Sunset E Shoot: London

[sunnydacat]

A recent E Shoot I did around the City of London just before sunset.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/SunnyKalsi/rimam/SKP_AR_8_2375.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/SunnyKalsi/rimam/SKP_AR_8_2393.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/SunnyKalsi/rimam/SKP_AR_8_2404.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/SunnyKalsi/rimam/SKP_AR_8_2405.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/SunnyKalsi/rimam/SKP_AR_8_2428.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/SunnyKalsi/rimam/SKP_AR_8_2451.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/SunnyKalsi/rimam/SKP_AR_8_2457.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/SunnyKalsi/rimam/SKP_AR_9_2500.jpg

More over on the blog: http://www.sunnykalsi.com/blog/?p=97

[bobbyz]

I like #4.

[joruiz]

I like no. 6, very spontaneous, candid.

No.3.. they seem very underexposed, but of course the flash was competing against the sun. What did you use for lighting?

[AlexMoPhotography]

#1 good angle, but the shadows in her eyes aren't appealing.

#2 looks nice but his head is a bit lost in the clouds (no figure of speech intended).

#3 doesn't do it for me, sorry.

4,5,6 and 7 are great, but could be brighter. 5 and 7 are my favorites.

The framing in #8 doesn't do it for me. Their heads are a bit too high up in the photo, and the light on the bottom left is distracting.

Good work, nonetheless!

[Ichiban]

#4 for me.

[whodenie]

Are you gelling you flash to color match?

[sunnydacat]

I like #4.

Thanks Bobby!

[sunnydacat]

Are you gelling you flash to color match?


I didn't use Gel to colour match the flash. It's something I hadn't considered but I will look in to it.

[sunnydacat]

#1 good angle, but the shadows in her eyes aren't appealing.

#2 looks nice but his head is a bit lost in the clouds (no figure of speech intended).

#3 doesn't do it for me, sorry.

4,5,6 and 7 are great, but could be brighter. 5 and 7 are my favorites.

The framing in #8 doesn't do it for me. Their heads are a bit too high up in the photo, and the light on the bottom left is distracting.

Good work, nonetheless!

Thanks for feedback Alex - I'll re - work the post production and re-present on my blog: I'll update the thread at that time.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply, it much appreciated and a of great use as a learning tool!

[TheHoff]

It is almost like two different photographers put this set together. A few of your natural light shots are good (4, 5, 6) and they make the flash shots, by comparison, look like snapshots. I think your flash is off-camera in the last one but it is so off-colour from the background (needs to be gelled) that it sticks out like a sore thumb.

In #3 I think the flash is on-camera and it literally looks like a 'set-up' shot for #4... "here is what we were doing while we were getting ready to make this next image" -- it isn't something I'd include in the final picks. The posing is awkward and the flash needs to be off camera and preferably with a modifier unless you need the hard-edged look.

All of the black-and-white conversions, but especially #7, are too 'thick' -- heavy on the contrast and no detail in the dark/shadow tones. You should find a different action or method of conversion, for sure.

#5 I would've re-shot a few times until getting just them w/ a pigeon or two. The lady's back kills it.

I don't mean to sound harsh I just like to offer critiques where I see improvement possible. Overall you should be pleased with your work and you have some things to think about next time.

[qtranva]

I think sunset is a difficult time to shoot. I have not dared to photograph in this tricky lighting situation. I think some of these shots are nice. I particularly like #4 because of the light. Did you use flash for this one since you shot it backlit by the sun?

[sunnydacat]

It is almost like two different photographers put this set together. A few of your natural light shots are good (4, 5, 6) and they make the flash shots, by comparison, look like snapshots. I think your flash is off-camera in the last one but it is so off-colour from the background (needs to be gelled) that it sticks out like a sore thumb.

In #3 I think the flash is on-camera and it literally looks like a 'set-up' shot for #4... "here is what we were doing while we were getting ready to make this next image" -- it isn't something I'd include in the final picks. The posing is awkward and the flash needs to be off camera and preferably with a modifier unless you need the hard-edged look.

All of the black-and-white conversions, but especially #7, are too 'thick' -- heavy on the contrast and no detail in the dark/shadow tones. You should find a different action or method of conversion, for sure.

#5 I would've re-shot a few times until getting just them w/ a pigeon or two. The lady's back kills it.

I don't mean to sound harsh I just like to offer critiques where I see improvement possible. Overall you should be pleased with your work and you have some things to think about next time.


Flash is an area I'm seeking to improve: balancing flash with ambient light is quite tricky and it's something I need to work on.

BW - back to the drawing board!

Thank you for your feedback, points are valid and I'll incorporate in to my next shoot.

[sunnydacat]

I think sunset is a difficult time to shoot. I have not dared to photograph in this tricky lighting situation. I think some of these shots are nice. I particularly like #4 because of the light. Did you use flash for this one since you shot it backlit by the sun?

This was straight out of the camera without flash, as it was quite a bright day.

I prefer shooting at sunset/sunrise as you get more character in the images, flat light is harder to make interesting.

[k-style]

This was straight out of the camera without flash, as it was quite a bright day.

I prefer shooting at sunset/sunrise as you get more character in the images, flat light is harder to make interesting.


id recommend you invest on a mini softbox to soften that light, it almost looks as if you used a bare flash dead on the subjects....not very flattering due to the shadows it creates.

[sunnydacat]

I normally use a Gary Fong diffuser.....

[k-style]

I normally use a Gary Fong diffuser.....

on an off camera flash set-up?....

you should definately invest in maybe shoot-thru umbrella or like i said a mini softbox, you will love the results.:)