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Some shots from yesterday, had a mixed set of results, as I am trying new things.

Its now nearly 12 months since I first used flash, and I think I have improved a lot (thanks to example work in here, and your feedback), but still so much more to learn.

First shot with the 70-200VR (love it to death), second with the 28-70, third no flash, 85/1.4 its a delight in natural light.

#1 70-200 - set up on this is softstrip camera left, medium softbox camera right, and a hairlight (missed in this one due to moving forward). Used a hairfan also.


#2 28-70 - set up in this shot is one soft strip softbox, just above the cushions, and a long reflector in front of her.


#3 - 85mm 1.4 @6.3 - my favourite soft light source, the Melbourne clouds

i think the angle of the shot in the first is good but usually if you shoot a bit lower you wont get the distrorted lines in the background
also i would centre her in the framing of the shot expression is great lighting is good

2nd one strip flahs seems to provide even coverage but theres still harsh highlights on the face so you may have to difusse the light more or its just the angle/direction of the strip light hitting the subject that is off, you got to try different angles and see what works best
nearly every situation is different
I also think that scene is more of a sultry shot i would have the model not smile and i would cut the lighting down to enhance mood

Bearing in mind I have no idea what I'm talking about .... there is something not quite right with the models makeup .... maybe just a little too harsh, with the colours making the models complexion a little 'muddy' - jmho.

One other thing - in the first shot, there appears to be a line just above and just below the models tat - if you are shooting this type of photo, make sure that whatever the model was wearing before the shoot doesn't leave marks, or indentations on the skin - ie from nickers or jeans or skirts.

wendellt wrote:i think the angle of the shot in the first is good but usually if you shoot a bit lower you wont get the distrorted lines in the background
also i would centre her in the framing of the shot expression is great lighting is good

those lines were something I didnt pay attension to until after the shoot... but agree, they distract the eye non being straight.

wendellt wrote:2nd one strip flahs seems to provide even coverage but theres still harsh highlights on the face so you may have to difusse the light more or its just the angle/direction of the strip light hitting the subject that is off, you got to try different angles and see what works best
nearly every situation is different
I also think that scene is more of a sultry shot i would have the model not smile and i would cut the lighting down to enhance mood

agree. I would have liked to have had another light on her front side, dont think the refector kicked enough. Also, I should have difused the light more at that end. I think the highlights were blowouts from shin...

apprection your feedback, as it helps me improve !!!

here is an improved crop (at a 2:3 compromise however).

blacknstormy wrote:Bearing in mind I have no idea what I'm talking about .... there is something not quite right with the models makeup .... maybe just a little too harsh, with the colours making the models complexion a little 'muddy' - jmho.

One other thing - in the first shot, there appears to be a line just above and just below the models tat - if you are shooting this type of photo, make sure that whatever the model was wearing before the shoot doesn't leave marks, or indentations on the skin - ie from nickers or jeans or skirts.

appreciate your feedback, thanks heaps.

agee, the makeup had some heavy brown tones which were had to move.

we were careful with clothing marks, these lines were there in PP, but were not from jeans etc, so we left them... we didnt want to over wash the skin texture and lose its natural appearance.

much improved framig
mostly for glamour theres no room for composition you just need the girl dead centre, i notice in soem glamour shots framing is off its just due to rushing the shot

also i think you should shoot lower so you get that 1:1 front on perspective
shootign up high may look slightly more interestign but it distorts the body head bigger than rest of body may be conceived as as unflattering

as for makeup those those inconsitencies can be fixed in post, cloning tool
if you dont have a competent makeup artist

the most important thing is the angle and direction of the lightsource it can change everything
if you use a beauty dish that would look better its a slightly harder light than a softbox and its more directional also light wrapping aroudn curvature of face is less so you get more definition between shadow and highlight

im sure after 20 shots moving the lightsource at different places youll get soemthign you like

also i dont iuse a reflector to balance off the other side, i just use another light its more consistent, reflected light can be affected by the angle of the reflector and if theres something in front of it blocking the light like when you light from the side models body is in the way

