Jena by Two

Bilsen

From another recent attempt at studio work, here are a pair of gorgeous women named Jena.

FIRST, JENA S AND HER FLOWER


2.


3.


4. AND NOW JENA D.


5.


6.

Bilsen

OK, Quick question.

That bad or that good?

zoomer

Both Jenas are cute.
The shots are ok. The background in the first ones where the top is gray and the bottom is black is not ideal. Once color would be better.
Black socks on a black background disappear.
Crop the black bottom off of 5 and that would be my favorite.
They aren't that good ....or that bad.

Do you have some more of them...Jenna B has a lot of potential.

Bilsen

OK Zoomer, I'll take the "meh". I've actually been wrestling with a bit of creative burn out after 40 odd outdoor shoots this season.

By the way, # 6 is, in fact, the crop you suggested for # 5 just with a different expression. I also tried Jena D with some really dramatic one light side lighting but I didn't post them cause I wasn't happy with the results. Here are a couple more of Jena D including one of the "disasters".



2.


3. and now for my disaster lighting experiment


4.


5.

Bilsen

OK Zoomer, I'll take the "meh" without any argument. I've actually been wrestling with a bit of creative burn out after 40 odd outdoor shoots this season.

By the way, # 6 is, in fact, the crop you suggested for # 5 just with a different expression. I also tried Jena D with some really dramatic one light side lighting but I didn't post them cause I wasn't happy with the results. Here are a couple more of Jena D including some "disasters".



2.


3. and now for my disaster lighting experiment


4.


5.

D3Sshooter

Nice work, so now back to the pictures.

P1,2,3
Light: Both have fairly hard light, that creates sudden transitions between shaded en lighted area's. I would say that this girl would be better of with soft light. I am not sure what kind of lights you used, but looking at the shadows I would say that the lightsource (flash) was on the front right as the only source.
I suspect that you had no softbox (that would have created softlight).
For softlight, bring the lightsource as close as possible to the model and make it as large as possible (surface of the softbox).

Composition: P1 is a bit to frontal, with the knees forward. It creates an optical effect of large knees, due to the distance to the camera and the fact that they are highlighted. I would have turned the model 1/4. P2 & 3is great I like that pose as it is the basic S curve with one working leg and one show leg,

P4,5,6
Light: Looks much softer and is appealing for this model.

Composition: P4 is not my taste, 5&6 are great. Maybe it would have been better with a full white or gray shaded background, so that you would not have the horizontal split . I am not to fond on the blue toning of P4.

Good job for both the photographer and the models (nice expressions). Are the models pro's, I would think that the second one has taken some posing classes? (how she puts the S curve into place and holds the hands in the hips with the thumbs on the back). Or you might have given here very good instructions John.

D3Sshooter

JohnGalt_ny wrote: »

OK Zoomer, I'll take the "meh" without any argument. I've actually been wrestling with a bit of creative burn out after 40 odd outdoor shoots this season.


5.

Great shot and what an expression

I do see some artifacts at the edges. The result of a PS job ? But even then it still looks great.

zoomer

Your new number 5 looks great. PS work looks a bit iffy, but overall looks great. She is a pretty girl.

Bilsen

As always, thanks a ton D3.

Jena D is an experienced model. Gorgeous and knows her stuff. My only real direction to her was keeping her face into the light.

The first set (the OP) both had one light through a softbox to camera right and a gridded strobe over her head for the background.

The second (experimental) set was in a dark factory setting. Just one strobe on a boom about 6 feet away and 8 feet high, 90 degrees to camera left with a beauty dish. It was fun to play around with BUT I think I got 5 frames that could even be processed into anything. Still, I pretty much know my outdoor natural light stuff so even my failures can be fun.

Zoomer, I LOVE playing with light in PP, especially when the BKG is a really ugly industrial set. You and I are just gonna argue about backgrounds forever and I enjoy every minute of it.

Bryce Wilson

Hi John:

I'm fine with the poses for the most part. They look playful and somewhat sexy. What bothers me most is the hard shadows on the face especially in the nose area.

You may want to try a larger light source, closer to the model and add a big bounce board on the other side.

Love looking at your work though!

Bilsen

Thanks Bryce.

I'm always consoled by the fact that no matter how badly I screw up, people are still looking at someone like the Jena twins.