Eid Get-together

I recently (four days back) got a background kit with a white roll of paper (http://morco.uk.com/la​test/interfitback.htm and http://morco.uk.com/la​test/coloramabackgroun​d.htm respectively) and had a chance to use it with a family get-together for Eid (end of month of Ramadhan/fasting).

I used the 24-70L, one 580EX (with the Lightsphere photojournalist and the flash's own diffuser inplace, without a bracket) and the 10D. I set up the background kit and rolled the bottom end directly onto the floor, extending maybe 75cm-1meter beyond the level of the drop. In hindsight I wish I had the weight to hold the back tight (no matter how much masking tape I used it game off with any amount of pressure - http://morco.uk.com/la​test/coloramaedge.htm). I didn't light up the background at all - in fact, any lights hitting the background I turned away - I thought it may screw up the shot.

The results I got have a pinkish tinge to them like:
http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444277-L.jpg;

but after editing with PS-CS (auto levels only) I got this back:

http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444284-L.jpg.

You can see some 'vignetting' around the sides with the darker areas which basically happened due to lack of 'tightness' of the backdrop (I think).

These are some of the other results I got, post-auto-levels:

1.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444259-L.jpg;
2.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444271-L.jpg;
3.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444294-L.jpg;
4.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444318-L.jpg;
5.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444328-L.jpg;
6.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444337-L.jpg;
7.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444348-L.jpg;
8.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444357-L.jpg;
9.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444366-L.jpg;
10.http://saqib.smugmug.c​om/photos/43444377-L.jpg.

(I know with the auto-levelling the colors seem a little washed out - any advice?)

I personally found that the further the kids were from the backdrop, the better it looked - 1 and 2 from the list are an example of this (but you can correct me if you think/know I am wrong).

What would you guys recommend me changing/adding? This was my first session so please be kind! (OR you can give me a good swift kick up the backside and tell me to keep my day-job and not even entertain the idea of starting a studio!)

Thanks,
Saqib.

Saqib as you picked up already, some distance from the background is much better and the samples you pointed out demonstrate this well. There is still a noticeable colour cast on the shots, which seems towards the cyan end. I'm no expert in studio lighting but when I shoot outdoors I always use RAW capture and adjust the colour temp when converting. Your poses and composition are good and the children look very natural, good job.
Roger.

My suggestions to you are this. In your first unaltered image, I can see a few things.

1: Your color balance is off. Buy a grey card for reference and shoot a picture with the gray card in it and set a custom white balance in the camera for your shooting situation. Or it can be used in Post production for a reference point.

2: You are underexposed. With the speedlight with the lightsphere AND diffuser in place, I would compensate by a couple stops. Also, these shots with the white paper backgrounds look PERFECT when you blow the background out. That would also get rid of the wrinkles you didn't like. To do this you need even lighting on both sides of the background and you'd want a reading at least a couple stops lower than your subject lighting. (i.e. if you're going to shoot them at f/8... the lighting on the background should be at f/11. This way when you snap the shot, the subjects would be properly exposed, but the background would be overexposed making it blow out and virtually disappear.

3: I would have chosen tighter crops.

A point - I got into photography maybe 3 years ago - first with the P&S, then about 2 years ago went dSLR, but only recently really started using it properly (well, maybe not as properly as some people use it - if I did, these shots would be a lot better). Everything I have learned about photography has been from books and here. And until 2 months ago, I hated flash - because I hadn't even heard of diffusers and the like, but now I have the LS2, LSPJ and Omnibounce (never used). And on top of all that, I haven't even begun to figure out CS properly yet. I figure a good picture is the first thing to master - you can't make a bad photo look good no matter how much editing you do. With that in mind...

Roger - Thanks for the compliments . These are all RAW converts, but I dunno how to use the color temp alterations.

Fork - thanks for the info/advice . So you would suggest getting another couple of speedlites for the background?

The reason I used the diffuser was because the flash was pointing straight up, and I thought that in order to get more light to hit the LSPJ the diffuser would help - I guess not eh? I actually have a grey card as part of the book 'National Geographic Field Guide' covers - I will get somebody (maybe not a kid!) to hold it up before I start the shoots next time.

One thing I can't figure out is how to use the flash as it should be - for example, when set to P mode, I get readings of 4.0 and 1/60. But when I set it to Av Mode and choose say 3.2, the camera picks a speed of something like 1/5 or slower - how come? I thought with a bigger aperture the speed would be faster?

As far as the crops go, yes I agree - these are not edited aside from the levels - ideally the pictures would center with the kids and nothing more. I went wide because....well try getting nine freaking kids to sit for even one second - they all jumped around since they just loved the background idea and were kicking up a storm - I was lucky I got ANY shots in focus. (Hence my desire...nay, want...nay, NEED to buy the MKII N).

So my questions (after all that) is advice on:

1) whether I should buy more speedlites like the 580/430/420 (with LS diffusers) which could use the current 580 as the master and the others as the slaves;

2) on the flash setting thing;

3) how to control color temp?

I really really need to go on a course eh?

saqib wrote:
A point - I got into photography maybe 3 years ago - first with the P&S, then about 2 years ago went dSLR, but only recently really started using it properly (well, maybe not as properly as some people use it - if I did, these shots would be a lot better). Everything I have learned about photography has been from books and here. And until 2 months ago, I hated flash - because I hadn't even heard of diffusers and the like, but now I have the LS2, LSPJ and Omnibounce (never used). And on top of all that, I haven't even begun to figure out CS properly yet. I figure a good picture is the first thing to master - you can't make a bad photo look good no matter how much editing you do. With that in mind...

Roger - Thanks for the compliments . These are all RAW converts, but I dunno how to use the color temp alterations.

Fork - thanks for the info/advice . So you would suggest getting another couple of speedlites for the background?

The reason I used the diffuser was because the flash was pointing straight up, and I thought that in order to get more light to hit the LSPJ the diffuser would help - I guess not eh? I actually have a grey card as part of the book 'National Geographic Field Guide' covers - I will get somebody (maybe not a kid!) to hold it up before I start the shoots next time.

One thing I can't figure out is how to use the flash as it should be - for example, when set to P mode, I get readings of 4.0 and 1/60. But when I set it to Av Mode and choose say 3.2, the camera picks a speed of something like 1/5 or slower - how come? I thought with a bigger aperture the speed would be faster?

As far as the crops go, yes I agree - these are not edited aside from the levels - ideally the pictures would center with the kids and nothing more. I went wide because....well try getting nine freaking kids to sit for even one second - they all jumped around since they just loved the background idea and were kicking up a storm - I was lucky I got ANY shots in focus. (Hence my desire...nay, want...nay, NEED to buy the MKII N).

So my questions (after all that) is advice on:

1) whether I should buy more speedlites like the 580/430/420 (with LS diffusers) which could use the current 580 as the master and the others as the slaves;

2) on the flash setting thing;

3) how to control color temp?

I really really need to go on a course eh?

Actually your first shot that you posted was good, and can be helped with post processing if you know what steps to take. The white balance is easy to fix, as is the cropping and exposure. You didn't blow any details on either end of the spectrum so that makes the photo a great candidate for salvage in Photoshop.

I could show you what could be done if you would not mind me posting my edited version.

Instead of getting more speedlites, I think for the studio type shots you want to do, your money would be better spent on this: http://www.alienbees.c​om/digi.html

But that's just me.