The Admiral

[Garth Herrick]

Tom,

Let me also congratulate you on this fine portrait. I too agree with everyone's comments. Your brilliant solution to the composition and setting of this portrait is so natural and comfortable, so that the viewer would never detect the trouble you took to conceptualize and unify all the disparate elements. I also appreciate your soft toned and not too photographic realism. Bravo!

Garth

[Tom Edgerton]

Michele--

I'm a dinosaur in that I like tungsten floods. A number of artists have recommended various strobes to me, notably the White Lightning brand--saying that the modeling lights correspond closely to the final strobe results. But I like to see what I'm going to get in advance; it makes it easier to experiment for me. I use a large softbox for the main light, a conventional umbrella for the fill, and a cheap tungsten bulb in a cheap aluminum reflector for the skim light if I use one (I don't always), with barn doors--not "snooted"--to keep it from reflecting into the lens.

When I go outside, I use natural light. It's a lot trickier and less predictable, but I just haven't seen a convincing painting that has an artificially lit subject with an outdoor background painted in behind. I'm sure someone's done it, but I can't seem to pull it off to my satisfaction.

I'm looking forward to going digital, in that I will be freer to experiment in "grab it and go" situations, and won't have to rely so much on the same approach. Painting personal pieces helps here also.

Hope this is what you wanted.

Garth--

This is high praise, given what you've been posting. Thanks so much. If I might be hit with your lightning, I'd stand outside a lot.

Best--TE

[Michele Rushworth]

Thanks, Tom, for that information. Very helpful!

[Elizabeth Schott]

Tom you are such a master with a uniform. This one will win you some wonderful kudos!

It is just lovely, I wish I could see it up close and personal.

Beth