Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

I've been searching for a photography project for a while and have admired CaptainC's military project for some time. This sailor had seen pictures of military guys holding their youthful military portraits and he approached me to help him create his portrait. Needless to say I jumped at the chance. I'm looking for a constructive critique of my work. 85mm/f2.8/1/160sec/ISO100/24x30 soft box camera right/separation flash behind subject. Thanks in advance.

(Download)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

LIttle to add. It's an outstanding portrait and should make each of you happy with the result.
--Bob

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

rmalarz, Thanks for looking, commenting and your kind words.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I would like to have seen the shoulder ratings badge clearly. Am a Navy vet and always like to see how served and grade.

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

John_F, yes he still has a piece of clothing (not sure what it is called) with the badge. He is seriously thinking of modifying it so he can wear it and do another shoot. The youthful picture doesn't show much of the badge either, I believe he said he was "Fireman" at the time of the picture, he did make first class electrician in 4 years.

rlaugh Loc: Michigan & Florida

Very well done!!!...I'm wondering if the hands should be a tad sharper, but I still really like this

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

This VERY well done. I do have a few observations that you might consider for a future go at this.

I know reflections can be an issue, but the photo is turned too far away. If need be, remove the glass. I have done that and it solves the problem.

If you are going to include the hands, make sure they are sharp as for images like this, hands are a part of the story. I might even have him place one hand on the framed photo to show the connection. In this image, the hands look posed. I know that sounds strange since OF COURSE they are posed. Generally, in images like this, a loose fist is better than the open hands on top of one-another.

You also want to control the clothing. For my veteran portraits, I tell them to wear a dark, PLAIN shirt. Black, dark gray, navy blue, brown, etc., as the portraits are about faces, not clothing. In fact, I tell them if they do not have such a shirt to go buy one. In your portrait, the checked shirt is too much of an eye-magnet.

Don't take this as anything negative about your image which is super. But if you want to do more of these, think about the items I mentioned. Good portraits are all about details. The MOST important thing is expression, then the background, clothing, and position/pose. IMO. they all have to work.

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

rlaugh, thank you, I agree with the hands!

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

CaptainC, Your comments are well taken. Yes the picture was giving a reflection, I had thought ahead to remove the glass be never did..I will from now on. I agree with the hands, they need to be in focus. I've posted another image taken earlier, but I didn't like that his one arm is hidden. I suppose his hand should grab the one corner of the picture. Right now I have a black and light grey backdrops. I admire your brown backdrop, do yo ,mind telling me where you got that one? I also like your suggestion on the dark plain shirt, I will make this a priority next time. Thanks for your advise. I am considering going to the local VFW to see if anybody there is interested. Thanks again.

(Download)

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

I did send you a PM on how that backdrop is made. For those following this,m it is a combination of about five different textures and the look and color is changed by using the HSL slider and varying blend odes and opacity.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Lens Cap superbly done... Wonderful synergy with this talent latent within...
Highly effective camera angle (precisely at your sitter's eye level), illumination (loop lighting), compositional elements and a decisive moment to yield such a delightful radiant smile :)

"looking for a constructive critique..." While I typically don't work with military portraits there are universal parameters which apply across all genre...
First and foremost the human eye is immediately drawn to the lightest/brightest element of a two dimensional rendering... Fact, not opinion... and secondly the eyes move to the area of critical focus (i.e. the zone of highest acuity)... If you doubt this centuries of Darwinian selection stands as evidence... Some of the more obvious examples are the white tailed deer and squirrel whose bright white tails serves to effectively distract their predictors while they flee...

At issue here in you wonderful rendering this talent's white T which is a distraction in as it draws the eye away from the all important facial features...
Solution? Wardrobe adjustment (have the talent remove it)... I do this all the time... and oft have wardrobe stylist and/or the clothing designer on set to assure the most optimum results... For my work (beauty genre and fashion) the narrative and choice of high or low key illumination drives the selection of wardrobe hue/chroma albeit I nearly always go with muted earth tones, or jewel tones for formal portraiture in low key... high key is another animal entirely...

As others have mentioned DOF is an issue here... with catalog (i.e. designer's textile artistry) I never shoot below f/8 with f/11 to f14 being the norm... In my humble estimation you had no compelling reason for shooting wide open with a receding dark backdrop. I've notice an over use of fast aperture on UHH so I believe it is some sort of endemic thing on this site... lol

While I appreciate your separation flash behind subject my visual statement is to use a hair light kicker which also kisses across the shoulders... I find this adds an appropriate touch of drama to the narrative... But then again that is my preference and not likely universally appreciated...

Totally agree about the second image you posted... It can't hold a candle to the initial post... If at all possibly I will turn the torso away from being normal to the the lens a.k.a. not perpendicular... this has the benefit of slimming the talent and adds an illusion of depth to an otherwise two dimensional rendering...

Bottom Line? Absolutely marvelous use of Chiaroscuro to showcase your sitter's persona with an enchanting aesthetic!

Thank you for sharing LenCap...
I wish you well on your journey...

Lens Cap Loc: The Cold North Coast

Thomas902, Thank you for your detailed critique. It is information that you and CaptainC provide that will elevate my skills. I tip my hat to both of you for taking the time to share your experience. I hope to be able to "pay it forward" myself some day....