Comments on: Studio Test Shoot with Peggy

By: Bert Stephani

Bert Stephani — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:27:51 +0000

Thx all for your comments, I really appreciate it

I’m actually happy with the mixed feelings about the darkness of the pics. Sometimes I just don’t want to make images that please everyone.

@Frank: yeah, I really need to learn to avoid those cracks with studio backgrounds

@Geoff: I guess the focus is harder to find if you don’t know Peggy. She gets (too) often asked for a certain kind of photography and I want to show another side of her.

@Ichimusai: All except for the second picture (just a standard reflector) are done with just one Elinchrom Ranger head in a medium Chimera softbox. I tried to play around with fall off.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:33:42 +0000

They are very dark, but I really like them, maybe some background interest as mentioned by Pepin would of helped.

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:15:08 +0000

These are awesome I love the first ones especially where she has the white bag. The contrast there is awesome.

By: crtani

crtani — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:42:31 +0000

In my opinion, dark, on this photos are great.

By: Pepin

Pepin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:50:11 +0000

I find the pics too dark.

I think dark pics are ok if there was some background references that will indicate a “dark” mood.

With just the plain background, it looks underexposed.

By: Ichimusai

Ichimusai — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:17:18 +0000

I think you did really well. I love the tones on the background, if you don’t mind explaining how you lit that so well and with such balance I’d be really happy!

And, for sure, this model is something extra. Love the eye contact, she sees right into me from every picture – even the ones with shades and when she looks away has that kind of electric presence that the really great models produce.

You should be proud of the results here, I know it is a test shoot so you probably don’t have a theme or well defined purpose hammered out so that is okay, sometimes you just need to goof around and do tests also, but that is not a problem here in my opinion because the intensity she portrays in the pictures and the manner in which you are able to portrait that through your photographs are really nice.

Well done!

/Ichi from Sweden

By: geoff

geoff — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:27:17 +0000

What is your focus? They are nice pictures of a pretty girl, but nothing catches my eye. I don’t feel drawn to any part of the picture. It doesn’t have to be eyes or mouth or even face, but I need something more than girl. Like others has mentioned, I would have liked more contrast from shadows to light.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:17:17 +0000

Hi Bert,

Good to see you are working in your studio now. I must agree on the comment from WWj. For my feeling the last four are a bit to dark. I have a calibrated screen as well (thank to LIME). But you must have done that intentional, just like the lack of color on her skin. But like I said, that is all my preference. I like photo’s with clear contrast and bold colors. The first two sure show me you know how to work the lights.
In the middle row I spotted some cracks in the paper on the photo to the left. Maybe a bit of photoshop can help that.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Kind regards,

Frank Fonteijn

By: Bert Stephani

Bert Stephani — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:53:36 +0000

thx

@WWj: they are rather low key but on my calibrated screen they look exactly as I want them to look.

By: WWj

WWj — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:35:42 +0000

First pics you’ve showed (the ones with the bag) were dark but the others I see here are Really Really dark. I’m sure that was intentional but for me – too dark. I’d love some more light especialy on the last in second and third line. my favorite is first in the second line! Love it!