WPL5 Team Reject Hideout - DPChallenge Forums

04/17/2007 09:22:47 PM · #151

Ok.. All my equipment got here today for Saturday's shoot.

Now... I've got three evenings to figure it out.

2 strobes with umbrellas (one silver, one white)

1 reflector

backdrop with stand

I played with it tonight with horrible results.... Hair looks GREAT. Faces look like someone has a flashlihgt on them telling a scary story.

04/18/2007 09:38:11 AM · #152

Originally posted by chesire:

Good luck with that. It should come pretty easy to you. I only have one strobe, and I still have lots of fun with it, so you should have a blast. We'll expect to see some photos in here soon!

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/18/2007 09:49:39 AM · #153

Where in relation to the model do you put your stobe? And do you use it with the reflector??? The sites I've seen say 3-4 feet from model full face with them facing 45 degrees away from camera for main then 4-5 feet on the opposit angle for fill light. But it's just WAY to bright that way.

I'm not sure where it's camera settings or just to strong a light or what but it's driving me nuts.

cryan

Nikon D700

04/18/2007 09:58:48 AM · #154

Hey Ches,

I'm assuming that you are going to be shooting a portrait session. Take one light and make it your main light set at full power, place this light to the left about 8 feet away from your subject. Set the hight as high as you can get away with in your house, place it at about a 45. Make the other light your model light. This light should be set to about 1/3rd power. Bring this light in a little closer and have it set at about shoulder level. Again set at about a 45. This is a very basic set up, its what we used in the Navy for standard portraits. Really the only thing you are missing is a hair light. This would be put behind the subject down very low and pointing up to creat a halo behind the subject that separates the subject from the background. I hope this helps. Start with your camera set at 1/80th and f/8. this should be a very good starting point. Again I hope this helps. If you need more help just pm me. As for the umbrellas, they should fit into the front of the strobes, you will face the strobes away from the subject, bur due to the umbrellas, dthe light will reflect back to the subject.

Message edited by author 2007-04-18 10:00:22.

04/18/2007 10:01:09 AM · #155

Originally posted by chesire:

Those setups are pretty plain, but yet that's all I've used. I generally place my strobe about 45 degrees to one side, a little bit higher than eye level. I use my reflector to fill in the shadows. I have tried moving the flash more directly in front, as well as more towards the side, and they have also turned out. Use your aperture to control the amount of light, and possibly set your power level down on the strobes. I've read that a secondary light should be like 1/2 the power of the main light. For distance, that will vary depending on what you want to achieve. The closer you are, the harsher the light/shadow will be, but also the larger the catchlight in the eyes, and that is one of the things I love. So, the further you go away, the softer the light/shadow transition is, but the smaller the catchlight. So you'll just have to move it around and see what you like the best. Now, about the second strobe. If it were me, I would use the reflector for the shadows on the model, and use the second strobe as a hair light or background light. That will give you more control.

04/18/2007 02:43:07 PM · #156

Ah.... ok... can't TILT them. They have to be straight. Both can be slaves, or one master one slave. Can't set anything but high power either. they're 150 watt

I really think maybe it's the camera settings that I need to change. Just gotta figure out which ones to use.

04/18/2007 05:42:21 PM · #157

Originally posted by chesire:

Here is a site with some very basic lighting diagrams. It might be a good starting point.

//www.connectedphotographer.com/issues/issue200407/00001352002.html

04/18/2007 06:18:39 PM · #158

Thanks Bam Checking it out too.

04/19/2007 10:58:22 AM · #159

OI! Ok figured out how to tilt them last night.....

AND... They have plastic diffusers on the lights, so when using the diffuser then bouncing it off the umbrella.... Odd results.

I'll have to play more tonight. I did figure out a good hair light... Since we're shooting in the kitchen :) I just turned on the light over the breakfast nook, it's just behind and above the subject... works nicely.

04/20/2007 08:20:25 AM · #160

Just checkin in. How's it going with the rest of you?

