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.