First Studio Portrait

[doug anderson]

Went by to visit a friend the other day and talked him into sitting for a photo in his own studio.

One light box, one reflector, and one scoop light on backdrop.

 

[Charlotte Thompson]

I like this guy
I know he is sensitive and very much so
is he a poet?
his age fits his skin nicely
great capture of such a beautiful soul!

Charlotte-

 

[John Angulat]

Doug, very well done. There's a certain "something" in his expression. It seems to me to be very soulful. Just shy of pained, as if he carries a burden.

 

[doug anderson]

Thanks, John. He's a good friend, a fine photographer, and a photography mentor.

 

[doug anderson]

I like this guy
I know he is sensitive and very much so
is he a poet?
his age fits his skin nicely
great capture of such a beautiful soul!

Charlotte-

Charlotte. His name is Robert Tobey and he's a photographer. He's a very old and good friend, and yes, he's soulful. I would say he is a poet with a camera. It's his studio I'm practicing in.

D

 

[Rachel Foster]

What a great face! Lighting and technical elements seem well executed as well.

 

[Rene F Granaada]

Doug, very well done. There's a certain "something" in his expression. It seems to me to be very soulful. Just shy of pained, as if he carries a burden.

What in my opinion gives the portrait the power to pull you in, is that somehow the expression in his eyes shows a wonderful balance between the subject's attention being on the photographer, and at the same time on what's inside his head/heart. He is not begging for attention, but has found that delicate balance between his inner world and the outer world of Doug, asking for his attention...
Nice work Doug!

Rene-Frank

 

[doug anderson]

Thanks, Rene. Something to be said for trust here. Not everybody knows me that well.

D

 

[Asher Kelman]

Hi Doug,

Since this was your first studio shot, and done well,what's your take home message for yourself on getting lights yourself? Is that your plan?

Asher

 

[doug anderson]

Asher: It's part of my plan, but I have no studio -- nor can I afford to rent one. What I'll probably do first is get an umbrella kit and find locations outside my own house to shoot.

D

 

[Asher Kelman]

Asher: It's part of my plan, but I have no studio -- nor can I afford to rent one. What I'll probably do first is get an umbrella kit and find locations outside my own house to shoot.

D

Doug,

Start with a few small white foam core boards, from you photography store, they come black on one side. A roll of gaffer's tape will fix them where you want or else a stand with a clamp. With these, one can then open the shadows on the side away from the light filtered through the window covered with a thin sheet. A model can also hold a reflector card or gold/silver fabric reflector below at 45 degrees to light from below too. This is all essentially free. You can use your camera flash through a $17 white umbrella to give more light as close to the subject as possible and just dial it down to almost nothing if needed to get just gentle fill or use the window light alone.

It's not necessary to buy strobes if one has the time. Just work out where in your house the light is good at the late afternoon and before you lose the light.

Asher

 

[doug anderson]

Doug,

Start with a few small white foam core boards, from you photography store, they come black on one side. A roll of gaffer's tape will fix them where you want or else a stand with a clamp. With these, one can then open the shadows on the side away from the light filtered through the window covered with a thin sheet. A model can also hold a reflector card or gold/silver fabric reflector below at 45 degrees to light from below too. This is all essentially free. You can use your camera flash through a $17 white umbrella to give more light as close to the subject as possible and just dial it down to almost nothing if needed to get just gentle fill or use the window light alone.

It's not necessary to buy strobes if one has the time. Just work out where in your house the light is good at the late afternoon and before you lose the light.

Asher

Thanks, Asher. I'll consider this. A friend of mine made a great reflector out of an emergency blanket by taping it to one of the boards you mention.

D