first flash pic with Omni-Bounce

[T_O_M]

This was my first shot with my recently purchased Omni-Bounce. I was very impressed with flash lighting with this shot and I am after other members opinions.
Have never been happy with 10D & 550ex shots (always had to adjust flash exposure compensation) unless they were bounced off a roof.

Canon EOS 10D, Tokina AT-X 280 AF PRO, 550EX Omni-Bounce

http://www.pbase.com/t_o_m/image/40791175.jpg

[tim]

Is it me or does that pic look at little underexposed in the face? What exposure mode were you using?

[T_O_M]

Shot was taken in manual mode, camera was in verical position and flash head rotated 45 degrees on the center axis.

[tim]

Here it is after a 5 second level adjustment in photoshop. Which do you prefer?

Let me know if you'd rather I removed the image, I know some people don't like other messing with their pic.

I took a load of flash shots Friday, a lot of them needed brightening up. Luckily I took them RAW and it was done without much loss of quality.

[T_O_M]

I think your adjustment of my picture is a little to bright but that's my opinion (you can leave image). My image might be a touch dark, I do prefer the softer lighting look. This is the beauty of photography we all have different opinions on what we think is right.

[tim]

Exactly. If you look it in levels yours doesn't reach the right hand side, it never quite reaches white. The one I posted might clip slightly in the white blouse (top?) but her face shouldn't, I don't think.

[johneric8]

I like the first one. I think we get caught up sometimes in making pictures too bright. I was in victoria secret yesterday with my wife and they have tons of underexposed pics on the wall that look very sexy!! I think the histogram is something you really have to learn to ignore at times. Some of my best shots show tons of underexposed areas in them. You have to ask yourself if the spots that are underexposed are important. Is a shadow in a hall closet okay if it's dark and underexposed as long as the subject is properly exposed? I think the answer is yes.

[T_O_M]

Her robe (top) was not a pure white. I think the correct exposure would be somewhere inbetween.

[tim]

Agreed. Maybe a curves adjustment would've worked better, but i'm no good at that yet.