Topic: Re: Recent Professional Works 2 (Read 1209135 times)

ACH DIGITAL · « **Reply #2100 on:** May 04, 2016, 08:07:58 pm »

Lynn that photo has a very good feeling.

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #2101 on:** May 12, 2016, 04:06:33 pm »

From a recent portrait session

drmike · « **Reply #2102 on:** May 12, 2016, 04:16:02 pm »

Michael - how complex was the lighting for this?

Mike

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #2103 on:** May 12, 2016, 04:23:10 pm »

Quote from: drmike on May 12, 2016, 04:16:02 pm

Michael - how complex was the lighting for this?

Mike

Just one beauty dish and a Styrofoam board as a reflector on the opposite side:)

drmike · « **Reply #2104 on:** May 12, 2016, 04:24:53 pm »

Thank you. I know nothing about lighting portraits so it's helpful when someone like yourself explains.

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #2105 on:** May 12, 2016, 04:41:33 pm »

I don't think I know much either, I just light it so it looks the way I like it:)

drmike · « **Reply #2106 on:** May 12, 2016, 04:43:34 pm »

I assume you are being modest as your levitating nudes seem very well lit to me. You get such beautiful even tones but still reveal every detail that's relevant.

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #2107 on:** May 12, 2016, 04:52:50 pm »

Here are a few more from the same session:

Joe Towner · « **Reply #2108 on:** May 13, 2016, 02:40:40 am »

Good stuff Michael. Did you get him talking and telling stories, as he looks like he's got a few to tell.

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #2109 on:** May 13, 2016, 09:47:05 am »

Thanks Joe. He is a lifetime journalist, you are right, no one else can have more stories:)

Manoli · « **Reply #2110 on:** May 13, 2016, 10:43:38 am »

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #2111 on:** May 13, 2016, 11:14:01 am »

Hi Manoli, this must have been transfered to exif from the template created based on a stitched image (oops).. These images were shot single frame with Nikon D800e with Nikon 60mm G and Sigma 105 mm lenses, Pentax 645z with Pentax 80-160mm and Mamiya ZD camera with Mamiya 150 mm

Slobodan Blagojevic · « **Reply #2112 on:** May 13, 2016, 12:52:15 pm »

I hope (photographic) heavens will forgive me for dissenting.

Every single portrait contains a significant flaw. Either eyes are in the shade, pupils not visible, or only one eye having a catchlight (a second one would be easy to recreate in post). When you have both eyes and both catchlights, the grin is not flattering. The last one, with a lovely facial expression, is easy to salvage, by adding a catchlight and cropping out the out-of-focus hand. The first color shot has atrocious red skin blotches. I like the pose and composition in the first one, just needs some light reflecting back and illuminating eyes.

Hope this helps, as harsh as it sounds.

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #2113 on:** May 13, 2016, 02:19:25 pm »

Ah, the Mandatory Catchlight fetish!

Wasn't it Satchmo who once said, "If it ain't got two catchlights, you ain't never gonna sell it."

eronald · « **Reply #2114 on:** May 13, 2016, 03:24:20 pm »

Quote from: Slobodan Blagojevic on May 13, 2016, 12:52:15 pm

I hope (photographic) heavens will forgive me for dissenting.

Every single portrait contains a significant flaw. Either eyes are in the shade, pupils not visible, or only one eye having a catchlight (a second one would be easy to recreate in post). When you have both eyes and both catchlights, the grin is not flattering. The last one, with a lovely facial expression, is easy to salvage, by adding a catchlight and cropping out the out-of-focus hand. The first color shot has atrocious red skin blotches. I like the pose and composition in the first one, just needs some light reflecting back and illuminating eyes.

Hope this helps, as harsh as it sounds.

These images have been made into caricatures, by lighting and by processing - but we can assume the artist wanted them that way. If he did not, then that says something about his vision of his own finished work rather than his technique.

Edmund

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #2115 on:** May 15, 2016, 02:23:59 pm »

... I simply ignore the rules, I can't stand them:)

Some of my work is on exhibit in the Museum of Russian Art (80 Grand Street, Jersey City). Drop by if you are nearby!

synn · « **Reply #2116 on:** May 17, 2016, 05:18:08 am »

Michael, as a HUGE fan of your nude series, I have to give a little bit of feedback and I hope you don't take it the wrong way.

I don't have any problems with most of the poses or the lighting on the most part, but the processing can definitely be improved upon. I feel that there is too much contrast pushing and clarity enhancement going on and the images could benefit from some dialing back. I always feel that for portraits, if you want a gritty look, do it with lights, not post.

Ina couple of images, I think you're shooting with the camera higher than the subject. This makes him look less dominant, which I wouldn't do for a subject with so much character.

That last image with some dodging around the eyes is killer though!

henrikfoto · « **Reply #2117 on:** May 17, 2016, 05:54:42 am »

Quote from: MichaelEzra on May 12, 2016, 04:06:33 pm

From a recent portrait session

This is one of the best portraits I have seen here! It has a very impressing feeling to it.

Henrik

MichaelEzra · « **Reply #2118 on:** May 17, 2016, 05:50:27 pm »

Sandeep, thanks for the feedback. Edmund got it right:) However, I agree about the extra grittiness of processing and that can be dialed down.

You see, every portrait is a portrait of not the subject but the situation in which subject has been photographed. I finally got to photograph the male portrait and nothing could stop me from crunching these images after all those smooth nudes:))) I let that craving leak and be portrayed. Now that that is vented, it will be balanced. One image, just before the last one has that quality. In fact, the subject even looks like an entirely different person here, which is not attributed to processing, but the mood at the time of capture, further carried via processing. I haven't done any localized retouching in these images, just used the overall global editing.

This is a portrait of a journalist leading a TV show. The session was carried in a very dim (modeling) light, aside from the triggered strobes. It was my choice to remove him from the spotlight, disallow domination and show a glimpse of who he actually might be. The 3rd (from the bottom) portrait is done leveling camera with the person in order to convey the feeling of live conversation that actually took place.

eronald · « **Reply #2119 on:** May 17, 2016, 09:51:04 pm »

When QE2 steps down, Charles should be wrinkled enough so they call you to lense him

Edmund

Quote from: MichaelEzra on May 17, 2016, 05:50:27 pm

Sandeep, thanks for the feedback. Edmund got it right:) However, I agree about the extra grittiness of processing and that can be dialed down.

You see, every portrait is a portrait of not the subject but the situation in which subject has been photographed. I finally got to photograph the male portrait and nothing could stop me from crunching these images after all those smooth nudes:))) I let that craving leak and be portrayed. Now that that is vented, it will be balanced. One image, just before the last one has that quality. In fact, the subject even looks like an entirely different person here, which is not attributed to processing, but the mood at the time of capture, further carried via processing. I haven't done any localized retouching in these images, just used the overall global editing.

This is a portrait of a journalist leading a TV show. The session was carried in a very dim (modeling) light, aside from the triggered strobes. It was my choice to remove him from the spotlight, disallow domination and show a glimpse of who he actually might be. The 3rd (from the bottom) portrait is done leveling camera with the person in order to convey the feeling of live conversation that actually took place.

Author Topic: Re: Recent Professional Works 2 (Read 1209135 times)