopefully learn from them.

Best Regards,
Tom

TheStarvingArtist

Thank you. What do you think of my other pictures I have posted?

JohnTxNC

I want to jump into this conversation! #1, I would like to know how long you have been photographing nudes? Because this is a great first session. Gosh, I can remember my first effort, and I promise you, save one or two images, no one is ever going to see them! With that said, I like what you have done here. I actually like the slightly concerned look on her face. And I want to stress "slight". You can find experienced models and they will try to 'recreate' that look, but nothing compares to an authentic look of nerves. The key is though, and you have clearly reached that with her (I viewed the more recent captures), is that the model/photographer relationship shows trust. As a man it is extremely important that the model sees me as "professional" first and foremost! To hell with my quality if there is no trust. The quality could be fantastic, but if I gave her the creeps, she will never like the photos. Sorry - getting on a rant here! But on the flip side, if I am a bundle of nerves, (and I have been and still feel them at times) I don't get the best out of the model or from me either. That's why I will always start with a corporate headshot or a very conservative look, before any clothes are removed.

Anyway, I will stop my rant with a closure that I do like this image ... Nice work!

John

TheStarvingArtist

John
It has been about four years. And thank you.
Will you tell me how you lit Stef and others? How do you balance the light on her and the background so it is so perfect?
this is very different than the way I do it.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-446106-1.html

JohnTxNC

Thank you. Very little of my work is even near perfect... I have gone through an evolution of lighting choices, from a diffused (facial tissue paper) pop-up flash, to one, two and then three speedlights shooting through umbrellas; to studio strobes and all sorts of trials and errors for diffusing the light.

For the shot you linked, I went back to study a closeup of Stef's eyes in that series. It appears that I used one softbox bounce umbrella placed almost directly in front of her and to my left. The white wall helped bounce and toss around extra light. Also, the window blinds were open and it was quite bright outside. This also helped fill in shadows on her and on the wall. I try to give myself an even flow of light where I can use at least an F 5.6 - F 9.0 aperture at 100 ISO. I have preferred F 8.0. I am discovering though, as I grow in my photography that I am missing out on "character" by having such an even flow of light across the face and body. I am trying to force myself to embrace more shadows, wider openings and larger ISO settings. It's hard to change. For the actual light unit for this shot, I would have used a single strobe.

I don't know what you are using for lighting but don't underestimate the value of 'reflective /bounced' light. I have used cheap poster paper, white foam board and a bare white wall (my favorite) to bounce light. I have used expensive parabolic umbrellas and cheap white shower curtain liners to diffuse light. And, as final note, if your final crop does not show the shower curtain strung up inches away from the model, it does not matter, that it only cost you $2.00, right?

Thanks again for your compliment.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0055E6TY2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kennedy-Home-Shower-Liner/50884489

TheStarvingArtist

I use studio lights, soft boxes, umbrellas, bare bulb.

I do not have a normal or consistent way to set my lights. Instead I try to think what the effect is that I want to create. I think the purpose for studio lights or speed lights is to mimic the sun. I think when someone looks at a picture they should never even think that a flash was used. That is the reason I had my light so far from the picture where I used a macro lens.

Here I wanted it to look like a window light so I used a soft box where I wanted a window to be
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-398862-1.html

Here I had a soft box in front of her, and a ringflash bounced off the ceiling to light the rest of the room
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-400914-1.html

Here I used the small reflector that came with the light with barn doors
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-415017-1.html

Here I used a bare bulb aimed toward the ceiling, there was a boom that had the light about a foot from the ceiling, it was at the foot of the tub
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-419930-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-419381-1.html

Here I used a large umbrella with fabric over the front so it was like a soft box
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-423807-1.html

With a macro lens: I used a ringflash. It was about 7 high, facing away from her, bounced into the corners where the ceiling meets the wall. the light went all through the room.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-425683-1.html

JohnTxNC

Ok.... Now I want to buy a ring flash.. Haha
Your work is good!! I'd like to shadow you while you set up your lights for the strong shadow work.... Very good! How many 3 lb boxes of powdered milk did you use for the milk bath? Or do you post edit to saturate the white?

TheStarvingArtist

I use one box when I do a milk bath shoot

imp by mike Loc: Minnesota/Wisconsin/North Carolina

Has anybody ever read anything on body language? Facial expressions are a part of it, & this model looks anything but happy. Look at just the face & tell me what emotion is being expressed?
As to your "strip club" comment ... you may not like my photos, but you need to learn the difference between strippers & showgirls! Perhaps you need to visit a couple of each to learn the difference. While there, figure out how you would shoot those on stage. Do you object to my subject matter? The pose captured? The lighting? How would you do it, or wouldn't you touch the subject?
As to your model, I would have her close her eyes & relax. Think a happy thought, or even try a hard stare. Choose an emotion to express, but not this one.
My subjects are happy, alluring, maybe aloof; but nothing of discomfort in their poses.
I won't tell you how to do studio lighting because my lighting fits into my camera bag. Few will agree with that style, but that's a matter of choice. (I'd like to see them give it a try, & avoid the paparazzi look.)
Anyway, I would like to see other work you've done with this model.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Please, do tell the difference between a stripper and a show girl.

imp by mike Loc: Minnesota/Wisconsin/North Carolina

Showgirls express the beauty of the female form while strippers try to arouse the base instincts of the audience.
If you don't know the difference; you don't know the difference between the photos posted here & rags like "Hustler".

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Really?
I have seen the best, Lily StCyr, Blaze Star, and a few more, They were Show girls that stripped.
In reality they are all showgirls.
I have shot in night clubs many years ago, no flash only stage lighting, 35mm Tri-X film. Had a lot of great images and a lot of not so great images,the difference was I knew the difference and no one ever saw the crap.
Your posted images make the young ladies look like "hookers", not showgirls. Nobody was belittling the young ladies in your images.
The critique in this section is on the photography not the model.

TheStarvingArtist

Here are some links to follow for more images
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-417994-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-423807-1.html

TheStarvingArtist

When I see his pictures it makes me think of women caught up in the sex slave trade.