Cute Babies - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

08/18/2007 11:34:40 AM · #1

It was Friday after work and I setup quick photoshoot for 2 babies. This was in the hallway in the office. SB600 in umbrella one the camera left and another SB600 firing though translucent disc on the right. SB800 on D70 as master with Nikon 70-200 lens.

The setup was for babies only so when the parents jumped in, light was not as good.

Let me know what you guys think and please be honest.

Thanks

Nick

Apple iPhone 5

08/18/2007 11:39:41 AM · #2

Some excellent captures there. And congrats on having the patience to work with babies :)

Now, on to the 'honest' part. The lighting looks a bit strange to me. What height did you have the flashes at? - In some of the shots it almost looks like you have the light pointing up from below.

08/18/2007 11:41:34 AM · #3

Originally posted by jhonan:

Flash on the left was slightly above kids hight and one on the right was about their level. Maybe just below. It was set to much lower power.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

08/18/2007 11:43:30 AM · #4

Colors look off on all of them, like maybe the whitebalance needs to be tweaked.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

08/18/2007 11:46:55 AM · #5

Originally posted by routerguy666:

Colors look off on all of them, like maybe the whitebalance needs to be tweaked.

Now that I look at it maybe a bit. I always like warm tones for the skin. However in this case it is more apparent that WB is off because background is white. I didn't think of that right away...

Apple iPhone 5

08/18/2007 12:09:01 PM · #6

Originally posted by Nikolai1024:

Flash on the left was slightly above kids hight and one on the right was about their level. Maybe just below. It was set to much lower power.

I'm looking at these ones for example;

and

The shadows on her face look a bit harsh. Perhaps if the SB600+umbrella was closer or on a higher power (or a different height) for these ones it would have softened the light and lifted the shadows.

But hey, better to wait for one of the resident experts to chime in... :)

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

08/18/2007 01:15:47 PM · #7

As mentioned ... WB is way off. If you're shooting raw, just use the WB tool and click on something neutral (the background, is it white?).

Also, the shadows are wrong. I left a comment on one of the images. Basically, the nose shadow on several of the images is going straight across the face (onto the cheek), meaning your main light is at the 3:00 position.

Your main light needs to be above (because that's where the sun is) so that the nose shadow comes down below the cheek. My preference would be for a 2:00 position.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

08/18/2007 01:58:21 PM · #8

Take a look at

PictoColor EditLab Pro

I've never purchased this software, but it seems to do a pretty good job of color correcting an image. I've sometimes considered buying it when color correcting in raw doesn't quite do the job.

Here's a before-and-after using it:

08/18/2007 02:34:47 PM · #9

Originally posted by jhonan:

Originally posted by Nikolai1024:
Flash on the left was slightly above kids hight and one on the right was about their level. Maybe just below. It was set to much lower power.

I'm looking at these ones for example;
and

The shadows on her face look a bit harsh. Perhaps if the SB600+umbrella was closer or on a higher power (or a different height) for these ones it would have softened the light and lifted the shadows.

But hey, better to wait for one of the resident experts to chime in... :)

In this case main flash did not fire for some reason. So you have 3:00 light.

08/18/2007 02:44:32 PM · #10

Originally posted by dwterry:

I think I should be able to fix WB without a problem. Next time I'll try to find area with more space to setup my lights. This was at work and this was walk area between cubicles and offices and the only place where CCTV cameras can't see. Don't ask how I know. :)
I think one of the reasons main flash didn't fire is because its "eye" was facing the wrong way. Gotta be carefull next time.
As far as group shots, I was not expecting them. I setup everything for babies to sit and suddenly few people jump in and say "quick get a shot of us". I didn't want to move stuff because I knew I'll go back to kids right away.

Nick

08/20/2007 10:49:58 PM · #11

One of the Moms picked a few for printing. Here are some of them after a little phtoshop:

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D