Portrait Lighting -- Learning Thread

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/26/2007 03:47:10 PM · #451

Originally posted by jjbates4:

is it traditionally understood that headshots usually show shoulders?

Typically a headshot will be head or head & shoulders. In this case I would let the clothing dictate where to crop. You might have her wear something that fits higher up on the neck, then a head/neck only shot will make more sense visually.

oravsky123

Canon EOS-30D

03/01/2007 07:33:14 AM · #452

Is this thread still active? If so I was just wondering if I could get some feedback. This was taken with a canon 30D 17-40(i know not the best for portrait). Available window light with a little bit of fill from a (makeshift) reflector. Post includes a split layer b&w conversion, and a reduced opacity airbrush layer. Just wondering what I'm doing right, what I'm doing wrong...

Nuzzer

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/01/2007 01:44:18 PM · #453

If this thread is still active I'd like some comments on these two portraits. They are taken in the same session and used window light at about 45 degrees. The "backdrop" is a carpet mat that we draped over the sofa so we were limited in how far in front we could be. I used a 50mm f/1.8 lens. Thanks in advance.

danielv

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/01/2007 01:53:32 PM · #454

Originally posted by oravsky123:

left you a comment

Message edited by author 2007-03-01 13:53:40.

oravsky123

Canon EOS-30D

03/01/2007 06:09:00 PM · #455

Originally posted by mouten:

Originally posted by oravsky123:
Is this thread still active? If so I was just wondering if I could get some feedback. This was taken with a canon 30D 17-40(i know not the best for portrait). Available window light with a little bit of fill from a (makeshift) reflector. Post includes a split layer b&w conversion, and a reduced opacity airbrush layer. Just wondering what I'm doing right, what I'm doing wrong...

left you a comment

Thank you - very helpful :-)

jblaylockrayner

Nikon D2Xs

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

03/01/2007 08:18:02 PM · #456

Does anyone have any lighting comparisons of using an egg crate grid as against to not. I would love to see some examples as I am interested in purchasing one.
Cheers
Jeff

magenmarie

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

03/01/2007 08:35:55 PM · #457

Cindi, if you are still commenting, I would LOVE some more feedback on more portraits of my hubby. I'm still trying to learn my lights. :)

Thanks so much.

Magen*

***ETA -- My ISO was 100, shutter speed was 160, f11, with 2 strobes. For the white background, a softbox a bit off to the right , and one pointed directly at the backgroung. For the black background, softbox positioned at the same place...a bit off to the right and one on the left side.

Thank you!!!

Message edited by author 2007-03-02 10:09:42.

03/02/2007 09:26:53 AM · #458

Hey guys, this is increasingly becoming a "comment on my pic" thread instead of a "discuss lighting techniques" thread. Please, if you would like to have an image critiqued, give the relevant lighting information to be evaluated. Tell me what lights you used, how and why you chose to do that. Otherwise I will see your pic and give advice based on incomplete information - which doesn't really help you or other who are reading along.

That said - I will continue to answer questions posted as time allows and hopefully we can all continue to learn via this discussion.

Thanks

03/02/2007 10:05:06 AM · #459

An example of what you can do with really cheap lighting

Lighting is two Target floor lamps (3 silver heads, 100W each head) About $30 each and very controllable. They are both camera left, shining through a 1m sq diffusion panel made from a sheet and some PVC pipe.

ISO 800, 1/160 f1.8, standing on a chair, shooting down from above, while she is sitting on the floor.

03/02/2007 10:07:46 AM · #460

At the other end of the lighting scale, another test shot, this time with a studio strobe and a 6ft sq soft box, with another bare head set a stop lower, pointing into the background/ fountain.

Metered to balance with the falling light of the sunset and shot about f11, at a slow shutter speed to soak up some of the ambient.

03/02/2007 10:17:50 AM · #461

Originally posted by magenmarie:

From my comment on Maegan's pics......

