sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Having never worked in a studio before, Saturday's workshop with Rolando Gomez was educational and fun. This beautiful young lady, Rebecca, has been around the world with her modeling in spite of her very tender age.

When I saw this photo my first thought was that it had a terrible amount of shadow and I had to move the lights and/or move Rebecca away from the backdrop. But I thought this photo had some redeemable value, especially given her expression and how she is turned away from the light - as if turning away from a betrayal or some sort, or a terrible situation of some type. The shadow makes for more drama I think. Or.... should I try to get rid of the shadow in post-processing? Comments and thoughts welcome.

Traditional crop


Unconventional crop - too close?

katbandit Loc: new york city

i personally don't like shadows in photos like this..to me it is very distracting ..the model is in fact beautiful but the shadow takes away from her..why not try to do another photo session and start over trying different lighting techniques..i don't know how you can rid the shadows in post processing on this one other than making the entire background black...

angler Loc: StHelens England

Good shots SB.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

OK, I am a crop guy... beaten into submission by the main judge at Tampabay Camera Club. I like #3 except .. yep except.
1 you cut the bra crocked in the tight #3 crop ... in the original, which I downloaded, I used straightening tool to level bottom of bra. She still has that attractive angle.
2 What use is all that background at the right of the photo? Nothing... if it does not add it distracts. Slight gray to the right is ok.
3 Nose to edge of shadow is the width I gave to background gray from shadow to left edge.
4 No, leave the shadows, they echo her shape. Especially good because the shadow is a variation of the background color.

Some would protest the hairline crop.... but not me... the in hair corp stops the eye falling into background .... we know that there is more hair... ending it and then wandering off into background says nothing... so off goes the hair... good.

By the way SB, I like your photo and the renditions ....
--------------------------------------
angler said "good shots".... that is not allowed in the TBCC... one must say why. Only cats are allowed to say a one word judgement without justification "nice" (old time radio.. Midnight the cat would answer Smiling Ed's questions about what he thought by saying "nice".) So Angler... why did you say "nice"... aaa I mean "good shots"? Shots?... No only one shot.

Swede Loc: Trail, BC Canada

I disagree, shadows add contrast and depth. Your eye is always going to go to the brightest spot, and here it would be the very pretty girl,

But the final choice is what do you like, are you doing it for you or someone else.

There are no rules yet on artistic impression, nor should there be.

Swede

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

No rules but there are psychological guide lines.

See Free large work of examples and discussion by Richard Zakia, Professor Emeritus, Fine Art Photography Department, Rochester Institute of Technology.

"Photographic Psychology: Image and Psyche"

"A psychological exploration into how people create, share, and react to images
in the age of cyberspace and digital photography"

http://truecenterpublishing.com/photopsy/article_index.htm
- See more at: http://truecenterpublishing.com/photopsy/article_index.htm#sthash.Ze0wAedC.dpuf

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Steve,

As far as the shadows are concerned, I have read where some people think they are OK and others do not. I know a fairly well known professional photographer who believes they are just fine and very acceptable. Of course, there are other Pros who have opposite feelings. It also depends on the image, as well as the sharpness of the shadow(s), for a given image and the mood being portrayed by the photo.

Everything in a given image has to 'fit together,' so to speak. I believe it is the personal choice of the photographer as well as the subject being photographed. You and the person being photographed need to decide together, and whatever pleases the subject (or both of you), is what is warranted for the image.

Best Regards,
Tom

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

As in most things,it's a matter of personal taste. If you are selling your work, it depends upon what the client thinks. If not the only opinion that counts is yours.

catchlight.. Loc: Wisconsin USA- Halden Norway

Very nice!... strong textured wall. Perhaps the mystery could be even stronger with no back round? easy to black out. I agree with the crop suggestion from dpullum... It is said that if you want to test the strength of an image "turn it upside down and see where your eyes take you"...light is the key and looking for a focal point is most important...over anything else:)

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I did have her move out took more photos a few feet in front of the backdrop, so no shadow in those. I thought this one would stimulate some discussion!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

I would like the shadows more if the images were B&W, then they would add or create drama!!!!
I really don't like the bra crop or the head crop
, but thats just me.

Robeng Loc: California

Steve,

Glad to see you're giving studio photography a try. Very nice model with a nice outfit. As for the image it seems a little flat to me. The shadow here doesn't help at all. I would like to see more dimension created by using shadows. If you wanted to get rid of the shadows I would move the light or add another.

dennisallard Loc: Southern Maine

What shadow?

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Thanks for your comments, Mangles - I have played around with some B&W versions - I like that also. But.... it sort of makes it look like a crime scene photo - "the beautiful victim lies on the pavement"....

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

We were using a large softbox and one light to the right. - I suspect that more, smaller lights would yield a photo that was not as flat appearing.