I prefer all the crops to the originals and the lighter of the two originals. The chair arm is a major detriment to the images. As an aside, this seems an odd way to work... lightbulbs, polaroid, 4x5... what's up with all that? You've made the process of learning studio portraiture incredibly convoluted...t(posted 8818 days ago)I agree with y'all. That white stepstool (not a chair :) is kind of a sore thumb with the subtlety that was supposed to be in the scene. I will remember to include elements in the scene that don't blow the contrast out wildly!!
As for the lightbulbs, polaroids and 4x5's. I usually do things on 35mm, but I tried an exercise on these 4x5 just for the heck of it. It was really tough to get everything right. The polaroid film that i was using was the only 3200 speed emulsion that is available, AFAIK. Therefore, it was a natural for the type of illumination i was looking for (single incandescent bulb.) I realize that it's much easier to learn using powerful spots or strobes, but that wasn't the effect of what I was going for at the time :)
Otherwise, I agree with what you're saying :)