1st Light use

[scorpiojo]

This is my first test with a friend. Please help C & C. Need feed back for improvements and adjustmentshttp://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/attach/jpg.gif

[tim]

What effect are you trying to achieve? What kind of shot are you after? Tell us that and you'll get better critique.

Without that i'll say everything looks quite flat, like it was taken with a single on camera flash. I don't like that there are pictures behind her. There are reflections off her "hat". She's not taking up much of the frame. It also looks like it was taken with a wide angle lens from quite close, whereas a longer lens from further back often works better. Having said that it's not a bad photo :)

[Inspired Photography]

Scorpiojo,

I would first look at anything distracting in the picture before worrying about the lighting. I know you are after lighting critique, but removing the paintings from behind her, finding a wall with only one colour etc will all help. Bringing her out from the wall further and filling the frame with your subject should provide desirable results too.

I agree with Tim that it does look a little flat. Probably try and re-shoot taking some of those things into consideration, and we can offer some more lighting specific advice.

Thanks,

Rob

[PhotosGuy]

Bringing her out from the wall further and filling the frame with your subject should provide desirable results too. And try to set the lens at one of the larger f-stops, (Smaller actual #), to reduce the DOF (depth of field).
Take a look at Virtual Camera for some instant feedback:
Cameras Interactive aims to help novice photographers grasp the main concepts of SLR photography.
http://www.camerasinteractive.com/index.php#
Exposure explained: Three gateways for light.
http://www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/enjoydslr/p_2_005.html
Exposure - Low Tech Tips
http://www.photonhead.com/exposure/
SimCam
http://www.photonhead.com/exposure/simcam.php
Making Photographs
http://www.photo.net/photo/tutorial/
The Three P's of Photography; Planning...
http://luminous-landscape.com/essays/ps-ls.shtml
Don't forget to look at the "Sticky"s at the top of the various sections of the forum for a lot of good information.
And...

[scorpiojo]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I appreciate it very much.

[Tonky]

I don't think it's a bad shot at all. It looks like you bounced the flash off the ceiling judging by the shadows, which is good. It's just produced a rather flat lighting effect with no modelling.

Try metering for the ambient light in the room which should give you more natural looking shadows with the light from above, but use slow flash sync and fill flash rather than flash being your main light source.