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02/04/2010 05:12:57 AM · #1 |
I am trying to take a portrait of my wife. I want there to be no shadows in her face. I have a modeling lamp on a stand about, 50cm higher than the top of her head, and point down at her from about 1 meter away. I have my camera positioned right beneath the lamp. I have my flash (SB-600) on the camera. However, I still get the shadow under the chin.
I tried taking the flash off the camera and point down from underneath her but that was using the onboard flash to trigger it and the that gives it a harsher look. What am I doing wrong?
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02/04/2010 05:18:04 AM · #2 |
Try lowering the modeling lamp down so it is pointing up at her then bounce the on camera flash off the ceiling or use a sheet of white paper or something to bounce it. It might help. Try moving her further away from the backdrop also.
Message edited by author 2010-02-04 05:23:48. |
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02/04/2010 06:40:54 AM · #3 |
I thinkk you're doing it right by having the modellin light a little high. Otherwise her hair would be too dark on the top. Just make sure it is pointing downwards. Then use a reflector (white styrofoam from packaging works wonders if you don't have a real reflector) held by your wife in such an angle that you limit the shadows to your liking. The modelling light on the downward angle will make this effective).
But absolutely no shadows in her face makes it a flat and boring portrait. To get some depth in the picture I would suggest having the modelling light slightly at her right(maybe 25 degree angle) and aim the reflector in such a way that it fills in the light both under her chin and the left side of her face. This will bring out her chin bones and facial structure very well.
The reason for the modelling light on her right (and not left) would be the way her hair flows and to limit shadows from it.
I would also apply face powder to get rid of some of the shine in her face (especially directly above her lips). It will make her eyes and lips stand out better . |
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02/04/2010 06:56:06 AM · #4 |
I forgot to mention the background.  Bugzeye's suggestion to move her further away is good. I would also open the lense a little to get it out of focus. Those fabric backgrounds are IMO really no good unless they're either black (so the result is absolutely black) or white that you burn out. I've tried to iron them before (well, my wife did :) ) to get the creases out, but it's impossible. They're just not flattering. |
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02/04/2010 07:02:53 AM · #5 |
I tried it again. It seems that if I have the light facing her directly, I get the same thing only with a harsher background. If the background were black, then it wouldn't be a problem. I wanted to get some different colors in the back just to see what I could do. Prior to this it was not a problem ironing the creases out.
I do have a reflector and tried to get the the right amount of light where I wanted it but I didn't break it out this time. It's a little late and my wife isn't in the mood to pose. I will post what I got in a few minutes.
As for have the light to the left or right and on a degree, I've done that with great results. I can't remember where, but I saw a lighting technique done for magazine covers where there is little shadow and the pictures are quite nice. I'm budgeting for some new lighting gear around June or July. |
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