Lighting experiment - advice & help required

[Gina]

I have been experimenting recently with the manual settings on my camera. I have to self learn the nitty gritty of my camera as this is going to make a profound improvement in my skills as a photographer. My most recent experiment Shadowman shows how I am beginning to learn what f.stops do, ISO and white Balance. I love it, it's exciting to find certain moods of an image. I am still taking a variety of topics into consideration when planning a shooting session but am still limited because of my mobility. I suppose it's a good thing that my special passion is the beauty of people and life as they're around me in abundance, everyday.

My birthday bouquet was a very beautiful bunch of roses, lillies, fresia and gerbera's. I had lots of fun waiting for the low afternoon sun to get to the right side of my lounge for optimum natural light from the window. I had set up the ironing board and placed the vase on the floor and rested my camera in the iron rest facing down. The rose set I have in the gallery will show that I got some lovely results. I still haven't done the ironing!

Anyway, could you give me your comments please. This is still very much in the early stages but I've achieved what I set out to do this time and would be grateful for any help.


File date: 2008:10:05 14:44:33 Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL Date/Time: 2008:10:06 14:34:13
Resolution: 701 x 663 Flash used: No
Focal length: 54.0mm (35mm equivalent: 484mm) CCD width: 4.02mm
Exposure time: 0.040 s (1/25) Aperture: f/8.0
ISO equiv.: 400 Whitebalance: Manual
Exposure: Manual Exposure Mode: ManualAuto bracketing

[Autumn]

Re: Lighting experiment - advice & help required

I have to say Gina that it is a very impressive piece of photography. I have never done anything like that and know nothing about lighting. I think that you are very talented and have worked hard to achieve some good results.

I do believe that the more you learn about it the more satisfaction it gives you.

My comments would be that the angle of your model creates crease lines in her forehead (top left) which almost looks like lips. It is probably pronounced because of the lighting. Perhaps if you could vignette the top left a shade, it may not be so obvious. It probably does not appear like that to anyone else.

I also think a wipe over with the healing brush would blend the little white bits of her complexion.

Well done Gina!

[Autumn]

Re: Lighting experiment - advice & help required

Hm! Ironing board, that's novel. There is something, you may not have heard of it - think it's called a Tripod. I think people use them for that purpose.

Perhaps you could Google for one.

[Gina]

Re: Lighting experiment - advice & help required

Audrey you always make me laugh, I can't find my tripod so had to improvise! Thanks for your comments, I haven't got all the skills I need yet, it's going to be hard work but I'm working up to a maternity shoot with my sister who's expecting in late November. I have a few unique ideas and have to get more experience actual shooting with natural light before the big day. The main reason being that I prefer the subtle tones of light and shade with natural light. I don't have and flood lighting, just the onboard flash which is harsh and a Canon flash gun.

There's a lot wrong with the Shadowman (yes, it is a male Audrey! ) but practice makes ... well you know the rest. There doesn't seem to be very many portrait photographers in this forum either, seems mostly landscapes etc! There are no portraits in the Golden gallery either, makes me wonder what kind of excellence a portrait would have to possess to get there. I'll keep working on it.

Finally, you seem to be my main mentor here at the DP Now forum as you always respond to my work, I want you to know how grateful I am for your input, so a big thankyou to you xxx

Gina

[Autumn]

[Guest]

Re: Lighting experiment - advice & help required

Hi Gina & Autumn - If your flashgun head can be swivelled into a position were the flash is is directed upwards you can try bouncing the light off a white/lightcoloured ceiling. This will give you a softer more diffuse lighting and also stop those harsh shadows behind the subject which often occurs with frontal flash. You probably will have to open your aperture by about 2 stops at least depending on the height of the ceiling. You may have to experiment a bit to get the feeling that you want.

[Stephen]

Re: Lighting experiment - advice & help required

Gina, I quite like the pose and crop you have used, even the lighting on one side and shadow on the other gives a good result. I think what lets this particular shot down is its sharpness. I don't feel there is a single point of sharp focus, and this is essential IMH even iff you later apply a soft focus effect. I agree with Audrey about using the heal of clone brush on skin imperfections, I think this is what she means, though it has to be done carefully and not make the skin look like plastic.

From a personal point of view, I'm not keen on the colouring, is it a WB issue, I'm not sure, though I may have tried a B/W version.

As for not many portrait photographers here, I'd agree, I've done plenty, though not for some time. The thing is that for many amateurs, its outside their comfort zone, or they don't have access to suitable models, or family members who are willing. However you seem to have no problem here, so I'd persevere. Plan the shoot with your sister in advance and if you are indoors which maybe necessary, and using available light, try getting some reflectors to make best use of the light. Large sheets of white polystyrene used for insulation can be got from some DIY shops like B&Q. Also use a tripod, it makes all the difference