Hockey Sportrait >>>>> C&C

[motox424]

I had another hockey T&I session this eveing. This was the oldest group of boys(young men) and I wanted to do something a little different for them. I recently purchased some gels, and after alot of information gathered from a very well known sports photographer, Rick Denham, I was able to completely amaze these kids with the photos.

I wanted to set up one more light, camera right, but the coach was already "growling" about ice time

I would like to know what the Photocamel community thinks of this I know I have seen Benji's work with some metal backgrounds for Senior shoots before, and I had the idea for a while after that, but Rick really guieded me on this. Thanks Rick

[lputman]

I really like it. I would crop out a small bit of the right facing edge.

[motox424]

Originally Posted by lputman

I really like it. I would crop out a small bit of the right facing edge.

Thanks Lori! I was tired(very tired) when i posted that last night.
Here's what a final version looks like, minus the watermark

[lputman]

Very cool!

[patterfr]

Scott
Cool looking shot (2nd one posted).Love the bg.
Vignette is a better look.
Cool composition.
It's a great idea for a sports portrait and while he looks serious, he doesn't look like he's just trying to look mean, so the expression just sort of works for this type of shot I think.
So how could it be better?
I think if we saw more of his left arm it would be better. Keep his body the same and rotate his stick so that his right hand receeds away from the camera and gets smaller(better) and his left hand comes forward so you can see it.
But the most important thing that would make this a great shot would be to finesse the lighting. And it's the hardest thing, but the most important usually to make a good shot a great shot.

If you look at his face, the darkest parts are his eyes.
That should be the brightest area.
It looks to me, and I could be wrong so correct me that you got a light just to his right, behind his right glove. Sort of in a "kicker" position. And then the other light to his left, which is kind of in the main light position, is not as bright as the kicker, and therefore the shadow on his right eye is dark and his eyes are darker and right ear and cheek are brightest.

I bet if you reversed the ratio and made the light on his left brighter by a stop than the kicker, and brought it forward towards the camera, it'd have left less shadow on his right eye from his nose and gotten more light into that right eye in the process. Then if you moved the light on his right back a little and feathered the kicker(light on his right, more toward the camera, then you'd have less light blasting his ear and right side of his nose(and it'd be less since it's a stop less than the main on the other side.) Almost like the old JimmyZ lighting on his thread from a while back)
That's what I think would be better, but I'm just trying to figure it all out like you.

Here's the link: Look at jimmyz's diagram, not Kelly's this was before Kelly became the king of the camel.)

JimmyZ's Lighting Technique

Only your light would me reversed the way you have it with the main on camera right and the kicker back camera left.)
Which on second look might be almost better since him facing the other way (turning the subject and positioning the lights the way they are in the Jimmy z diagram might be better.)

[motox424]

Fran- Thanks for the breakdown. I have added another photo of a player facing the opposite direction, any better?

I'm NOT making excuses for myself, but just want to set the stage for you. Like I said in the OP, the coach was "GROWLING" at me about ice time. These kids were on their skates, on the ice(as was I) and I was more worried about them stepping on the electrical cords, than getting them EXACTLY where I needed them to be posed I had literally 15 minutes to set-up and get the shots of 15 players, and get off the ice! Players were practicing while I was shooting the photos

I do however appreciate your honest feedback

[patterfr]

That one's looking pretty darn good Scott.
I hear you. THe coach wasn't helpful?
You shoulda pulled his shirt over his head and started hitting him with right hooks until he backed down.
Yes I like this one a lot better.
Lighting looks much better!

[Rain Lily]

I like them too but is your vignette darkening the tops of their heads? It seems to be, in the last two - and the first one, which is a good bit more pulled back in crop, doesn't seem to be as dark. Do you use an action for a vignette? A custom vignette might be better for this, so you can adjust it. Just a thought.

[motox424]

Originally Posted by Rain Lily

I like them too but is your vignette darkening the tops of their heads? It seems to be, in the last two - and the first one, which is a good bit more pulled back in crop, doesn't seem to be as dark. Do you use an action for a vignette? A custom vignette might be better for this, so you can adjust it. Just a thought.

Maybe in the last photo, but the first and second is just the BG light falloff.
Actually, in the first photo, there is no vignette added at all, that's just the BG light falloff. Cool huh? The first photo is SOOC, with a little sharpening and crop.

I add my vignettes in LR2, and they are customizable.

Thanks Sis