My Gangster shoot.

Hackbone

One of my students from my first class teaching. Really a great guy.
Wanted to do a Gangster type shoot.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

anonymouscuban

Chuck...

Lighting is good in all, goes without saying. #2 is really the only one that says "gangster" to me. The rest... well, not so much. Maybe a gangster from a musical.

I like #3 as well. #4 almost hits the mark but something about it, again, doesn't relay that tough guy thing. Maybe it's just me and others will disagree.

BTW, when I read the title, I was expecting something more like this:

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SLRmVJm6z5k/0.jpg

Bryce Wilson

anonymouscuban wrote: »

BTW, when I read the title, I was expecting something more like this:

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SLRmVJm6z5k/0.jpg

...big difference between what someone on the west coast vs. someone on the east coast envisions when they hear the word "Gangster". Could be an age thing too.

Charles,

I too think number 2 hits the mark. Expression, mood and light all come together here without being way to obvious.

I like the idea of adding the hat, but to me, no self respecting gangster would wear a straw fedora or one of that color. It looks a bit small to me too.

The lighting is superb and really sets the proper mood for the entire set.

What was the idea behind the "leaning on the stool" shot?

Hackbone

How about a plain old Nice Gangster.....more like Mafia......lol.

Hackbone

Bryce, just a pose I like with some guys. He didn't have a hat so I had some from my father in law and it realy is too small but I said what the heck. go with what I have.

theprincereturns

Got the Vladimir Putin Look Going
Well I definitly got Vladimir Putin Vibe from all the pictures (or maybe the Dmitry Medyvedev look)
and he is a real gangster, so they look great to me :-).

Foques

i'm with mr. Cuban.. for the most part.. even the #2 doesn't seem like much of a gangster.

great light work, great portraits.. but a gangster... not really.

thepricereturns, there is no Y in the Dmitry's last name.

dbveto

I think the shots look great but without your title or explanation none of them say Gangster to me.
I do like #2 the best.

Hackbone

OK, how about " The Don.":ivar

Foques

even less so, sorry mr. C
Small business owner during tax filing is more like it..

Hackbone

Foques wrote: »

even less so, sorry mr. C
Small business owner during tax filing is more like it..

Ouch, thats mean......lol....lol....lol.

Ridgetop

I love the lighting, but severely needs a tommygun.

Hackbone

I was going to use weapons but all of mine are black. Had a stainless Kimber lined up but the shoot came together too fast. Next time.

Bilsen

Hack,

I grew up with guys named Fungo and "the Fish" and none of them are that good looking.

2 & 4 certainly hint at gangster.

# 3 gets lost in the BKG (at least on my uncalibrated monitor)

The last one looks more like a Wall Street CFO who just saw the FBI walk in. Of course, he could steal more with a briefcase than 100 mob guys.

Hackbone

John, where I grew up south of Pittsburgh, little coal mining community, everybody had a nickname. Mine was Hackinflash....shortened to Hack. Guys in the polka band were, Greaser, Urb Suub, Ahab, Ralphie. Miss the old days.....too much fun.

On #3 I started with the trusty 4x6 but didn't like all the light hitting the feet so I switched to a smaller 3x4 to cut down some of the spill.

Shima

dbveto wrote: »

I think the shots look great but without your title or explanation none of them say Gangster to me.
I do like #2 the best.

Ditto.

It's a nice set but not super gangster. I think the only thing that really bugs me is that he's staring STRAIGHT into the camera in EVERY single shot. If his gaze would vary a little bit in between shots I think that would help.

coldclimb

I think what's missing from "Gangster" for me is that he's too clean and professional looking. The mob vibe should have the clean-cut professionalism as well, but I feel like it would be darker, grittier, and maybe less perfect. These photos are too GOOD in a technical sense to inspire that feeling of darkness.