Studio - Susan - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/20/2005 12:17:32 AM · #1

Susan is a co-worker who agreed to sit for me while I work on lighting and directing subjects in poses and expressions. She was a trooper today. I have more images from the session but these are the first batch that I've edited. Comments/critiques welcomed.

I love the darker shots but most people I know say these are too dark or they just don't like such dark photos.

Thanks,

Kev

Message edited by author 2005-02-20 03:59:58.

LEONJR

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

02/20/2005 12:23:23 AM · #2

It might jus be my computer but not all the pictures are showing they look good to me the 2 i see what type of lights did you use i been trying for the longest to get info on this subject. thanks

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

02/20/2005 12:23:48 AM · #3

Kevin,

I like the dark backgrounds also. Maybe it would help in the lighter backgrounds to have darker clothing. I like #2 better than #3 because of that. #4 her top almost blends into the background and gets lost. The last picture is great! I like your studio work.

Ken

utro

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

02/20/2005 12:27:29 AM · #4

number two is excellent. Very cute and casual. I like that it's not too glamour-shotish with props and glitter :p

The others are nice too, lighting is great, but the darker one doesn't work for me. Maybe because the lighting doesn't match her mood.

Message edited by author 2005-02-20 00:27:55.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

02/20/2005 12:38:15 AM · #5

Sorry about the problems with some of the images not displaying; has something to do with PBase having some lag time between me editing the photo and them updating the "public" view of it. All the images should be visible now.

Leon,
If you look under the Tutorials I wrote the introduction to monolights & strobes. I'm working on updating it with photos to demonstrate the effects of different light modifiers. I use AlienBees B-800's for these shots. The first 4 used some combination of 2 48x36" softboxes mounted on lights to either side of the camera (ranging from 10 deg up to almost 90 degrees). These shots also have either a hair light or a kicker/rim light that utilizes anything from a barndoor designed to keep light out of the lens and off the white seamless or the photos incorporate the same light with a 20 degree honeycomb in the 7" silver reflector pan.

In the last image I'm using a barndoor to the left of the photo aimed at the subject's back, another light to the right and behind the subject with a 20 degree honeycomb. The main light for her face is barely to my right (about 25 degrees), raised high and modified with a 10 degree honeycomb. I think one of the results is that her chest catches too much light from the 20 degree 'comb. I think another 10 degree honeycomb behind her and from the right would have toned down the spill onto her chest and kept her face lit more than any other elements.

Urto,
Yeah, I can see that with the expression. That was one thing I was working on in this series. I'll take another run at this type of photo and try coming up with the expression that may further the concept. I think I like this one so well 'cause it comes so close to what I wanted to do with the lighting.

Thanks for the comments,

Kev

LEONJR

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

02/20/2005 12:45:57 AM · #6

Thanks Kev, Iam gonna go and read up on your tutorial it should make you feel good inside knowing your helping someone out i'll be looking for your update as well. I guess my only issue is money if i cant use natural or light from house hold items i might be outta luck thanks much.... oh yea the pictures came up to i think its jus because iam not at work and iam using dial up at home really sucks

Message edited by author 2005-02-20 00:47:13.

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

02/20/2005 12:49:43 AM · #7

Funky. I can see some then, later, I can see others but not all together. I've been trying to pose my model and it's hard work so I admire your skill more and more! How much direction do you give them? Or do you just suggest things and let them finish on their own?

kawesttex

Apple iPhone 11 Pro

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/20/2005 12:51:03 AM · #8

Although it's not always showing up here, the link is still working.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/20/2005 01:00:47 AM · #9

Originally posted by pcody:

How much direction do you give them? Or do you just suggest things and let them finish on their own?

More and more as I work in the studio I find myself giving direction or looking through the lens, checking the composition, pose and expression and then just pulling away without shooting if I'm not satisfied. I try and direct out what I think detracts from the shot I want to get. I'm getting more and more confident about my impressions of the photos. Oddly it used to be that the shots I liked from a set were the same ones many viewers (and some of the subjects) just didn't like. Now what I find is that if I stay after a shot until I feel like I've actually gotten the pose, expression, composition that I see in my head then people seem to react positively to the final product.

One thing that helps me is just taking the time to get the shot. In this session we came away with about 15 poses that I'm satisfied with; not 15 that I think are outstanding but 15 that I'm happy enough to show the subject knowing that she'll have some of them up at work where other people will see and comment on them. To get those dozen or so shots we only took 425 exposures. Before I would have taken 800-1500 frames just to get a half-dozen that I wouldn't be embarassed to show. Now the percentage of photos that I feel are decent work is much higher. I'm looking forward to getting back outside this spring; that's how I started and I really like shooting in sunlight so I am looking forward to taking my newfound direction and vision and seeing what I can produce with some models in outdoor settings.

Kev

jpochard

Canon EOS-40D

02/20/2005 01:15:40 AM · #10

I never did get to see all of the shots. Anyway, I really like that last one that's dark, although I would love to see you do it in b/w. I played around with it, and did like the b/w version better. That pose, her dark hair and features just reminded me somewhat of an old time hollywood starlet glamour shot.

The lighting is really nice I think, except that her top, while not blown out, is just so much brighter than her face or anything else. Combined with the pose, the viewers eyes go right to the chest. The backlighting is really nice.

I also very much like the second pose and shot. Nice set of photos.

parrothead

Canon EOS-40D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

02/20/2005 01:29:06 AM · #11

Damn Kev I think that the second one is awesome!!! Grea expression, lighting, and pose. The rest are nice too, bit the second one, I love that! Great job!

02/20/2005 04:08:06 AM · #12

I ended up moving the images over to DPChallenge. You shouldn't have any problem seeing them now.

Kev