Review a portrait sequence

This needed to be set up in a formal structured way, and was all about the expressions and gestures of the subject.

Although this was supposed to be with one person I felt I was behind where I wanted to be and as Christmas was approaching it was getting difficult to get anyone who had the time to 'sit' for me.  I had a slight stroke of luck when I was asked to photograph two sets of sisters as a Christmas present for their nan and I decided to use the session to do this exercise at the same time. 

I had a small amount of room in a conservatory to use and having set up a portable backdrop, consisting of a couple of sheets over my support I then added two lights one with a shoot through umbrella and the other with a soft box. I was unable to use my tripod but I used the arm of a chair to the same effect.

I set my self quite a challenge with this as I needed to get all four girls looking at the camera, with no eyes shut and with them all smiling!. 

When I first started to take the photographs, it was difficult to get the girls relaxed and this I think is evident in the first photographs particularly with one of the  girls who seemed to find it quite difficult to smile to order almost, I asked them to just chat amongst themselves as I took the photographs and this started to produce a better image, at times you can see them laughing at something that has been said.

For example image 7928 all the girls looked relaxed against 7927 in which at least one of the girls has a slightly strained expression. 
7925 again all the girls look relaxed against 7922 where one of the girls had her eyes almost closed. I came to the conclusion that she didn't really want to have her photograph taken I don't think it was me I just think she found it very difficult and would have liked to have been anywhere but there.

I finally settled on the last photograph I took in this series as the one I would pick. I decided to call a halt to the session as I could see that at least one of the girls was getting tired and in fact the last photo was almost a fluke I clicked the shutter a second after I was going to.

The final image above was taken at 32mm focal length f8 with a flash white balance and an iso of 100 the shutter speed was 125's the lights were metered at F8 for the main and f16 for the fill light.

I went on to make the following adjustments in elements 11.

duplicate layer
Quick selection brush round the girls feathered at 50 pixels.
Inverse
white brush at 80 % to even out back ground.
Eraser used to correct errors.

brightness adjusted
image flattened and then the unsharp mask used.

Over all this was an enjoyable if challenging experience, it was one of the first times I had done a group of people in a formal setting, and the lack of space further added to the challenge.

The four girls and their parents and grand parents were all pleased with the overall photos.

Exercise: Eye Contact and Expression

Having been forced to leave my studies to one side for a while due to other commitments I was keen to get started again. I have just purchased some new studio lights and as I knew I would be seeing my mum the opportunity was too good to miss for trying them out.

Having bribed her with hot chocolate and cake she was more than willing to sit for me whilst I tried them out.

I used a soft box set at 45 degrees to her I metered this at F8, I then added a second light behind me at F16 and a third and final light to the background again at F16. I wanted this light to give separation form the backdrop.

I then started a conversation with her on subjects I knew she would enjoy as I didn't want a forced smile or expression but rather a natural one captured when she was talking about the things she is interested in.  From time to time I would ask her to look down or to the side, once I asked her to turn to give me a profile but I decided on looking at it, that it was not at all flattering. I had also asked her to turn her shoulders slightly as I didn't want a square image.

 

The photograph above was taken at F9 1/125 second shutter speed iso 100 and a flash white balance.

 

So far as post processing goes I try to do as little as possible on portrait work unless I am asked to do more, as I like my images to look as real as possible. I am aware that there are a great many schools of thoughts on this subject, and a debate I have taken part with on several occasions.

For both this photograph and the one below I made slight adjustments to the mid tones in layers then adjusted the brightness slightly.  finally I flattened the image and used the un sharp mask.

 

The photograph above was also taken at F9 1/125 second shutter speed iso 100 and a flash white balance.  I had turned the soft box down very slightly for this photo.

 

I like the second image the best as I think it portrays my mum as she is.