For me... We finally got some decent lighting last night (or at least in my limited eye) You can see a couple of the results in my portfolio. Black backdrop came in and I LOVE IT!!!. Now I have took at maybe a white for High Key and a grey/blue mottled or... ooooo so many. Which would you want next? (Currently have a chromakey green, and a solid black)

If you're not shooting pictures whatcha doing???

04/20/2007 08:54:26 AM · #161

Paulina has been competing in her District track meet the past week so I have been trying to get some field action shots. I have not downloaded the images yet, but will let you know how they turned out.

04/21/2007 07:10:18 AM · #162

My daily check in :)

Doing a Portrait Party this morning, I don't know that we have th lighting/settings right yet, but i'll get lots of practice.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/21/2007 08:54:25 AM · #163

Here is my daily check in as well. This is what has been going on with me..

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=581133

Charlene

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/21/2007 08:56:32 AM · #164

Oh Barbara! What a string of bad luck you're having. I'm SO sorry! That is all so ridiculous! You follow all the rules and that's how you get thanked. I'm very sorry.

04/21/2007 10:19:35 AM · #165

Dude, that really sucks. I used to own a Wrangler too. I love those vehicles, but they are definitely not the most secure. I am a very paranoid person, so I would never carry anything with me that I could not bring inside every time I left the car, so then I would never travel with my camera or anything. That sucks that someone stole your stuff out of it, and even more that the insurance company makes it not worth it have a claim. That is so ridiculous! Isn't that what we pay up the #!@Y* for? To get paid out every time something happens?

04/21/2007 06:43:46 PM · #166

BamBam if they stole it out of your car, have you checked with your ccar insurance? they're a little easier to deal with than housing ones.

04/21/2007 08:34:13 PM · #167

I have car and home through the same company. Its only covered by home. I am so torn as whether to claim this or not....

04/21/2007 08:47:43 PM · #168

I would have the same problem deciding, but If you can swing not claiming you'll probably save yourself some money and definately save yourself some headaches later on.

04/22/2007 08:59:31 AM · #169

Daily Check-in

OH MAN I am tired. Yesterday's evdeavor ended up with only two girls (instead of the expected 7) who just happen to be best friends. So we started around 9:30 am finished up about 5:00 when the 2 year olds were exhausted beyond belief.

Lots of fun stuff with happy models (The margaritas about noon didn't hurt) Though we ended up having to move the "studio" out of the kitchen and into the dining rom so I could get farther away as they wanted Full length shots.

Poor Mate, he lost his dining room. After having, literaly, sat under the table pushed back into the living room to get far enough away to get ALL of my 6 foot model into the frame, I moved the dining room table into the kitchen and told him to give up I was keeping the room.

I have around 80 possibles to edit (out of the 300 or so taken). Stored them here, so take a look if you like, all observations appreciated. I had some major issues with lighting, and focus. I just don't get how to make the camera see what I see. The lighting on them LOOKED great, but then what came out of the camera was all yellow. I did attempt to shoot in RAW so hopefully I'll have some control over that. But I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong.

To be honest today I don't care if I even pick up a camera or look at another photo yesterday was soooo long. But I think good. I hope all had at least as much to do :)

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/22/2007 10:08:48 AM · #170

Ches, I took a quick browse through those shots. They look nice. I am still on the road, so I will look at them in more detail when I am home tomorrow. This is what I have been up to:

I will try and add some more to this also when I get home.

Message edited by author 2007-04-22 10:09:12.

Charlene

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/22/2007 12:38:36 PM · #171

Ches and Scott, you guys have been busy! Great work from both of you...
I've got a picture in the hair challenge, I'm pleased with the score. And I'm going to submit into the kitchenware challenge. That's all I've been up to. Nothing exciting like everyone else.
Barbara, I hope you're taking care. Hey James, how's your landscape picture doing?

04/22/2007 12:45:41 PM · #172

Scott I love those shots very nice. You trying to channel Ansel Adams??? :)