Romance by the Lightbox

[Joe[y]+]

This is really more about my romance with lightboxes - I like to use them almost with a fetish in portraits - but I think they're great fun to simply play with as well.

I just wonder what people think of my latest shot? http://photos.jlspurling.com/photo/75

I'm really keen on where this forum section is going and i've seen some good crits in here - I would love some advice on this shot in the same manner.

[Hippo]

I think the first pose would be a great shot if the you moved in more and dont allow anything outside the lightbox to show, that would just be my preference. Good idea using a lightbox though, I may have to give it a try.

[lopp]

the second image is wonderful. the combination of lightbox, hand, and girl's head works so well (i can't really work out why, it's just a really different composition, nicely random).

i like the border effect you've got from the edges of the lightbox. her pose is effortlessly alluring, i love the way she is turning her head away into the dark to leave only a tiny amount lit by the box, her placement is ideal.

a person who can be photographed comfortably makes a big difference for shots like this, i reckon.

i find the first shot a touch sentimental.

[Joe[y]+]

Originally Posted by lopp

a person who can be photographed comfortably makes a big difference for shots like this, i reckon.

i find the first shot a touch sentimental.

yes. the girl pictured is a friend with endless uses for photography because she's so damn good at relaxing in front of the camera and doing what i ask her to do. the first shot is indeed so sentimental it almost makes me feel sick - but this appealed to my models :-P

@hippo - i think you might be right but at the time i definetely felt the contrast added something.

thanks for your positive comments.

[jeremycherfas]

I got to agree with Hippo; the framing, if you want to call it that, caused by the visible edges of the lightbox distract from picture 1. short of a pigger box, though, I'm not sure what you could do about it. Picture 2 is much better. But what's that blob on the bottom of the box? Get rid of it!

[Joe[y]+]

Originally Posted by jeremycherfas

I got to agree with Hippo; the framing, if you want to call it that, caused by the visible edges of the lightbox distract from picture 1. short of a pigger box, though, I'm not sure what you could do about it. Picture 2 is much better. But what's that blob on the bottom of the box? Get rid of it!

what blob? you mean the label on the softbox? i could have taken it off i suppose but taking scissors near a softbox is never a good idea. i suppose i could teach myself to use clone again - though i hate doing that sort of thing in PS.

[jeremycherfas]

Well, you did ask. That blob -- even if it is a label -- ruins the image for me. Clone it out or cut it off!

[lopp]

i didn't notice the 'blob', but now you point it out, i see it all the time, and i agree it would be better without it.

cloning that out will be pretty straightforward.

[Joe[y]+]

lol. so we're all agreed - consider it's ass cloned off the face of this planet!

[dakwegmo+]

I love the top photo, the sentimentality works. I would like to see a little bit more detail in their faces; they seem just a little bit too dark.