How can I fix this up? - DPChallenge Forums

11/25/2007 07:38:56 PM · #1

This picture was taken in a room with only the light on the ceiling,so I know it's not the greatest..BUT is there anything I could do to make it look any better?
I'm just playing around with stuff to see what I can do.
Thanks :)[thumb]616656[/thumb]

Apple iPhone 5

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/25/2007 07:47:56 PM · #2

Did the on-camera flash trigger? Or did all the light come from the light on the ceiling?

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

11/25/2007 08:05:23 PM · #3

EXIF data says the flash fired. Plus you can see the flash in the eyes and the harsh shadow under the arms and under the chair.

Message edited by author 2007-11-25 20:18:26.

Apple iPhone 5

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/25/2007 08:10:44 PM · #4

Originally posted by dwterry:

EXIF data says the flash fired. Plus you can see the flash in the eyes and the harsh shadow under the arms and under the chair.

Yes, that's what I thought as well.

Courtney, I'm assuming you're talking about improving the shot when you're taking it, and not during post-processing, as it would be tough to 'fix this up' in post-processing.

The first thing is lighting. The on-camera flash gives it a very harsh look, with these hard shadows and highlights on the hair. Try shooting outdoors using natural light (shaded) or if you want to try using flash, then use off-camera flash and bounce it off ceiling or walls or a reflector. There are whole books written on the subject of lighting, I can't really do it justice in one paragraph.

Pose looks awkward, combined with the weird angle you're shooting at. Also, that chair doesn't make a very good prop.

Background is bland, and they're positioned too close to it - Again, try shooting outdoors for a variety of interesting backgrounds. Use shallow DOF (low F numbers) to get nice bokeh effects in your backgrounds.

Composition and crop - Well... sort out lighting, pose, angle and background and composition should naturally follow.

Message edited by author 2007-11-25 20:19:44.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

11/25/2007 08:32:41 PM · #5

Okay, don't hate me for this .... I agree with John, that fixing the lighting (off camera flash) would be better. And so I couldn't think of what to do (post processing wise) on the image to "fix it up". So instead ... I had a little fun with it. (fun, is the operative word here)

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

11/25/2007 08:47:27 PM · #6

Thanks guys! I'm still new with everything,so this is great help! :)

It looks cool after you had "fun" with it.. lol

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

11/25/2007 09:18:40 PM · #7

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

11/25/2007 09:26:06 PM · #8

I like that...it takes away from the shadows coming off the legs and chair..

Message edited by author 2007-11-25 21:26:31.

Man_Called_Horse

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

11/25/2007 10:22:51 PM · #9

[thumb]616729[/thumb]

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

11/25/2007 10:48:23 PM · #10

Besides what everyone else has said about the harsh shadows from the flash, Background!

If you don't have professional lighting gear, you can easily adapt things to work in a pinch, such as putting a ping pong ball over the flash to diffuse it, or fire it into a deflector to bounce it. In natural lighting, conditions, snag a dashboard visor - one of those silver fold-up reflector thingies and have someone reflect light to the subject from a distance as I did here:

Outdoors, don't be afraid to use the flash as well, in reduced power mode to fill flash light the subject, and even a pop-up flash can do well for that task as seen in this collection of shots done right in the middle of the day, but virtually have no shadows: