580/430/430 Portrait, C&C please

[Stuart Leslie]

Decided I really needed another flash for popping out the hair since my favorite models (wife and daughter) have dark brown hair. So my setup for this shot is 580 key with extended shoe connector shooting through umbrella, 430 shooting through umbrella for fill, and a 430 with a snoot from behind to bounce off the hair. No pp on this (because I really don't know how!) as I am trying to learn lighting setup at this time. I am pretty happy with the result- for me- but am sure there is much to learn so would appreciate any suggestions.

Also, I like the way the three flashes can be easily controlled from the LCD on the camera back (40D- everything in manual). It has been helpful for experimentation to not have to adjust each individually on the stands.

[DD974]

Welcome to the forum! I think you did a fine job on this photo....I started the same way with my Speedlites then moved up to AlienBees. The only thing I might try differently next time would be to raise the light w/snoot to be more of a hair lite.

[Thomas Hopkins]

I like the lighting but the eyes are a bit soft

[Stuart Leslie]

Originally Posted by dcyphert

Welcome to the forum! I think you did a fine job on this photo....I started the same way with my Speedlites then moved up to AlienBees. The only thing I might try differently next time would be to raise the light w/snoot to be more of a hair lite.

Thanks! Should the hair light come more from the top and define less of the sides? I started higher, but found that from the side separated more of her hair from the backdrop. Maybe I need to widen up the snoot more to get more hair?

[Stuart Leslie]

Originally Posted by Thomas Hopkins

I like the lighting but the eyes are a bit soft

Yeah, I shot this at f/5 and still misfocused the eyes a bit I guess. Should I shoot at a narrower aperature you think?

[elader]

how do you get a snoot on a 430EX?

[Stuart Leslie]

Originally Posted by elader

how do you get a snoot on a 430EX?

My snoot is just a thin sheet of black neoprene (foamy rubber- think wet-suite) rolled into a tube and taped at the seam. Just slides over the 430 and stays snug due to the stretch of the neoprene.

[Thomas Hopkins]

Hmm, exif shows 90 mm so I assume it was your 70-200. I have that lens, f5 should be enough for the eyes and really the whole face. I think you just missed it a little. If you still have the pic on the card, throw it back into the 40d or use DPP to see which focus point you used unless you re-composed...

[Stuart Leslie]

Originally Posted by Thomas Hopkins

Hmm, exif shows 90 mm so I assume it was your 70-200. I have that lens, f5 should be enough for the eyes and really the whole face. I think you just missed it a little. If you still have the pic on the card, throw it back into the 40d or use DPP to see which focus point you used unless you re-composed...

Thanks, yes it was the 70-200. I will take a look at the original and see what it indicates. I had turned the room lights pretty low to avoid mixing light colors and remember it was taking longer to lock in the focus. Maybe this contributed as well- or maybe I just forgot to lock on the eyes!

... just checked the image and focus was locked on the near corner of her nearest eye. I know the 70-200 is a bit soft at the wide end so usually try to use more zoom, maybe this was the problem?

[Thomas Hopkins]

I don't know. You know her lips and other parts of her face look pretty sharp, maybe just try some selective sharpening of the eyes. If you have the room you could definitely try backing up and using it at a longer focal length but I would think it should still be sharper. Maybe try one with the ambient lights brighter to get a good focus lock to compare or use a flash light to focus.

[Rascalphoto]

This lighting set-up is greatly improved over you last post, well done.

[Nightowl64]

i like the lighting very much . the eyes could use some sharpening.

[Stuart Leslie]

Originally Posted by Nightowl64

i like the lighting very much . the eyes could use some sharpening.

Thanks Nightowl64! As I have zoomed around the image I have come to that realization. The focus while not as crisp as some I have shot seems to still be on. Sharpening the eyes really helped.

Originally Posted by Rascalphoto

This lighting set-up is greatly improved over you last post, well done.

Thanks Rascalphoto, hopefully I will continue to learn here!

Originally Posted by Thomas Hopkins

I don't know. You know her lips and other parts of her face look pretty sharp, maybe just try some selective sharpening of the eyes. If you have the room you could definitely try backing up and using it at a longer focal length but I would think it should still be sharper. Maybe try one with the ambient lights brighter to get a good focus lock to compare or use a flash light to focus.

I think the selective sharpening is the ticket. Back when I shot it and thought that sharpening was an "all or nothing" deal, my wife insisted that I not sharpen the image, she did not like what it did to her wrinkles! I have since found some great tutorials on softening skin/sharpening eyes and she has been much happier with the result now!

Thanks everyone for the help.