Need feedback on these new photos

The second one kind of looks like a ghost. It scares me.

But the others are nice!

I like the 4th one down the best.  It seems to have the right mix of light and shadows.  Looks like an interesting experiment.

Is the kid in the 2nd shot giving you the finger?

Moody lighting is cool for grownups, but too serious for photos of little kids - makes them look sad.

But really I just chimed in to say I think you are an incredible photographer.  Everything I've seen is just so awesome!

I'm not sure. I am only chiming in because you asked for first impressions. The first thing I thought of was, "where is the color" Everything seems washed out. The lack of real color makes me want to see it in black and white. Why? I dunno.

This is interesting, I keep looking at them (which is always a good thing, right?) but am unsure what to think

I'll have to put more thought into it.

Thanks everybody.  This is good stuff, keep it coming.

(as for the "finger" LOL... that's my four year old, so I'm sure he'll really be giving it to me in a few more years... )

This is a technique in progress, so I'll take everything I learn here and fold it, one way or another, into the next iteration. 

This is coming from a painter's perspective, so take it with a grain of salt - I am NOT a photography expert and your photos always look amazing when you post them on BT.   

First, I agree with the comment above that the ones with the light focused on one object (i.e. the face) are stronger than the ones with the light focused on objects in the periphery.  The third one down is cool, but the strong contrast between the backgroud and his hands makes my eye want to jump around between each of his hands and his face - there is no "path" for the eye to follow, and no center of interest.  You should decide if the face or hands is the center of interest, and subordinate the rest accordingly (i.e. maybe just make the hands a shade darker, but still illuminated).

Second, I think this is a really cool looking effect in all of the photos, but I would try not to take the lighting too far.  In the first photo, for instance, the subject's face looks like it has been caught in a spotlight - it's a bit washed out and the form of the face (i.e. roundness) is lost.  I prefer the ones below because you have aimed the light from an angle, allowing the form of the face to be defined by shadows. 

Overall, these are pretty cool.  I like the effect - you could make some really powerful photos with this

First pic- the earring sticks out and ruins it for me.

Second- that seems like an unnatural pose for a guy that age.

Evan- eh.  I like the lighting effect but not the pose.  I think he should of done barefoot.

composit2- now you're talking. I like this one.

white suit-  no idea.

last one- why's the toddler so ticked off looking?  get him to relax a little bit. 

that's just my opinion like you asked for it.  I"m no artsy type.

Don, my initial reaction is that it has to look intentional.  The ones that yhave the random spotlights to me just look too disorganzied.  The best IMHO is the one with the diagonal lights.

Very interesting technique.  Is your family always your guinea pigs??

Yea, usually.

I really needed them on this one, 'cause the exposures took 30 seconds each and I was jumping around in the dark like a madman.

At least they know me well enough not to fear for their lives.

Ya'll are giving me gold here. 

This is great!

People are curvy, I wonder how some still-lifes of more angular objects would work with this technique, maybe some translucent objects??? I would think you could get some dramatic shadows.

Just a thought

I second the idea tha more color/patterns might be worth a shot as well.

It's interesting.

I kept looking at them, and I couldn't figure out what was "different" about them, and then it hit me.  There is no perspective from the light source.  Even with a well-lit subject from multiple lamps, there's still contrasting shadows.  ( After re-reading the description, I should have realized sooner, but I'm slow today ).

Those aren't in these, because the light source is mobile.  

I think it's a really cool effect, and could make for some really interesting portraits.   

Amorphous Lighting.

-Chris 

Take this with a shaker of salt, I have no visual artistic skills whatsoever. Can't draw a straight line with Photoshop and each of my eyes perceive color differently.

First impression:

I like it except for the hot spots. Too much and it just looks overexposed, otherwise very interesting. It's got a lot of potential to be either really cool or really bad.