Hey Maegan - it looks like this and the other image you posted you used the lights at a fairly low angle - aimed upward. That gives him a bit of a scary look - like holding a flashlight under your chin. That can be a great effect if that is what you are going for, but if not you can avoid it by raising your lights up higher (think how the sun hits our faces). I normally have the center of my key light about 12 - 18 inches above the eyeline. Hope that helps.
:)

03/02/2007 10:20:43 AM · #462

Originally posted by Gordon:

An example of what you can do with really cheap lighting

Hey Gordon. My initial thought is that you did well with the portrait considering the lights you used. While I agree that these lights are amazingly affordable and controllable - they are lacking in power; probably 1/100th the strength of a strobe. Eventhough they look really bright, you are still shooting in a "low light" situation -- thus your ISO of 800. While this set up will probably serve you well with a cooperative (and non-moving) model, I'm thinking you will struggle with it shooting an active child or pet.

03/02/2007 10:22:09 AM · #463

Originally posted by Gordon:

One word..... ROCKS!! The lighting here looks amazing! Nits - the bottom is cropped a bit too tight and I wish it weren't crooked - but neither of those nits would take away from the image to the average viewer. The light is what makes this shot and it looks really nice. :)

03/02/2007 10:27:34 AM · #464

Originally posted by idnic:

Though the angle is pretty specific, in terms of the composition - straight on wouldn't work with her body position, arm angle, etc

It might not work for you, but it wasn't accidental.

03/02/2007 10:28:15 AM · #465

Originally posted by idnic:

Yup, they were very heavily diffused for this and you are right, it would be completely inappropriate lighting for very different subjects. You have to pick the lighting that works for what you want to do - e.g., 800W strobes would be totally inappropriate for this sort of shot too.

Message edited by author 2007-03-02 10:32:06.

mobster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/06/2007 10:06:30 PM · #466

here is a shot I took of my sister the other day, what do yall think?

03/06/2007 11:22:19 PM · #467

This one was shot at the same settings and same lighting except the umbrella to my left was only 2 feet away and about 4 feet up.

are these okay or should I look for a different line of work?? :) hehe

03/06/2007 11:59:27 PM · #468

Originally posted by TCGuru:

Okay, both were taken with my canon.

This first one was shot at f4 1/60s ISO 400 with one shoot through umbrella about 5 ft off to my left, 6 ft up, and 45deg and another just behind the girls' feet 5 ft up 45deg down both 300watts.

This one was shot at the same settings and same lighting except the umbrella to my left was only 2 feet away and about 4 feet up.

are these okay or should I look for a different line of work?? :) hehe

LOL don't give up yet, you have talent, girl! :D The first thing that strikes me is your settings. With 2 strobes you should be getting ISO 100 easily and shutter speed of 1/125th (limited by strobe speed). Try setting those two in manual and turn your lights up a good bit more or bring them closer to the subject (just out of frame). You should find a sweet spot around there somewhere, play around with the lights and the aperature until you find it. You want a bright image that stops movement with minimal noise and maximum "wow" :)

The light placement is nice and the crispness of the second shot is esecially nice. I think movement could give you trouble though at those settings.

03/07/2007 12:16:56 AM · #469

Originally posted by idnic:

I will try that and post results in a few days :) Perhaps I won't give up just yet ;) LOL

Thank you SOSO much!

03/08/2007 09:02:44 PM · #470

2 shoot throughs, one just above his face behind me and the other on the other side of him even with his face, one spot aimed at ceiling for hair :)

Shot at 1/125s f5.6 ISO 1600

I couldn't turn the ISO down or the pictures were WAYYY too dark... any thoughts?

mobster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/08/2007 09:06:20 PM · #471

Can you turn up the power on the flash/strobes?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/08/2007 09:07:51 PM · #472

Originally posted by mobster:

Can you turn up the power on the flash/strobes?

Not without buying new bulbs :(

Edit to clarify: I have constant lights haven't upgraded them to sync yet :)

Message edited by author 2007-03-08 21:08:23.

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

03/08/2007 09:11:02 PM · #473

Originally posted by TCGuru:

Originally posted by mobster:
Can you turn up the power on the flash/strobes?

Not without buying new bulbs :(

Edit to clarify: I have constant lights haven't upgraded them to sync yet :)

Move the lights closer. Shoot with a tripod at a slower shutter speed and wide open. Oh yeah then lower the ISO. :-)

mobster

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/08/2007 09:11:44 PM · #474

Originally posted by TCGuru:

Originally posted by mobster:
Can you turn up the power on the flash/strobes?

Not without buying new bulbs :(

Edit to clarify: I have constant lights haven't upgraded them to sync yet :)

ah... about all you can do is use more lights, or buy brighter bulbs. you might also try moving the lights closer.