1st try at portrait lighting

Spiderfitz · 27th of November 2007 (Tue)

Ok, so never had a go at proper portraits before, don't really have a clue about lighting either. So with that kind of expertise I took this with 1 light and 1 reflector. I dont think I could have done a worse job if I had just closed my eyes and guessed!!!
Can anyone give me some hints or better still help me make this look any better?

mysouthernwings · 27th of November 2007 (Tue)

Looks fine to me! Has a nice dramatic feel to it. Not a bad job IMO.

chickymcnuffin · 27th of November 2007 (Tue)

I don't like the harsh shadow... Maybe the light was just a little to bright? Where was the reflector?

Spiderfitz · 27th of November 2007 (Tue)

I completely agree, the shadow was so disappointing!
Here is another one from that fateful night. At least I know it can only get better! Can't it

flumpki · 27th of November 2007 (Tue)

It looked a little red to me. I did a mild crop and did a color adjustment. I also did a B&W version just to see if it looked any better like that. Overall, though, I think the composition was good, just the lighting didn't really work. Maybe a fill on the left so the left side of her face isn't hidden in the shadows.

elader · 27th of November 2007 (Tue)

Where is her other eye? You need that reflector on the other side of her face and some major softening of the primary light. Is that a strobe or a lamp?

Spiderfitz · 27th of November 2007 (Tue)

Quote:

Originally Posted by elader

Where is her other eye? You need that reflector on the other side of her face and some major softening of the primary light. Is that a strobe or a lamp?

Its a simple Halogen lamp, unfortunately I am not in the same league as thos of you with proper lighting kits etc.
I really appreciate you helpful comments so far, though. Thanks.

elader · 27th of November 2007 (Tue)

Try bouncing the lamp off a white wall of a piece of foam core. Also, try to get the white balance right. she is all sorts of interesting colors. Shoot it in raw so you can tweak the color temp more easily.

I shoot with a canon flash into a silver umbrella - I got the umbrella and stand on ebay from china.

27th of November 2007 (Tue)	#2
mysouthernwings Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lake Wales, fl Posts: 188	Re: 1st try at portrait lighting Looks fine to me! Has a nice dramatic feel to it. Not a bad job IMO. __________________ 40D, Canon 18-200 IS, Sigma 28-70 f2.8/4 DG, Tamron 75-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Macro, 50MM 1.8II, Digital Rebel XT, Kit lens

27th of November 2007 (Tue)	#3
chickymcnuffin Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 301 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 1st try at portrait lighting I don't like the harsh shadow... Maybe the light was just a little to bright? Where was the reflector? __________________ <>< Amanda ><>

27th of November 2007 (Tue)	#5
flumpki Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 168 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 1st try at portrait lighting It looked a little red to me. I did a mild crop and did a color adjustment. I also did a B&W version just to see if it looked any better like that. Overall, though, I think the composition was good, just the lighting didn't really work. Maybe a fill on the left so the left side of her face isn't hidden in the shadows. __________________ F. Lumpkin

27th of November 2007 (Tue)	#6
elader Goldmember Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,374 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 1st try at portrait lighting Where is her other eye? You need that reflector on the other side of her face and some major softening of the primary light. Is that a strobe or a lamp? __________________ Eric FJR1300 rider 5D mkIII and 1D MkIII 16-35L \| 24-105L \| 70-200L f/2.8IS \| 85 f/1.8 / 50 f.1,4

27th of November 2007 (Tue)	#8
elader Goldmember Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,374 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 1st try at portrait lighting Try bouncing the lamp off a white wall of a piece of foam core. Also, try to get the white balance right. she is all sorts of interesting colors. Shoot it in raw so you can tweak the color temp more easily. I shoot with a canon flash into a silver umbrella - I got the umbrella and stand on ebay from china. __________________ Eric FJR1300 rider 5D mkIII and 1D MkIII 16-35L \| 24-105L \| 70-200L f/2.8IS \| 85 f/1.8 / 50 f.1,4

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