wendellt wrote:much improved framig
mostly for glamour theres no room for composition you just need the girl dead centre, i notice in soem glamour shots framing is off its just due to rushing the shot

also i think you should shoot lower so you get that 1:1 front on perspective
shootign up high may look slightly more interestign but it distorts the body head bigger than rest of body may be conceived as as unflattering

as for makeup those those inconsitencies can be fixed in post, cloning tool
if you dont have a competent makeup artist

the most important thing is the angle and direction of the lightsource it can change everything
if you use a beauty dish that would look better its a slightly harder light than a softbox and its more directional also light wrapping aroudn curvature of face is less so you get more definition between shadow and highlight

im sure after 20 shots moving the lightsource at different places youll get soemthign you like

also i dont iuse a reflector to balance off the other side, i just use another light its more consistent, reflected light can be affected by the angle of the reflector and if theres something in front of it blocking the light like when you light from the side models body is in the way

thanks again, great feedback for me to use next weekend.

the beauty dish is on the list, was after the strip light. I have a round light that works similar, I'll try that next weekend rather than two softboxes..

here is one shot from ground level (the background lines drive me crazy, but another lesson...)

you can make a strip light from a softbox just 2 pieces of cardbaord tape it onto the softobox to make a strip

also before you shoot you should really think about the location soem locations like white rooms may bounce the light all over the place and no matter how much you light shape your goign to get ambient bounce everywhere so youll end up with a flat boring image

in the studio i scrim off all walls with black curtains or foamcore boards
otjherwise shoot at soem location that has dark walls that way i can control the light

also its important to work out the lighting concept with the locaiton in mind and theme of the shoot there so may variables with lighting that you need to slimline the variables.

in the last exampel you posted i woudl bounce flash the light of the ceiling that will light from the top her pose is perfect for that sort of thing

change the bed linen to red so the light reflects off that onto the skin

and there you go youll have a sultry image
anyway sexy is subjective but all i know about glamour is that you need to create allure and you dont get that by an overlit scene

all the best have fun

Gorgeous girl but the first one looks soft to me......second one the pose looks awkward and the last is a nice wholesome shot, but lacks something.....!

Hope you dont mind (i will take it down if you do) i reworked it - tonal adjustments etc ....


Dan

nice body and good photos but has she got false teeth?

Cre8tivepixels wrote:Gorgeous girl but the first one looks soft to me......second one the pose looks awkward and the last is a nice wholesome shot, but lacks something.....!

Hope you dont mind (i will take it down if you do) i reworked it - tonal adjustments etc ....
Dan

thanks Dan, fine to rework it. its interesting to see your techniques on an image of mine. agree, the shot was soft, some were as we were working quickly with the wind machine as she was very cold.

the floor shot was awkward, and it showed... I wanted to shoot it from a ladder, but was at my other place

last one was more of a candid out on the balcony after the shoot. I just wanted a "plain jane" more wholesome kind of image for her.

huw62 wrote:nice body and good photos but has she got false teeth?

umm... not sure if that has much to do with the shot, but no, she has beautiful teeth.

im curious what sort of windmachine do you use?

wendellt wrote:im curious what sort of windmachine do you use?

this one...
http://www.dragonimage.com.au/class.asp?aid=58&nid=528

its handy if I work alone, as it mounts to a light stand, and has a pivot at its base.

now... if only I knew an electrician to add a variable switch to control its output (for now I use distance to var it).

Its Very strong for hair, and will blow dresses etc very well.

cool

i use this thing

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-VacN ... 71-5477462

Completely offtopic, but what does her tatt say?

moz wrote:Completely offtopic, but what does her tatt say?

which one? back, front, shoulder? if front, cant remember, arabic for somehting like "turn that bloody fan off, I'm freezing in these undies".

Oz_Beachside wrote:

moz wrote:Completely offtopic, but what does her tatt say?

which one? back, front, shoulder? if front, cant remember, arabic for somehting like "turn that bloody fan off, I'm freezing in these undies".

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!

So Dan, you read arabic? or familiar with the "its cold in here"