Danaka Again...

I think you have captured it all in a very special shot. I would be happy with a shot like that. The eyes show friendship and warmth.

This is an example of "broad" lighting (no pun intended). In portraiture, lighting the "broadest" portion of the face as the camera sees it makes the subject's face look heavier. "Short" lighting, lighting the side of the face least exposed to the camera, thins the face. Use broad lighting for skinny people or those with sharp features, and short lighting for people with rounder, heavier faces to make a more complimentary portrait. These are general rules, of course, and are made to be broken when the need exists. I'd also get your light up higher so the shadows fall lower instead of across her face. Your main light source mimics the sun, so get it up around 45 degrees to the subject's face to get better modeling of features.

I love the effect of the lens, and you obviously have good rapport with your subject. Practice will make the light easier to see. Posing and lighting are difficult to master. Keep up the good work!

I'd try experimenting with Polaroid or a (unmentionable type) camera to practice lighting and posing. Instant feed back will take you a long way toward building lighting skills. It's faster and cheaper than learning with 8x10. Pull out the big guns when you're ready to go.

Peter Gomena

I like this one, very nice lensing / bokeh.

Thank you, gentlemen!

And thank you, Peter, what you said makes sense. I'm one of those "natural light" photographers, and just move the studio lights around watching the shadows. As you said, "rules are made to be broken", but I'm still figuring out the rules so I'll know when and why to break them just right. I'll try some with the light a bit higher next time!

BTW, Danaka was a student of mine for three years, and hated being in front of the camera when she first started. After trading sitting duties with the other students, she's very comfortable and natural there, so she deserves a lot of the credit. Her own photography is quite lovely too, and she's starting in the photo program at the local community college soon...