Diffusion:

Let's not be so afraid of using it ... it is a wonderful addition to a sitting if used properly ... properly being at f 16 at a minimum.  By using that high aperture you minimize it's effect.  We want the soft effect without having it look fuzzy.  I have a couple of examples here:

Diffusion:

Undiffused: - circles and lines under her eyes and round her mouth

Diffused: - circles gone ... lines gone ... not fuzzy

My feeling is that the diffusion add's just the right amount of softening to the image ... to give it a warmer feeling ... to differentiate it from a "snap" ... to go with the gentle feeling of the subject ... to be more flattering to her 30+ face.

Lighting Ratios:

Particularly at the G studio, the fill (at full power) can easily become overpowering and eliminate the softness and directionality of the soft box lighting that we use to give faces contour, depth and interest.  My feeling is that these images are over filled ... there is probably less than 1/2 stop of difference between the main and fill here.

 

She has no cheek bone ... which she would have if the fill was 1 1/2 stops less than the main.  She also has a somewhat round face that should be corrected into an oval with the main / fill ratio.  Here without an adequate lighting ratio, her round face and round hair become a compositional circle instead of the compositional oval that is our artistic goal.

I also feel that this couple could use the slight diffusion afforded by the f16, #1 pro-soft.  It however would not be effective (particularly in B/W) without a deeper lighting ratio.  More ratio = more visual interest and depth in a two dimensional representation of the three dimensional subject.  A larger ratio is also very important for b/w work if you use the diffuser to keep it from becoming flat ... to keep whites, blacks and greys.

Diffusion and increased light ratio would also make the sales job a bit easier as she would not have to imagine what her face will look like retouched ... it will have been taken care of in the studio.  Also, Alla's job will be much easier ... less negative work and less positive blending of retouching to remove her eye circles, neck lines etc.

Please provide me with your feedback ... Just my ideas / training / focus on quality and profitability and client satisfaction.

Education not criticism!

 

Scott Rodgers
Stuart-Rodgers Ltd.
Chicago - Evanston - 847-864-7324 ext. 20
Scott@srphoto.com - www.srphoto.com