Portrait Flash Help Please - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/16/2006 03:16:42 PM · #1

I took this photo of my son last night:

I have been having a lot of fun taking my own portraits, but am constantly frustrated with the falloff of light on the top of his head. I have only one strobe unit right now, and wanted to see if anyone knows how to effectively use it to get the flash to cover an entire face. Any suggestions?

Scott

By the way, I had the flash off to his right, and a bit above his head, with a large rectangular soft box on it.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

10/16/2006 03:21:22 PM · #2

a reflector placed opposite the flash, and slightly above/behind subjects head might bounce enough back to mimic a secondary less powerfull flash.

just a thought.

Message edited by author 2006-10-16 15:22:03.

ShaneBlake

Nikon D7100

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

10/16/2006 03:21:37 PM · #3

if you have an sb-800, set it to manual and in remote slave mode. it will fire when it sees the strobe fire. you can place it above his head, pointing down. i'd set the power down to 1/64 or so and make a snoot out of a rolled up sheet of printer paper...

if you don't have an sb-800, it's a good excuse to get one :)

if the wife balks at that, you can get off brand flashes that will slave like that for not much money at all...

hope that helps. very nice shot, btw...

s

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

10/16/2006 03:24:26 PM · #4

have someone hold a reflector (or reflective surface) over his head angled to bounce the light back down.

fotomann_forever

10/16/2006 03:29:45 PM · #5

Another option is to set the strobe to slave so as to be your main light. Use an on camera flash bounced off the cieling as a fill/kicker.

nomad469

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

10/16/2006 03:30:44 PM · #6

Yeah you need a hair light... a single strobe is not going to give you the coverage that you want ...

The idea of the sb800 in remote mode is a great idea to use as a simi hairlight but even at 1/64 you will need to defuse it or it will seem harsh

10/16/2006 03:36:36 PM · #7

Originally posted by nomad469:

I've thought about that. I just can't justify spending the extra money right now on one. I guess I'll just have to find a way. I know it would probably be cheaper than purchasing an SB 800 still.

10/16/2006 06:20:28 PM · #8

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Another option is to set the strobe to slave so as to be your main light. Use an on camera flash bounced off the cieling as a fill/kicker.

What solution do you have if the only available room I have has a vaulted ceiling. Bouncing the flash won't work in that situation, right? I did look in to an additional flash unit with stand, and still have that problem. Any solutions out there for that?