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I've been playing around with a few different PP techniques lately, all using Nikon Capture NX2. With these I've paid more attention to the PP than to anything else, but I hope I got the lighting close.

Bob,

You've done well. I particularly like #s 3 and 4 here. The post in 3 is great, and the concept and texture in 4 likewise.

In the first two, I think the lighting is too harsh, with, in 1, not enough light coming around to the model's lh side. either move the light further around towards her front, or use a reflector camera right.

In the second, the shadows are indicating that the light is just a bit too harsh ... use a larger light source, or a modifier to make it seem larger and softer.

I agree with Gary about 2,3,4, but really like #1. I think the hard lighting suits this portrait. I do find the bright specks distracting though. One on the eyebrow A couple around the eye, one on the lip. A couple of others not so easily located in words. I think it would suit a diptych very well. Maybe partner lit from the other side.

I can't comment on the PP without knowing what you have done. Or is the very warm lighting (I like) done in PP?

In addition to what's being suggested, Maybe try a little BW to bring out the curves etc.

I quite like these as a series. I think you may find that you can change the mood of these photos drastically simply by changing the hues/color casts.

What sort of lighting setup are you using?

With all of these, the only lighting was the modeling light in one of the strobes. All these are 'candid snaps' taken while one of the other folks in the workshop was taking their turn at directing and photographing the model.

All these images because of the low light were relatively long exposure while I was seeing how well I could hand hold my non VR lenses; Sigma 24-70mm or Sigma 70-200mm. So for me these are a PP experiment to see how well I could do noise reduction and enhance the shadows for low key images.

Image #1 - Nikon D300 - 1/100th - ISO 1600 - f/2.8 - 160mm
Image #2 - Nikon D300 - 1/20th - ISO 200 - f/2.8 - 70mm
Image #3 - Nikon D300 - 1/100th - ISO 1600 - f/2.8 - 100mm
Image #4 - Nikon D300 - 1/20th - ISO 200 - f/2.8 - 70mm

I may later upload some of the images that I took under the strobes.

I'll agree with the others here, I like #1, the definitive halves of the image really appeal to me, the dark side gives that sense of unknown...the more I look at it the more I like it

I also like #3, however I think more room on the LHS is required for it feels a bit squashed in teh frame, if that makes sense...also moving around the model to teh left a fraction more would have given the lighted part of teh body more curvature and I suspect more appealing.

The shadow in the final one needs to have more shape imo, teh concept and execution are good but need that shadow to be really interestign to hold my view!

on a side note 121 views on this thread, i might put nsfw on some of my landscapes cmon ppl, there are some good portrait people out there with knowledge to share.

Thanks for the info Bob.

If these are random candids while others were doing the directing, I would really like to see your efforts from the actual shoot!

Now that I am at home, I can look at these with leisure.
My favourite is #3 for the shapes and mystery. BW would also suit this.

#1 is good but I can't help but wonder whether you have used some sort of gradient in PS to create that look. The moderately hardish light (softbox at a distance?) shouldn't do that. It seems to be very obvious on the forehead. Am I way off here?