Playing around with lighting to create more dramatic portraits and combining this with my fondness of Film Noir, I came up with this self portrait, which bears homage to images of Orson Welles as a story teller, which was in my mind when I set up this capture.
CC very welcome and appreciated
Film Noir Self Portrait
Although similar to the last image I saw like this from you, this is much more interesting and your arms are very much as I was suggesting. More importantly it has improved the image, a lot. I'd darken your face, just a little and your knuckle a bit more. Jobs a good un.
Thank you Ian, I did work on getting more of a rim light to the arms as you suggested and which I agree made a better image. About the brightness of the head, I was going for a brighter "In the Spotlight" look, as I usually tend to go for a darker tonality, so I have mixed feelings about this, as I think that it has the Spotlight feeling I was going for but by instinct I would also like to make it a bit darker...
Make a copy and edit that one, keeping this original as a back-up/benchmark. I understand the spotlight effect and you have it but I still feel the very small darkening of the face will be better. I hope to see it tried.
Still had the workflow file so I just expanded on that and darkened to my usual level and masked out everything but the head and knuckle. And I agree that it looks better, although some of the "Caught in the spotlight" feeling is gone... Guess it goes to show that sometimes you should listen to your instincts ;))
How'd you light it?
This one was captured with a single speedlight with a Rogue Flashbender honeycomb 45° grid attached on a light-stand above the head in about 60° angle.
Makes sense :)
Always a challenge to capture a good self portrait. Nice work.
I'd agree with Ian about taking down the light a touch on your forehead.
cheers
I will have another go at it in post and check the difference... ;))