Hi! g> OK, 1. You did not have the camera level. If it was the subject would have been g> leaning slightly forward into the frame, as it is he is leaning back slightly g> and it give the view a teetery feeling almost with out knowing why. If you had g> errored in the other direction it would not have been so bad, as that is the way g> you unconsciously expect him to be leaning.
I really did not notice that. My bad! g> 2. As in the other shot, you did not think of where the flash was going to throw g> the shadow. If you can not avoid a flash shadow it is usually best to arrange it g> to be on the far side of the subject. Or to make it a bold part of the g> composition, but he is too close to the wall to do that in this instance. I knew flash was going to spoil it but I wanted to get some DOF so I had to stop down a little. Well, I realize now, I couldn't get away... g> 3. The crop is to low in this particular photo you would be better off with more g> table and less air above the subjects head. Actually I disagree, but I see your point and I will try it both ways in the future. g> 4. More subtilely the shot lacks the dynamic look that would indicate the g> intensity to go with his expression. Also he is obviously has his attention on g> something out of the frame but no indication of what. He is explaining the rules of the black ball in this variety of pool game. I suppose I failed to make it as clear as I wanted it to be. g> Remember, B&W photography is all about light and shadow, unlike color g> photography where you want to avoid deep shadows most of the time. I believe you g> have a fast lens (f2?), you should have been able to shoot these available g> light. Being young and healthy you can probably hold 50mm down to about 1/8 g> second with a bit of practice, certainly f2 @ 1/15th which I think would have g> worked in there. All those rules you find in books have to do with being safe, g> you kind of have to push the limits sometimes if you want great photos. I have FA 50/1.7 lens which was used. My known slowest speed is 1/20. The problem is of course that these two shots were made after I drank even as little as quarter a liter of bear. I don't think I could pull such a trick. Unfortunately they decided to close some of the windows which forced me to use the flash. But that's lame excuse <g>... g> Is this helpful? Take it or leave, but it *is* helpful, and very much so. It is good to be PDMLer even if sometimes they beat crap out of you <g>... Thanks, Tom, I appreciate your comments! Boris
