Another double exposure

[Ron]

Though I'd love to, I don't have time to use the D30 for the bulk of my seniors. How ever for special instances - like this one I used it. (special high end client, I used the D30 to shoot their daughters senior pictures at their summer place on the beach.
Here's a sample.
http://pcphotoreview.com/gallery/photos/42928.jpg

When ever I see a portrait done with a sunset in the background, I really dislike it because they had to use flash fill to get the subjects exposure to match the bright background. I like it so much more when I can get the sun lighting the face, and then duplicate the sunset in the background.

This was a quick combo of two images, I will probably edit it some since I don't really like the sunset this close to center.

[JörgenNilsson]

Ron !

Beautiful work !

But I think it looks unnatural that the face can be lit that way when the sun is behind her.

Jˆrgen

[Ron]

No, people don't see it that way. Customers don't even notice how the light falls on the face. They only know if they look good or not.

When I was in high school taking yearbook pictures, I had to take all the teachers pictures for the book. They were usually shots of the teacher doing what ever they were doing when I approached them. I shot one that I loved. I had really no idea why I liked it so much. A decade later (no a pro of many years) I was looking through the yearbook with my kids and noticed that shot of the teacher. It was lit perfectly, she was working in front of a window and the window light gave her perfect Rembrant lighting. I knew nothing about lighting then, it was totally by accident. But I knew it was a awesome shot back then. (really one of my best for the book) As a pro - I now know why.

It is a double exposure, so the sun can be in two places. Also the light really isn't that far off. it's still lighting the side of the face that it's behind. So doesn't look un-natural to me at all. What I dislike is the sun being to centered. But I'll fix that in the final print.

[Ron]

Cleaned it up (actually re-did it from scratch) because I didn't crop the previous one to 8x10 format (and doing so afterwards would can cut into the image)
So I cropped to 8x10 and did it again. I like this one better.

Double exposure - click here

[RobertCummings]

Your image is wonderful. Customers never know. You know because your profession is lighting. Have you tried the same image with a reflector panel. Nice soft light and less computer work.
Thngs are gettin' better. http://www.robertcummings.com

[Ron]

Thanks Robert, Yes, I use a reflector panel on nearly all my outdoor portrait work. Including this one. I also use a lightform panel and translucent white material.

The computer work wasn't to get soft light, the computer work was to combine the two images. (silouette with sunset, with beach portrait and lighthouse/pier). Actual computer work time spent... about 15 minutes.
I enjoy the computer artwork more than the actual photography.

People get off on sunsets, and I like the soft golden glow on the face as they set. So it's a neat way to combine what I like with what the client likes.

I have some very high end clients coming up and like to offer a special "art" type image with each session like this. I love doing them.

[NorbertBissinger]

People don't look at it this way. They only want to look good. It's all fantasy.

Norbert