First portrait with new gear

hello folks! well I got a load of new stuff yesterday, light stand, flash cord, backdrop surports, 2 backdrops (white/black), brolly, and reflector! si I thought I'd have a play today and heres the first attempt! sb 800 on light stand shot into brolly at 45 degrees to my left.



please feel free to let me know what you think I could be doing better and also what you think I'm getting right!

thanks for looking

Wohoo Mr Finney, you are going all fancy.

Love the composition, I think the highlights are slightly blown in his cheek on the left side, and maybe either more light on the right hand side or increased the shadow, as it is sort of in between at the moment, does that make sense?

Like I said though, great shot xx and I am probably talking out my bum

Think I have to agree with everything moonie has said so if she is speaking from her bum then I've joined in.

Will add this is very new for you and I like what I am seeing, adore the composition.

You'll be having loads of fun over the coming weeks !

Portraits aren't really my strongest subject but I like the composition you've gone for and I think the eyes are great !

I suppose the left side is a little over exposed but I still like it.

Dare I add....Is that a little booger peeping out ?

I really like the composition and the way you have captured the eyes in this FB, one of your best captures to date!

I am however not keen on the heavy blurring, which imo stops this from looking like a 'pro' shot (everything else about it is!). I don't mind it being slightly blown as that can work well - it's just that blur that's bugging me. Why didn't you use your nifty fifty?

Although I would have edited that boogey out

Btw, I just want to add that adding 'blur' in PP is not really a good substitute for the depth of field you get with a lens, because blurring will blur everything in the area regardless of where it is. When you look at the blur achieved through a lens, you will notice that, say in the instance of a portrait, it only blurs stuff in the distance, so things like hairs closer to the camera (in the focus area) are still crisp, even if the ones behind it are not.

Take a look at the examples in this thread to see what I mean.

Overall a good shot, but ease up on that blurring FB!

Great composition and the capture of the eyes is fantastic.

This shot says high key to me, with some use of diffuse glow in PS think that would suit this shot a lot as its half way there to high key without processing

This works well, as it is but a few tweaks and think its a belter!!

i think it a brilliant shot and the eyes are fantastic !
it a little blown but with a lot of practice you will definally get there .
well done .

thanks all for your comments. It was a good ex' but I blew out the highlights down the left hand side in photoshop because I thought it looked better, but maybe I was wrong? lol it was done just to try and increase the impact of the photo i.e. make it slightly more contrasty, but If theres only me who likes it then maybe I should rethink? I thought I'd over done the blur down the left hand side too! (thanks Azz!)

i like the blown effect too, the eyes are fantastic.. well done.

Think Mr F that is one of the things about giving a critique or C & C, you can only give comment of how the image affects you, even comment on the technical side is a personal matter particularly with burning out and blur as what pleases you may not please others. The same could be said for DOF, composition and point of focus it is all subjective and what pleases the photographer will never please all those who view.

It is nice to take a shot that you and your viewing public like, particularly your fellow photographers but in the way of things that is only going to happen on occasion so if you like it then you should leave it as it is.