First attempt with Beauty Dish

[BCRose]

Just got it today and had my daughter (reluctantly) sit for a couple shots...seems very harsh to me. It is probably the way I have it set up, the only light is from the BD. It is a 22" with 40 degree grid. Positioned about 2 feet away from subjects face. Any suggestions how to improve? Maybe a reflector underneath?
this was 2.8 by the way. AB800 on lowest setting

http://kootenay.smugmug.com/photos/476912561_9P69k-XL.jpg

[bobbyz]

Is this with Paul BD?

[Rudi]

Take the grid off. The grid, because it restricts the light to coming from only the one direction, does increase the contrast somewhat. (You don't get the scattered light softening the shadows).

[TMR Design]

The beauty dish, by nature is a fairly small, high contrast modifier. As Rudi said, using the grid will increase contrast even more so you should remove it.

As great as a dish is, it's not always flattering and at times it will produce a quality of light that is not at all flattering for children. You might want to consider getting the diffusion sock for the dish to soften it up a bit.

[Mark1]

I second the above.

Did it come with the sock? Some do, some dont. It is worth playing with every combination you can come up with to learn what happens to the light. ....
open,
with grid
open with sock
grid and sock

Do this close, about 4-5 foot away, and say 6-8feet. I am sure you can guess what will happen, but do it so you know what happens. You only need 1 or 2 shots of each, So it should only take about 15 minutes max. Then you will know what you need to do to get what you want it to look like.

[Alleh]

Yeah it was harsh becuase of the grid.

[BCRose]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will play with it tomorrow. With diffusion sock and different distances.

Someone asked...yes it is a Paul C Buff dish.

[Gentleman Villain]

Just got it today and had my daughter (reluctantly) sit for a couple shots...seems very harsh to me. It is probably the way I have it set up, the only light is from the BD. It is a 22" with 40 degree grid. Positioned about 2 feet away from subjects face. Any suggestions how to improve? Maybe a reflector underneath?
this was 2.8 by the way. AB800 on lowest setting

http://kootenay.smugmug.com/photos/476912561_9P69k-XL.jpg

yeah the light is harsh...but it totally fits the mood. The expression on the girls is dreary...the gray background is drab...the overall mood is glum. A harsh light works perfectly to fit the mood....a nice pretty soft light wouldn't have matched the dreary vibe. Heck, even the icy look of alien bees just adds to the effect.

I actually like this picture even though it probably isn't what you were trying to do...You took a good "bad" picture even if it was by accident :). Ok...do 20 more pictures with a similar theme of making kids look miserable...get a gallery showing...and everybody will think you're an artist :cool:

[Rudi]

As Gentleman Villain already mentioned, the WB is a little on the cool side. I noticed that previously, but now I'm thinking maybe that is a part of what you don't like, so I took the liberty of warming it up a bit. It might look better to you (or not :) ).

http://rudiphoto.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p11862953.jpg

[Gentleman Villain]

Rudi....that's a nice comparison

You're warmed-up shot would probably be considered more accurate in terms of color balance....but I still like the cold shot better because it fits the sullen expression on the subject's face. It's a really good example of how sometimes it's possible to break the rules a bit to make an idea work and use color balance to emphasize an emotion. Icy color balance can match a dreary mood even though the warmed-up version would probably be considered more accurate.

[Rudi]

I agree with you, GV, I just thought that the colour temp might have been part of what the OP didn't like about his original image...

[TMR Design]

Hi Mike,

I totally agree with you IF the OP was going for that as a concept or wanted to convey a look, feel or vibe. Since the expression and overall look were not part of the 'design' of the shot and considering that the OP's own statement was "seems very harsh to me" then I think it's safe to say that it was not planned or intended.

That's the reason why myself and others made the statements we did. All too often the beauty dish seems to be a greatly misunderstood modifier, perhaps because of its misleading name.

[Papa Carlo]

Just got it today and had my daughter (reluctantly) sit for a couple shots...seems very harsh to me. It is probably the way I have it set up, the only light is from the BD. It is a 22" with 40 degree grid. Positioned about 2 feet away from subjects face. Any suggestions how to improve? Maybe a reflector underneath?
this was 2.8 by the way. AB800 on lowest settinghttp://kootenay.smugmug.com/photos/476912561_9P69k-XL.jpg
First of all I cannot agree with many in this thread. It is a nice picture. If you think it is too contrast adjust it properly. I suspect (but amnot sure) you moved the black threshdold a bit that resulted in underexposed shadows.

Taking into account that it was taken with only one light it is as good as you can get.
As for the beauty dish unflatterring for children: Well what else it is desinged for ? For older persons ?

[TMR Design]

First of all I cannot agree with many in this thread. It is a nice picture. If you think it is too contrast adjust it properly. I suspect (but amnot sure) you moved the black threshdold a bit that resulted in underexposed shadows.

Taking into account that it was taken with only one light it is as good as you can get.
As for the beauty dish unflatterring for children: Well what else it is desinged for ? For older persons ?

My point in making the comment about it being unflattering for children is this....

Typically (not always) the beauty dish is used to produce high contrast lighting. High contrast can evoke a feeling of drama, sadness, solemn mood and a variety of other things. Normally that drama and contrast is not all that flattering for young people.

Many (if not most) photographers tend to use the beauty dish for models and young adults, but not children. I understand there are no rules and if you can produce great images then that's cool but again, I can only look at the OP's post and see the words "seems very harsh". I don't think he was talking about the pose or the facial expression. It was a comment about the quality of light and to my eyes I see it as unflattering light.

Obviously we don't all see things the same way but that's my take. If it's not yours then I certainly understand that. I was merely commenting and making suggestions based on the OP"s own words.

I don't agree that it's as good as it can get with one light but that's also preference and style.

[Papa Carlo]

Many (if not most) photographers tend to use the beauty dish for models and young adults, but not children. I understand there are no rules and if you can produce great images then that's cool but again, I can only look at the OP's post and see the words "seems very harsh". I don't think he was talking about the pose or the facial expression. It was a comment about the quality of light and to my eyes I see it as unflattering light.

....

I don't agree that it's as good as it can get with one light but that's also preference and style.
Well the subject is closer to a young adult than to a child ( as far as the lighting concerns). I still like the picture including lighting. If the young lady were smiling for example it could be a different story. As for the one light and as good as it can get: Sure there is no limit to perfection and it is alway possible to do better. But in this paricular case it would be much easier to do worse than otherwise.

[TMR Design]

Opinion and preference are wonderful things. :D