Some fun learning the AB's

[FocalPrincess]

I'm mostly posting this for fun, but if you see something glaringly wrong with it, please (politely) point it out. My current set up is the AB800 into a 48" umbrella camera right and 430EX on camera. I'm hoping to order my radio triggers this week or so in order to get the 430ex off-camera too. I'm loving the lights though...my goodness so much to do with them, and user-friendly, too!
(and yep, I do realize that there's chocolate cookie leftovers on his face...please excuse that. stinker got into the kitchen)

[christyjo2]

Hey. I definately agree with you, the alien bee lights are fun to play with! I just got some this week and im loving them! Very cute subjects you have here. The wrinkles are a tad distracting and there is a little bit of a shadown behind the little boy (maybe bring him out further from the background?) but other than that...these looks cute!

[Chet]

Looks like I may need to just get me some AB's. Looks like you're having fun learning.

[FocalPrincess]

Looks like I may need to just get me some AB's. Looks like you're having fun learning.

Its seriously fun. I only have one, but I can't wait to be able to afford maybe one more. The light stand is makin' me MAD though, lol.

[Chet]

What's wrong with it?

[KatiaShermanPhotography]

good start!
OK here are the ways to improve next time:
#1. Set your white balance for it...i see a lot of yellow color cast.
#2. place your kids further from the background if space alowes.
I am not a big fan of wrinkes...kinda look to messy for my taste...
but the biggest thing is kids almost touching the background...keep them a bit away.

[FocalPrincess]

good start!
OK here are the ways to improve next time:
#1. Set your white balance for it...i see a lot of yellow color cast.
#2. place your kids further from the background if space alowes.
I am not a big fan of wrinkes...kinda look to messy for my taste...
but the biggest thing is kids almost touching the background...keep them a bit away.

Thanks! I actually had about a 5 foot total space to shoot them in, so it wasn't possible to separate them from the background this time and it was totally impromptu, so I hung the sheet fresh from the laundry basket. ;)

Appreciate the tips!

[angryhampster]

Pick up a roll of white paper. It makes for an easy, seamless background, though the weight makes it more difficult to suspend. You're off to a helluva start, though. :) Looking forward to seeing more!

Hopefully I'll be getting an alienbee or two this winter with some cybersyncs.

[KatiaShermanPhotography]

Pick up a roll of white paper. It makes for an easy, seamless background, though the weight makes it more difficult to suspend. You're off to a helluva start, though. :) Looking forward to seeing more!

Hopefully I'll be getting an alienbee or two this winter with some cybersyncs.

I am a PAPER fan too! But i must warn you if you use paper you PROBABLY need a background stand that will ALSO take 1-2 feet from your space (its legs)...

[FocalPrincess]

I was just reading a paper tutorial and getting the itch for some of that too....and hubby is an engineer and is willing to make me a background stand out of stuff he's got laying around (you wouldn't believe the stuff he collects) so it'll be a sturdy son of a gun....now I've got to create a more permanent space.

I'm going to check and see if our local camera shop happens to carry it, although I'm guessing not. Worth a shot. Thanks all! I love shooting my kids (and everyone else's, for that matter).

Thanks all! Here's another couple that I'd posted last week (in the wrong forum of course) ...white sheet on the bed and all-natural light diffused thru the sheer curtains on the windows...

[KatiaShermanPhotography]

you can actually use your AB for on location shots...youd dont have to AB with background - just take it in your room and shoot with it too =)
awesome photos by the way!!!

[Chet]

LOL, what's with the son and the love beads.

[FocalPrincess]

you can actually use your AB for on location shots...

Didn't have them for this one, was trying to get creative with the lighting. ;)

LOL, what's with the son and the love beads.

Its actually an amber teething necklace (http://www.amber-teething-necklaces.com/healing_properties_of_baltic_amber.html)....amber is supposed to have healing properties when worn next to the skin...and whether it works or not is a matter of much debate (nearly as much as Canon vs. Noink), but its cute nonetheless. ;)

Thanks guys!

[Chet]

But he has all of his teeth doesn't he? Very interesting though.

[FocalPrincess]

Now he does, yep, but I keep it on for looks. It may have helped a little bit when he was getting them though...when he started to wear it (I didn't buy it, BrokenRoad sent it to us) he wouldn't get as nasty a rash as he did before....those teeth can be miserable buggers....some of us will try anything to relieve the crankies. ;)

[toddmitchell]

I agree the paper is the way to go

i bought my first roll of white from a local place before i knew much told them i wanted to blow out the background and they ened up giving me a slightly off white - i was not happy and will not go back there - probably the closest to real white they had in stock

you really need at least three lights to do white right imo (two for sure)

the ab triggers work great get the battery one so you can use your flash or the ab with it then pick up more if/when you need them. The battery reciever is the same price but you can use it with your flash off camera then.

getting the flash off camera will make a huge difference even when usuing just one light.