Best one light portraits

[clickcanon40]

ok, imagine you have only one speedlite... or maybe you do have only one, anyway, post your best portrait photo's using only one light. I have one 580exII and need some inspiration.

If you will, share with us what your set up was.

[Collin85]

My two cents: one Speedlite can do quite alot, especially if it's off-camera and you have some sort of a diffuser (softbox/umbrella). :)

Here are some without neither luxuries - 580EX mounted on camera.

http://www.collinzphotography.com/photos/439437284_zNBYH-L.jpg

http://www.collinzphotography.com/photos/442554072_Yzpmw-L.jpg

http://www.collinzphotography.com/photos/439430585_co9sj-L.jpg

[SYS]

I'll add one. 580EX fired through my diffusion panel:


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/3140906835_2b2aaaf407_o.jpg

EDIT: Well, one more... :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2363337112_87ff7155d8_o.jpg

[bobbyz]

550ex fired through extra-small SB.

http://www.bobbyzphotography.com/img/v2/p643400886-4.jpg

[Mom27andblessed]

CUTE shot Bobby...but what is in the babys hair? Kinda distracting!

[bobbyz]

CUTE shot Bobby...but what is in the babys hair? Kinda distracting!

They call is cradle cap. Babies get it in early months. I fixed it now.

[canonnoob]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2363337112_87ff7155d8_o.jpg

Whats up with his neck?

[canonnoob]

ok, imagine you have only one speedlite... or maybe you do have only one, anyway, post your best portrait photo's using only one light. I have one 580exII and need some inspiration.

If you will, share with us what your set up was.

btw we have one of these already...
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=569019&highlight=show+your+best+one+light

[ducko]

I put the speedlite in his lap for a funny shot. I used my G9 with an off camera cord.
http://ducko.smugmug.com/photos/439891057_5tfk3-L.jpg

[SYS]

Whats up with his neck?

Wow, I didn't notice that until you mentioned it just now. Frankly, I haven't a clue as to what that is or how it got there. VERY strange... wasn't even messing around during PP, either... Looks like someone poured a black ink around his neck!! :confused:

[canonnoob]

yup... or you have some artifacting there....

[poldoga]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/3108223282_867ff16064.jpg?v=0
Sigma 500 super in white umbrella from camera right.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/3107397785_ded4473b7d.jpg?v=0
Sigma 500 super on cam, zoomed to 50mm, ETTL, bounced from ceiling above and to the left of the model.

[FOX2PRO]

With a diffuser, a single light can work wonders.

[airfrogusmc]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/airfrogusmc/IMG_4109.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/airfrogusmc/IMG_8214.jpg

Location, almost candid.

[airfrogusmc]

Studio
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/airfrogusmc/RetiredCzechoslovakianChef.jpg

[blinktwice]

Studio
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/airfrogusmc/RetiredCzechoslovakianChef.jpg

This shoot is great, do you mind explaining your set-up?. I imagine its a flash to the side with an umbrella.

[Collin85]

http://www.collinzphotography.com/photos/448510445_YBdV4-L.jpg

[Agnu]

I only have one light. I have one broken down bought second hand SB-28 (yes, i'm so broke I need to use a Nikon flash cause it's all I could afford...urgh) and I use my high school's studio which only has one working light aswell. I'm not going to do the 'my favourite' thing, but if you want you can check out my flickr, I do 90% portraiture and it has all been done with either one light or natural lighting. But I do sometimes use a reflector...

www.flickr.com/agnu

One light can be veeery useful. I'd love some more but can't afford it, so I try to make the best out of one, and i'm happy with my results :).

[beep]

Poldoga, i have a sigma 500 super, how/what did you use to make it fire off camera???


thanks

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/3108223282_867ff16064.jpg?v=0
Sigma 500 super in white umbrella from camera right.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/3107397785_ded4473b7d.jpg?v=0
Sigma 500 super on cam, zoomed to 50mm, ETTL, bounced from ceiling above and to the left of the model.

[Agnu]

Sigma 500 super on cam, zoomed to 50mm, ETTL, bounced from ceiling above and to the left of the model.

It wasn't off the camera, it was merely bounced. And done very well I reckon.

[airfrogusmc]

This shoot is great, do you mind explaining your set-up?. I imagine its a flash to the side with an umbrella.

THANKS It was a large softbox turned horz white lightning 1200 off to the subjects right and slightly forward probably about in the 2:00 position from subject and in VERY CLOSE and feathered. A reflector to subects left about 10:00.

Shot with a Hasselblad 500 C/M and 180 CF lens and T-Max 400 TMY developed in rodinal 1:50 68 degrees for 10 minutes.

[jm_usmc]

Poldoga, i have a sigma 500 super, how/what did you use to make it fire off camera???


thanks

To use a Sigma super off camera get a hot shoe adapter and a PC cord. Go to http://www.flashzebra.com/ to find the items you need. Lon, who runs the site, is very helpful.

[beep]

under the first picture he says "Sigma 500 super in white umbrella from camera right", so off camera? And how do you fire it with no cord, i heard you can fire the sigma wireless, is this true?
thanks

[ducko]

http://ducko.smugmug.com/photos/437466488_KoK2U-L.jpg

[Not4you]

two of my best. I had the 580exII rented for the weekend and these were among the first I took. overcast daylight behind me and the flash bounced off the ceiling ... desaturated in pp.

I also made a thread when I was experimenting with the flash I had rented ...

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=605426



http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/Not-4-you/CousinsChristmasNov232008_0054DS.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p184/Not-4-you/CousinsChristmasNov232008_0052DS.jpg

[kevindar]

several ways to approach this. One is your flash is not your only source of light, but your only source of controlled light. so using strobe as fill flash.Here is example of a very strong fill flash
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2750231291_0c341cb800.jpg
here is one, using window light as main light, onboard flash as fill light
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2676157864_254560f4e8.jpg
true single light source with a modifier (soft box) you will get some darker shadows. its nice to at least use a reflector. Here is a true single light
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/3014589052_30e109ca1b.jpg

[canonnoob]

http://DavidWelker.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p81036251-4.jpg

[underexposed]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/2589681594_5987e744ea.jpg

[randplaty]

several ways to approach this. One is your flash is not your only source of light, but your only source of controlled light. so using strobe as fill flash.Here is example of a very strong fill flash


Yup, that's the best way to use 1 light... get the sun to be your light #2

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2295105853_0ac0488a0d_o.jpg

[malorie_d]

OLD Picture. But My FIRST time using lighting. 40d + 420ex bounced of a wall.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v353/87/44/503479776/n503479776_802056_6031.jpg

[iamjediknight]

My selfportrait with 1 light

[Federkeil]

This is my favorite way to take a portrait. Full shade, on camera flash for slight fill.

[yogestee]

Flash behind the subject as rim lighting and a reflector to the right of subject..