[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

January 5, 2008 at 6:42 pm

Cheers for the nice comments.
:D

[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

February 18, 2007 at 10:45 am

“I love that shot of the father and baby”
Thanks Cliff – I couldn’t understand what you meant about the lighter glow around the head. Then I looked at it on another monitor.

My monitor is matched to a particular art paper which like many art papers tends to have less shadow detail than normal – so images look the way they’ll print on my screen. Put them onto the internet and with a normal screen they look lighter, which can show up CS work which would not be on the print.

That’s my excuse – and I’m sticking to it!!!!!

Cheers
Roy

[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

February 17, 2007 at 10:50 am

“still not convinced it works on that particular shot”. Agreed – I’m not convinced it works on Graham’s shot either, just using it to illustrate a point.

“works really well on Si’s shot above”. Agreed – although its using differential focus more than light and shade, Its exactly the same point.

Nice shot Simon, thanks for that. Will you be over in about a month? I have a (paid) project you might be interested in…

Cheers

Roy

[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

February 16, 2007 at 10:59 pm

Think of Impact as “Adding Interest”

Shoot a landscape with your back to the sun, or on an overcast day and you get a true likeness of the scene – but little impact or interest.
Why? Because you have no shadows. Shoot on a contrasty day, cross or back lighting, you get more impact, a more 3 dimensional effect, more impact and more interest.

Portraits are the same in my view. From the start you have to look at (or control) not only the light, but also the dark areas or shadows. When processing, whether in the computer or darkroom, you should also burn and dodge to create the effect you are after.

You are correct, there is no right or wrong, and it is all down to personal taste. However its sometimes good to light dramatically, and sometimes to process dramatically, so don’t always think about getting as much detail into your shadows as possible, sometimes its bettter to let them be ‘moody’. The problem with your original shot, as others have said, is that it was too dark. My point is that when lightening it, maybe keep some rich dark tones in there too?

Your photo captures a moment very well and may not suit the technique – that’s fine, try it on some others, its still a useful to keep in mind.

Hope that helps.
Enjoy your photography.

[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

February 16, 2007 at 6:18 pm

Hi all

I wasn’t trying to make it better, I was making the point that when you process an image, don’t think of making every part as clear, or well exposed as you can.

Photography is ‘painting with light’ AND darkness. I was suggesting that adding darkness can add more IMPACT.

I didn’t add a painting effect to Mum – she’s just darkened.

Which is better – neither.
Which is the more acceptable picture of mum and daugher – first ones
Which has more IMPACT, the one with the darker mum.

Anyway, here’s an image of mine that may illustrate the point a little better

Doesn’t make any difference whether you like it or not, but it has more impact that if Dad was lighter.

[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

February 16, 2007 at 8:38 am

somtimes darking part of a portrait can give it more impact.

[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

November 17, 2006 at 3:07 pm

Just a note to say thanks to those who have applied so far.

Its been ten years since I last took on a couple of photographers. As I mentioned to someone else today, they are both still really good friends and running their own studio.

If anyone is well outside the area but would like more information just so they can see studios may be looking for, I don’t mind you asking for more info just because you are curious and have no intention of applying.

Cheers

Roy

[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

November 17, 2006 at 11:19 am

Just in case anyone missed the posting on the main forum, I am recruiting a full time professional portrait photographer and a full time trainee at the moment.

For more info please email me on royportfolio-gallery.com

Roy

[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

November 17, 2006 at 11:08 am

to do it is to type (c) in word. It automatically replaces this with the copyright symbol – then just cut and paste.

Roy

[roy@portfolio-gallery.com]

November 17, 2006 at 11:04 am

Thanks for the kind welcome folks!
Roy