Single umbrella set-up

[PhotosGuy]

This is a simple set-up – just one umbrella. You could get similar results by bouncing the light off a 30” X 40” card, or even a wall. You could also point a light through diffusion material, such as a large piece of translucent paper, parachute silk, or plastic. The type of instrument (light source) doesn’t matter as long as you have a broad source directed at the subject.
(Don't forget to Custom WB!)

[DaveG]

That's a good shot but if you had another umbrella on the other side of your setup that was one stop hotter than the first, you'd get a 3:1 lighting ratio and I think more "sparkle" to the image. This is one of those situations where your solution is perfectly OK, right up until you see one with a lighting ratio. Then you add another little rim light and that help even more.

If you look at a Playboy centrefold (gee that's a tough assignment!) you'll see the model lit with a basic portrait lighting setup. Probably 3:1. Of course there's going to be hair lights and often more than one. But this "portrait" is almost a still life because the background is lit so carefully and with any number of lights. Now I say lights but they may be using mirrors to light that little tiny object that you really never notice over there, or to accentuate part of her body that you DO notice.

Those centerfolds are incredibly well crafted. They use an 8x10 camera to shoot them on with a something like a 480mm lens - roughly the same as a 50mm lens on a 20D!!! - and have inches of depth of field. That explains why the model in the centerfold is always on one plane. Covering her "endowment" is probably the limit of that lens's depth of field, never mind having her feet in the foreground.

My point is that your shot is very nice, but don't leave it there. Experiment a bit more and see if you can make it better. And after you nail the basics it's always the lighting.

[PhotosGuy]

That's a good shot but if you had another umbrella on the other side of your setup that was one stop hotter than the first, you'd get a 3:1 lighting ratio and I think more "sparkle" to the image. You're right, Dave. Feel free to post your lighting set-up here: ;)
Lighting Set-Up Links –illustrations of real world examples. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=66140)

:D:D (I may have sucked another contributor in.)
I reposted this to replace the original post from last year. The idea is to show people with no lights what can be done simply with one. But that doesn't mean that we couldn't use your two light set-up here. Or anyone else's! So, bring 'em on! ;)

[DaveG]

You're right, Dave. Feel free to post your lighting set-up here: ;)
Lighting Set-Up Links –illustrations of real world examples. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=66140)

:D:D (I may have sucked another contributor in.)
I reposted this to replace the original post from last year. The idea is to show people with no lights what can be done simply with one. But that doesn't mean that we couldn't use your two light set-up here. Or anyone else's! So, bring 'em on! ;)

If I could figure out HOW to post a shot I would.

[PhotosGuy]

Yeah, I looked for specific info & it seems pretty well hidden!
Several ways to do it for a Post: one of these will put the pic or link in the text anywhere you choose.
1. If the image is online, Rt-click on it & choose “Copy image location”
In the post, goto “Go Advanced” at the replies area.
Above the replies box, click on the little yellow “Insert Image” icon. Paste in your link.
2. If the image is online, Rt-click on it & choose “Copy image location”
Type pasteyourimagelinkhere then type so it looks like this with no spaces:
http-etc.jpg
3. Or, just copy the link to the image in the text as in http-etc.jpg

4. This will put the pic at the end of the post.
In the post, goto “Go Advanced” at the replies area.
At the bottom you’ll see “Attach Files”. Click on “Manage Attachments”, and navigate (Browse) to where the pic is on your hard drive. Find it & click “Upload”, & you’re done. Remember, you get only 2 pics this way, max size 100KB each.

Then to put a link to your post in my links post, or in a sticky links post, just type the title for the link, format the text (Verdana 3, blue), highlite it, & click on the little blue world “insert link” icon, & paste in the link from your original post on the “Threads in Forum: Lighting” page. Add a brief description & you’re done. ;)

Pertty intuitive, isn't it! :D;):D

[DaveG]

Yeah, I looked for specific info & it seems pretty well hidden!
Several ways to do it for a Post: one of these will put the pic or link in the text anywhere you choose.
1. If the image is online, Rt-click on it & choose “Copy image location”
In the post, goto “Go Advanced” at the replies area.
Above the replies box, click on the little yellow “Insert Image” icon. Paste in your link.
2. If the image is online, Rt-click on it & choose “Copy image location”
Type pasteyourimagelinkhere then type so it looks like this with no spaces:
http-etc.jpg
3. Or, just copy the link to the image in the text as in http-etc.jpg

4. This will put the pic at the end of the post.
In the post, goto “Go Advanced” at the replies area.
At the bottom you’ll see “Attach Files”. Click on “Manage Attachments”, and navigate (Browse) to where the pic is on your hard drive. Find it & click “Upload”, & you’re done. Remember, you get only 2 pics this way, max size 100KB each.

Then to put a link to your post in my links post, or in a sticky links post, just type the title for the link, format the text (Verdana 3, blue), highlite it, & click on the little blue world “insert link” icon, & paste in the link from your original post on the “Threads in Forum: Lighting” page. Add a brief description & you’re done. ;)

Pertty intuitive, isn't it! :D;):D

AHHHH!

How about I email YOU a picture and YOU post it?

[PhotosGuy]

:D:D:D Not that steep a learning curve! ;) Give it a try.

[mbze430]

Have you try shooting through the umbrella instead of bouncing on it?

[PhotosGuy]

shooting through That works well, too. Probably better if it's reflecting in something (like an eye.)

[hopkins]

how do I make my pictures smaller so they are less than 100KB each?

[robertwgross]

how do I make my pictures smaller so they are less than 100KB each?

Either:
1. Reduce the number of pixels
--or--
2. Increase the compression of the JPEG (decrease the quality level).

---Bob Gross---