Another test shot in my series of nude studies. Shot in profile. Single light with a softer short lighting design. This is intended to be low-key (if I understand that term correctly).
What works for you or, perhaps more importantly, what doesn't?
Wow. What wonderful responses. I'll try to put more info here.
I shot the image more as Skip has mentioned but then cropped it to be a square so I added more to the black area behind the body as I thought the square crop balanced the body better.
The armpit is a concern to me but I also like the curve down to the breast; unsure how to keep that feminine curve without including some of the armpit. Perhaps that's something I can work on with lighting next time.
Model does have a very rich skintone but I didn't color balance the image. With the 1Ds it just feels like there's so little color detail on low-key shots and any edits seem to throw the shot off; its best if I get it "right" (or as close as I know how) in the cam for this low-key work.
Thanks again all. I'll look and see if I have a targeted shot to use to balance this lighting and even out the cool/warm tones.
ETA: shot info as Rooster requested
I tried warming up the skintone and posted that version
Only thing I don't care for here is the purpleish tint to the lighting. Pose is perfect, how the light falls across the body is perfect, focus is perfect. That 85mm is quite the lense eh? Long live primes.
Is her skin naturally dark?
I like the lighting, although there are two things that are distracting for me. one is the light thats shining off her breast (not sure if it is avoidable or not) and the other is the underarm (not sure if you are really concerned with that or not considering it is a lighting study)
i like the basic composition, but feel the lighting comes off cold and metallic, rather than soft and warm. personally, as a standalone, i'd like it better with about 15-20% trimmed off the right, rather than the square crop. however, if this was the centerpiece of a series, the square works nicely.
I think the lighting works quite well. I would crop the top just a wee bit as I'm not that fond of the armpit part without an arm - but it wouldn't take much. The lines/curves are quite nice - brought out well with the low-key/low light.
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
