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10/26/2006 04:29:10 AM · #1 |
Well I got an umbrella today to use with my flashes. I'm doing some photography down at my daughters ballet studio and so need some "professional" style portraits. I ran 3 flashes - an sb600 attached to the umbrella, an sb600 standalone on the other side and an sb800 on camera (Nikon CLS controlled). I was really just guessing though so any comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated :)
Oh and I know, I need to get a backdrop or do something better with the background. These were just test shots to test out my new toy ;)
 
 
Edit: Aside from fixing the white balance these are straight from the camera. I wanted them as RAW as possible for you folks so it'd be easier for you to see and help me know of any problems with the lighting I might have.
Message edited by author 2006-10-26 04:31:15. |
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10/26/2006 06:07:30 AM · #2 |
| What are you thinking about doing with the background? You could use a slave to blow it out white. Black would be no good with the black attire. Looks like she could use some fill in flash on the right side of her face. I'm new to lighting too and at the moment I'm addicted to my softbox. Do you have one? |
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10/26/2006 06:38:09 AM · #3 |
| Is the camera tilted down towards the floor or would you be able to reposition yourself? There seems to be excessive foreground. Your daughter is beautiful but my eye keeps looking at the awful carpet. I also think you need more light. |
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10/26/2006 07:34:12 AM · #4 |
where did you have the lights positioned....I'm new to this too and am continuing gathering information. I was told to have them at about 10:00/2:00 and back by the camera.
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10/26/2006 08:23:16 AM · #5 |
are you shooting these at ISO200? there seems to be quite a bit of noise in the black outfit.
i agree that more light might help, but maybe just positioning them closer would do the trick instead. |
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10/26/2006 08:24:09 AM · #6 |
move her farther away from the wall - shoot from a lower position - shoot at f2.8 in order to blur the background make her stand out more - also, maybe try bouncing 2 of the flashes off the ceiling, and the umbrella flash pointed at her, this will still give the light direction, but brighten the overall scene (maybe).
:) |
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10/26/2006 08:48:28 AM · #7 |
The photos of her jumping look a little odd as she casts no visible shadow?!?
Maybe lift the lights up higher? |
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10/26/2006 01:06:09 PM · #8 |
Thanks for the replies. I guess a little more info on my part would have been helpful ;)
I'll have to look at my budget but I was thinking I'd probably get a 10X25' black and a white Muslin (depending on the outfit the girl is wearing). There will be jumping/moving shots, poses as well as more traditional types of portraits.
The light positions were (assuming she's @ 12 o'clock):
Umbrella at 4 o'clock sb600 @ +1.3ev
On tripod at 8 o'clock an sb600 @ -0.3ev with lightsphere attached (no dome)
On camera sb800 pointed straight up -3ev
There was almost no ambient light on as I didn't want the fluorescent's messing everything up.
I started her a few feet from the background but was getting a lot of shadows so I pulled her forward 10-15 feet.
I was standing to take the pics and was backed up against a wall so had to shoot a bit wide, that may be why it looks like the camera is tilted down a little. I can probably shoot lengthwise in the room next time to fix that. The carpet will either be covered by muslin or cloned/painted out in Photoshop.
I made a mistake I am notorious for in a few of the pics and forgot to change my ISO - so some are at 800. I also forgot to readjust my white balance :(
Do you think I need more light all around or just in specific areas? I was trying to avoid having shadows, is that too unnatural looking? should I include some shadows?
I did keep things a little darker because I wanted it to be a little dramatic, but if it just looks weird / poorly lit then I'll crank them up a bit.
Thanks again for your comments/help :) |
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10/26/2006 01:15:52 PM · #9 |
enjoy the umbrella, does is it white or black or removable? i use umbrella for fill, walls for back light. if you dont have a soft just us umbrella.
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10/26/2006 01:23:26 PM · #10 |
Check this out.
Homemade PVC backdrop stand. I just made this. Total cost at Lowes was $17.83. Then I went to the fabric store and bought 54"x12' cloth for $6.00. Granted it is not very wide but it works for my level.
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10/26/2006 01:29:09 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by renefunk:
enjoy the umbrella, does is it white or black or removable? i use umbrella for fill, walls for back light. if you dont have a soft just us umbrella. |
It's a silver umbrella. From what I understand flashes aren't powerful enough to use white or shoot through umbrellas.
I don't have a softbox, which is why i got the umbrella. The umbrella can be adjusted in shape to be square though. |
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10/26/2006 01:30:32 PM · #12 |
hahaha when i first read the title i thought u meant a rain umbrella. i thought u wanted advice on how/when/why to use an umbrella :)
hhhaha |
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10/26/2006 02:49:40 PM · #13 |
i think in this instance some shadows would be fun (like a flash from above so there's a bit of shadow on the floor when they are jumping). that might give it a little depth.
otherwise...i don't know how to put this delicately... you want to make sure your fill light doesn't make a shadow behind her, uh, boobs. the top right thumb shows a big shadow on the armpit. it might not be an issue if they are posed with arms up, but it's something to look for.
now i feel all dirty for looking at your daughter's boobs. |
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