Nikon D800 & the AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 IF-D

These are extraordinary!

What a spectacular combination that camera and lens make! And, the photographer gets some credit too!

Given my affinity for the old Hollywood look, I am especially taken with the third image. Was that done with a beauty dish?

Thank you for the kind words gents, I appreciate it. Yes Bryce I used a beauty dish for all three.

brilliant, stunning and you should be proud!!

Very strong photos. #1 is my favorite -- it really pops. Not a fan of the processing in #2 though (I don't like the blown out skin). I wonder what a rim light on her shoulders would do on #1 -- add to the image but creating a little separation with the background or detract from the image by breaking up the strength of the black negative space?

These images simply grab your attention and draw you in. You know your looking at something very special.

Sam

Thanks Trudy.

Gotham, I darkened the bg a bit, liked it better.

Thank you for the nice compliment Sam, I appreicate it.

Love #3 :)

Personally, I'd get rid of the neck line/wrinkle or whatever it's called on #1. And again, just my opinion, but I think you went far too overboard on the skin retouching. It looks like panty hose to me, not skin, especially in #1.

Very nice work, like them all.

Dogwood,

While I did not go overboard on Shephanie's natually smooth skin (IMHO anyway), image size here may be limiting your abillty to see detail. I am confused a bit by your logic; wouldn't getting "rid of the neck line/wrinkle or whatever it's called" make it more 'panty hose' ish?

I can put up a 100% crop if you'd like to see that; I don't put up large images here to conserve space/bandwidth.

Ray

Originally Posted by zoomer Very nice work, like them all.

Thanks Mike.

I like them all but my fav is #1. Very cool stuff. Processing is just about perfect on it. I can see detail in the skin and don't feel it's overworked at all.

#3 is quite cool as well. Her face is so well framed by the crop but also the soft shadows created by her cheek line and the hat.

Hats off to you! LOL

Originally Posted by anonymouscuban I like them all but my fav is #1. Very cool stuff. Processing is just about perfect on it. I can see detail in the skin and don't feel it's overworked at all. #3 is quite cool as well. Her face is so well framed by the crop but also the soft shadows created by her cheek line and the hat. Hats off to you! LOL

Thanks. #4 btw isn't cropped, I framed it in camera (a hold over from my film days). I love the lighting from the 30-50s.

Ray

Originally Posted by Ray Dauphinais Thanks. #4 btw isn't cropped, I framed it in camera (a hold over from my film days). I love the lighting from the 30-50s. Ray

I didn't mean to say you "cropped" it in post. I just meant the way your framed it is perfect.

BTW, beauty dish I supposed, on that last shot, based on the catchlights.

That's cool, most photographers don't frame as close as I do and just assume it was done in post, no offense intended.

Yup, beauty dish in all three actually.

Originally Posted by anonymouscuban I didn't mean to say you "cropped" it in post. I just meant the way your framed it is perfect. BTW, beauty dish I supposed, on that last shot, based on the catchlights.

All of them, very nice.