After many, many months, I dug out my digital camera and did some shooting tonight. I decided to make an attempt at some "portrait" lighting using a couple of my daughter's dolls.

The only lighting in the room is provided by a single desk lamp. Photoshop was used to convert to black & white, and to adjust the contrast.

All comments are welcome. I'm hoping your comments will help me to improve.

-Taltos

My eyes are still the one of the beginner so I guess you have to wait more apt comments than mine to improve, but as onlooker of the composition, this works.My only wish would be that BOTH eyes of the standing doll could be seen, at least that also the disappeared one (covered from shadow) could be perceivable to make the doll more lively. But the whole scen is very pleasant to the eye.

i do think u have grabed a subject that conveys perfectly b/w, good play between shades and light, well done, keep it up!!!

Nice, sharp image..... I also think a little more lighting coming in from the left would be nice.... a reflector maybe to just fill in the shadow slightly, but not completely.

I am, therefore I create.......
--- michelleamarante.com

Agree. Too much shadow; too dark.

It always depends on the mood you want to create. Here, the mood seems sort of dark and sinister. With a point-source light from the side you get really deep, sharp, shadows. A broader source of light, like from window, would still have deep shadows, but the edges would be less dark. A reflector, like Michelle suggested, would lighten up the shadows. [A good way to practice lighting is by photographing eggs.]

I tried out the reflector idea tonight. I made the same contrast adjustments in Photoshop, and used the same single light source, so the only difference is the reflector.

Dramatically different results as far as mood goes. I actually kinda like the darker mood, but then, I've always thought that porcelain dolls were pretty dark and creepy.

-Taltos