How would you light this.

I got portrait shoot coming up today and was wondering if this is a good location for portraits (enough sky or not enough shade I will do it around 5 and 6pm. Sunset will be at 6:41 and how you would light it. I have 2 speedlights a small softbox, medium softbox and a reflector. Not getting paid just want to build my portfolio up.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …30245430@N04/10​559459086/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …30245430@N04/10​559457906/

like the road.

dislike the weird edge of the field, at least from that perspective.

I would work a few different set ups and see what you like the best.

You dont really light that scene, you light the subject. You pretty much expose for how you want to the ambient to look and then light the subject to fit within that.

So it shouldn't matter what the light look like just exposure the scene first than add the flash. I just didn't want the sky to be too dark.

OneDeep wrote in post #16409010
So it shouldn't matter what the light look like just exposure the scene first than add the flash. I just didn't want the sky to be too dark.

Unless you have a movie company lighting setup you cant light a whole outdoor scene. It takes a zillion lights to light the whole scene. If you dont want the sky too dark, then use a longer shutter speed so that it isnt so dark, its not like you can light the sky anyway.

Maybe this will help?

http://strobist.blogsp​ot.ca …gnment-margo-seibert.html

I would avoid the sky altogether. Place the subject on the road to get the leading lines. Use the large softbox as your key, above and to the side of the subject's head, relative to their nose. When the moves his/her head to a particular side, move the key light as well to maintain the angle. Maybe use a second light as a separation light.

How are you triggering you flash/strobe?

If this is a portfolio shoot use both locations, use as many different lighting schemes as you can create in the time available. Remember that you have two options for main light; sky and speedlite. Use one with the other for fill.

Experiment. Your investing your time, so use it to get as many variations as possible and then evaluate them in post processing.

So I did a test shot yesterday the ones without the flash looked better than the one with the flash. It got dark really fast so I lost day light also I didn't realize that once it got darker and I used my flash as the main light that the other side of the face and ear was dark. I should of used my other flash, it's a lot to remember. But I'm going to try again the weekend. Trail and error. I don't know if location might be to dark even during the day.

Should I post the results here or in the critique thread?

OneDeep wrote in post #16410510
Should I post the results here or in the critique thread?

here.

let us know if you used any modifiers too.

If you post them here, you will certainly get constructive suggestions.

Definitely post them and let us know where they are. I am interested in seeing what you came up with. If you would also give us a rough idea of what the light setup was for each, folks could help you with making any necessary changes to improve the light impact.

Heres what I got yesterday just a test photo shoot with these little dudes. I used the grassy area from the OP and ran out of daylight.

I was still testing out my flash in this one it was still light outside
50mm ISO 800 f/4.0 1/160sec

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …30245430@N04/10​576534705/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …30245430@N04/10​576983453/

OneDeep wrote in post #16410984
Heres what I got yesterday just a test photo shoot with these little dudes. I used the grassy area from the OP and ran out of daylight.

I was still testing out my flash in this one it was still light outside
50mm ISO 800 f/4.0 1/160sec

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …30245430@N04/10​576534705/
IMG_1030 by One_Deep, on Flickr

This one got dark really fast it was less than an hour from the first picture so had to use my flash camera right at like 45 degree from him. Used a 28" softbox. Notice how dark the other side of his face is. Should I put the flash right in front of him or add another flash to the other side?
40mm lens ISO 400 f/2.8 1/200sec

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …30245430@N04/10​576983453/
IMG_1159 by One_Deep, on Flickr

It felt like I had to get in his face to full the frame up with the 40mm lens. My focusing was terrible. Need to work on that also had it on AI SERVO should I switch to One Shot focus if the subject basically sitting still? I also need to work on my framing because most of the pictures had too much background and not enough the subject.

With a 40mm lens you could have lowered your shutter speed to 1/60 of a second and lightened the backround and also the depth of the shadow areas without changing anything else. Without varying the aperture and flashpower you can change the background by adjusting the shutter speed.

You can also use a reflector.