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Steven Sweeney · 09-15-2002, 07:32 AM

Will,

I think your instincts are correct. The first pose didn't work out for you because compositionally it's just very unbalanced. Too, about 80% or more of the head is in shadow, and what little is in light isn't dramatically lighted in any particularly interesting or characterizing way. I think the alternative 3/4 pose is far more revealing of characterizing detail.

I agree that the lantern is problematic as well, because as you've pointed out, the lighting on the subject is not the design that would be defined by that type of light source in that position.

You might experiment with variations of the 3/4 pose, with some light introduced in an oblique design in the right side of the background, indicating a high, off-site light source, which in turn might be slightly illuminating a wall hanging, simple painting, or other such feature (a Crucifix, perhaps (low-key, maybe defined more by shadow than light), which would be a "clue" that the book is a Bible). And that in turn would provide some compositional balance for the figure and the "weight" of the light on the figure and table.

Cheers,
Steven

09-15-2002, 07:32 AM	#6
Steven Sweeney Juried Member PT 5+ years Joined: Nov 2001 Location: Stillwater, MN Posts: 1,801	Will, I think your instincts are correct. The first pose didn't work out for you because compositionally it's just very unbalanced. Too, about 80% or more of the head is in shadow, and what little is in light isn't dramatically lighted in any particularly interesting or characterizing way. I think the alternative 3/4 pose is far more revealing of characterizing detail. I agree that the lantern is problematic as well, because as you've pointed out, the lighting on the subject is not the design that would be defined by that type of light source in that position. You might experiment with variations of the 3/4 pose, with some light introduced in an oblique design in the right side of the background, indicating a high, off-site light source, which in turn might be slightly illuminating a wall hanging, simple painting, or other such feature (a Crucifix, perhaps (low-key, maybe defined more by shadow than light), which would be a "clue" that the book is a Bible). And that in turn would provide some compositional balance for the figure and the "weight" of the light on the figure and table. Cheers, Steven __________________ Steven Sweeney [email protected] "You must be present to win."