Re: [Leica] Comments on portraits, please

[Alastair Firkin <firkin@ncable.net.au>]

>Having said that, let me now offer some general suggestions rather than
>criticisms. These are mainly technical rather than aesthetic suggestions.
>
>In most H&S portraits, the main centre of interest is the eyes and if the eyes
>are not as sharp as the end of the nose you have a problem. The eyelashes are
>the highest contrast area of the eyes and they frame the eyes, so if the
>eyelashes are sharp, the face will appear sharp.
>
>Be aware of the quality of the light you use for portraits. When 
>using a shaded
>area on a sunny day, remember that the only light striking the subject is
>probably blue, with a colour temperature of anything up to 10,000 degrees K or
>more. There are a number of ways to correct this. Use a warming filter, use a
>flash (more on this later), use a white or gold reflector (either hand held or
>use the reflection from an adjacent wall). You will find additional 
>colour casts
>from green leaves, grass etc. that can cause aditional problems. Just choose
>your spot carefully.
>
>As for flash......use it sparingly, if at all. Flash-on-camera tends 
>to flatten
>the planes of the face and cast ugly sharp shadows. Try to diffuse 
>the light by
>reflecting from a white card or umbrella, or flash through an 
>umbrella. Anything
>to enlarge the light source. Better yet, use one softened flash on your camera
>and underexpose by at least a stop, and another slaved flash off camera about
>45degrees at correct exposure, through an umbrella, preferably held by an
>assistant. This will give you repeatable, perfect studio light on almost any
>location. I rarely use flash but that is the system I use for 
>emergencies. None
>of this works too well with an M6 and 1/45 sec flash synch if you are using
>400ISO film!
>
>The umbrella is really cheap, about one metre across when opened and 
>has a stem
>that telescopes. I have cut off the handle so the whole thing is less than a
>foot long and fits into my camera bag (or my pocket in an 
>emergency). I buy four
>or five at a time (once every ten years) for about $10 each.
>
>After all that I admire the way you are experimenting with the Simar and find
>that the most pleasing shot to me is Nicole No6.
>
>Keep up the good work
>
>Regards
>
>Rob.

Rob,
With comments and help like this, you have just appointed yourself to 
the panel ;-) I have filed them in one of my endless "folders". Do 
keep comments and tit bits like this coming

Cheers
- -- 
Alastair Firkin

http://www.afirkin.com

http://www.familyofman2.com

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