Very Nice Adrian

 

Well, a first placed b+w image of some quality, I have to say. Where the 'smoke' is coming from, I'm unsure. Or was there a wet cat on your lap beginning to dry out?

 

The smoke was from a Vape and had just come out of my nose. I did another session more recently and got these.



Lockdown Introspection by Adrian Sadlier, on Flickr

and



Lockdown Introspection 1 by Adrian Sadlier, on Flickr

The 1st one was to prove I'm not always grumpy (and that Monica bought me a new hat).

I feel a series, even an A panel, coming on...

 

Love them. What settings / profiles are you using for your mono?

 

Hi Mike, I just realised that the Exif data is empty. I must sort that out.

Both shots taken in manual mode, D810 on tripod, ISO 64, f/6.3, Nikon 24-70 f2.8, VR (turned off), autofocus (central focus point), centre weighted average metering. Default Preset. Both shots lit by 2 flashes, shot through white umbrellas. Basically no ambient light (just enough so as not to trip over gear - I was using the living room as a studio and Monica does not like me moving the furniture as I never put it back in the "right" place). Main flash subject right at height and slightly to front/side. Second flash low, subject left, slightly to rear/beside. Flashes on manual. Can't remember the setting. Moved them (or me) closer or further away for fine tuning. Used a wireless trigger and three receivers (camera and both flashes - Yongua). The triggers seemed to have some latency as even though I had camera on high speed sync (1/250") the rear curtain was visible in a lot of shots. Time to invest in some better triggers - maybe TTL capable.

1st shot 1/160, at 50mm.

2nd shot 1/100 at 62mm.
2/3 exposure compensation

Both shots in RAW. Basic light adjustments made in LR (mainly with graduated filter, mostly on camera right hand side to reveal more in the shadows.). Brush used to remove any hotspots on the skin by reducing highlights. Then into Silver Efex Pro to convert to B&W. Can't remember which "filter" I used - it varies with every shot but tends to be the "neutral" one. Increase in structure to give a more gritty effect.

Then back into photoshop for final tidy up. I suffer badly from Eczema, my face looks quite red during a flare up. That's why my self portraits started out in B&W. Now it's my default approach. I have a lot of tiny flecks of skin on my face which are easily detected at this resolution. I have a good "scrub" before a shoot but can't moisturise as it gives a sheen which the camera picks up. So I use photoshop to tidy it up.

Then I post them here for feedback and I have never been let down. There are nearly always suggestions for improvement.

Which I really appreciate.

Adrian

 

Ah right, that was the bit I was wondering about. Ta

 

I do like these portraits Adrian. very good.

That made me smile. Is that the happy face?

 

No. That is the contented face. This is the happy face - taken Saturday night, a different feel than the previous stuff for "Lockdown Introspection". I am not gloomy all the time (it just feels that way)



Lockdown Introspection - The Joy of a good book by Adrian Sadlier, on Flickr

This was a lot harder to do as I wanted to use an 85mm for a more "natural" perspective. But my 85mm is a manual focus lens. With nobody but myself to "shoot" & "sit" it took a lot of trial and error.

 

At last, a mono portrait, that isn't a selfie!



Master's behind, Future ahead! by Adrian Sadlier, on Flickr

 

For me, personally, over-cooked the whites of the eyes. Like the hat.

 

Hi Tony

At this size the eyes do look overcooked. But at full resolution they don't (you can see the veins etc.).

The hat is mine - I haven't even worn it yet!

 

As I was scrolling down these and came to the last one my first thought was "Oh my, overdone the photoshop a bit there" - until it dawned on me it wasn't you!!!

 

I had a good snigger at that, Kath!