Quick opinions Please... - DPChallenge Forums

08/09/2006 06:18:21 PM · #1

I was messing with my lighting setup testing ideas for my senior portrait client I have coming over tonight. Here are some results.

Note: Model is myself so please try and get past the oily face, terrible T shirt and bad hair day ! LOL

Any comments and opinions would be appreciated!!

PS...I know the focus is a little off...first time I have tried this with the timer,,,really need to get remote :)

Solly

08/09/2006 06:39:44 PM · #2

What sort of advice are you looking for?

I like the bottom one on the left the most.

08/09/2006 06:42:59 PM · #3

OOPS...guess it would help if I asked for something specific huh? :)

I am looking for comments, critiques on the lighting setup. Do the lights look too flat, too much shadow...that type of thing.

08/09/2006 06:58:03 PM · #4

K - First, try to pull your model farther away from the bg than you are in those shots. The more distance the better to get that fabric out of focus and not distracting in the shot. Also your lights seem a little close and hot, do you have space to move them back a bit? Other than that, relax, have fun! The more you chat with him, the more comfortable he and you will be so start talking right away....but....don't forget to think about the images while you do it... and the light. :)

08/09/2006 06:59:41 PM · #5

Oh, and get in close! Don't be afraid to use weird angles too... like this:

that will minimize your bg issues and you can concentrate on light. :)

08/09/2006 07:08:54 PM · #6

OK...I am kinda wishing that I had an air conditioned garage at this point. I will try an move things farther out...and spread the lights back (thank goodness my basement isn't finished yet). I will post some rough outtakes later.

Thanks Cindi!

08/09/2006 07:09:25 PM · #7

Have fun!! :D

08/09/2006 07:09:52 PM · #8

OH...and since there is a ladder down there in the way anyhow...I can use some of those unique angles! :)

08/09/2006 07:11:25 PM · #9

Originally posted by carisakD70:

OH...and since there is a ladder down there in the way anyhow...I can use some of those unique angles! :)

YES!! I have 2 ladders in my studio :)

08/09/2006 10:48:15 PM · #10

Carissa, did you survive? :D How'd it go? The first few are so scarry, I promise it gets better! lol

08/09/2006 11:19:25 PM · #11

Cindi...my laptop is converting the RAW files right now. It was so humid outside that my lens fogged over when we went to the park. Any suggestions on preventing that.

He was a lot more comfortable in front of the camera than I was expecting, though he is still stiff in some shots. Also, it clouded over just as we got to the park, so it was a little too dark for great shots. I told them that if they wanted to shoot some more some other time that would be fine with me.

I really think I need more posing ideas for the guys...or maybe I am just afraid to get creative with them? I am not sure...anyway...I will post a couple in a little while...took 115 shot, laptop has 35 images to go.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/10/2006 12:02:48 AM · #12

OK...so here are a few of my favorites...

What do ya think? Comments and critiques welcome.

Also...see if you notice anything funny in the blacks....

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

08/10/2006 12:12:35 AM · #13

The skin in the BW shots is excessively white. I like BW shots a lot but here I don't think they are working so well. The vertical shot is the better of the two but even there the whites almost border on looking blown out particularly along the arm and hand.

edit: At the same time, as far as poses go that vertical chair shot is a nice pose for a guy. Casual, natural, etc.

Message edited by author 2006-08-10 00:13:45.

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/10/2006 02:32:50 AM · #14

yeah i would have to agree that the skin looks a bit overexposed in the black and white shots. It is also unfortunate that the finger tips are cut off in the last 2 images and first image. I like #2 shot and #1 isn't too bad either.

08/10/2006 07:49:01 AM · #15

Are these B&W's any better?

Thanks for the comments!

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

08/10/2006 07:55:29 AM · #16

The skin looks better (not looking as hot), but aren't they a little flat? Could be this work monitor, but both of them look like they could use a small shot of contrast.

Nice, relaxed shots BTW. Well done.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

08/10/2006 08:38:42 AM · #17

I was going to increase the contrast...but then the skin tones pale further. Is there a way to get more contrast without lightening his skin tones anymore?

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

08/10/2006 08:48:02 AM · #18

I'll kind of 'bump' this for you since I was the one to open my mouth. ;^)

Without playing with the image (or something similar), which I can't do here at work, I'm stuck dishing out generalities. I know in PSP I can adjust brightness and contrast at the same time, bump the contrast and enter a small negative value for brightness. Perhaps playing with (HMS) highlights, midtones, shadows, some would help in combination with contrast - i.e. lower the highlights.

Sorry I can't be of more assistance. Post-Processing is still an item in progress for me. ;^)

Don't fret. I'm sure someone who knows their stuff will come along soon!

pix-al

Canon EOS-5D

08/10/2006 09:02:08 AM · #19

Did you shoot these in RAW format?

If so, try the RawShooter Essentials (Free to download) converter.
In there you can desaturate it but have the option to play with the shadow and highlight contrast levels. I find these alone are enough to get well contrasted B&W images, without having to further edit in photoshop.

This was done (A little over done, as that is how a friend wanted it) in Raw Shooter alone. The original colour image was not that good and once converted to B&W it looked really flat until adjusted...

Nald

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

08/10/2006 09:26:41 AM · #20

Originally posted by carisakD70:

I was going to increase the contrast...but then the skin tones pale further. Is there a way to get more contrast without lightening his skin tones anymore?

Read this thread.