Strobist Portrait – Mean Machine

[richieb]

January 4, 2010 at 9:04 pm

I am after getting a load of gels for my two SB-600 flash’s so its time to get to work on trying them out. This is my first attempt, I was going for a low key, mean looking effect.

The setup is sb-600 firing through a small umbrella to camera left, 90 to the model
Sb-600 with blue gel behind model firing back onto the wall

The near side of the face is in shadow due to the angle of the umbrella, how ever some mad, but cool looking catch light appeared in the left eye. I like that it, gives a glowing eyes kinds of mean dimension.

Small bit of desaturation in photo shop then to bring the tones together and thats it.

[5faythe]

January 6, 2010 at 10:22 pm

Hi Richie,

I’m no expert on portraits and I know nothing about lighting.
Good start I hear you say but I think you deserve a reply. :roll:

I think you have achieved the mean look pretty well.
When I viewed it first I instantly thought of a boxer.

The left eye does have an unusual look about it.
I covered the left half of the image so that I couldn’t see
the right eye and it makes interesting viewing.

Keep up the experimenting.
Great way to learn.

Well done.

John.

[richieb]

January 7, 2010 at 12:23 pm

Hey John,

Thanks for the comment. I will keep experimenting. There is a great website, http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/that I am getting a lot of ideas from. I will post them up as I take them.

Richie