Please critic my initial studio setup from this shot

bought a 1.3m to 5m i think it was of a roll of seamless grey paper yesterday from calumet and here are the results:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/josh1408/113316​13026/

You got blue light spill on the face. I did a quick google search and saw mostly half body gel background shots which is probably easier to have the background light behind the subject to even both sides out. I'll try that first, full body just look like it would be harder to do. I do like the light from the main light the legs are underexposed. Is that light blue shape on the background the reflection of the umbrella it looks weird to me? Somebody else probably could give you more help but if it was me I'll try half body first.

Cool ok thanks

Gelling white is a challenge, as you can see the gel only shows in the shadow area cast by the subject onto the drop. I'm not sure by looking at the shot what sort of lighting you were wanting to achieve, the key light seems to be aimed at his back with his face falling into shadow.

what do u mean gelling white?

the backdrop is grey and heard its best if you want to change background colour using gels.

i was using a flash with a flash bender shaped as a snoot with a blue gel attached

jonneymendoza wrote in post #16521775
what do u mean gelling white?

the backdrop is grey and heard its best if you want to change background colour using gels.

i was using a flash with a flash bender shaped as a snoot with a blue gel attached

Sorry the left side of the drop looks white. Even though now that you mention it I can see that its gray its still a light gray which will be harder to hold color on that a darker gray or black. If you want your drop to take color from a gelled flash you need to move your subject and the key light farther from the drop so that your lighting on the subject doesnt wash out and overpower the gelled flash. Look at the left side of the frame, the key light has made the gray drop nearly white, which means its wiping out any color contribution from the gelled flash. Move your subject farther from the drop.

Can you show us a shot of what you were trying to achieve?

I really have no idea what I should look at. As you can't see his eyes there is no connection there. Even though his face is where the contrasts are my eye is drawn in the direction he is looking, which is straight out the side.

I am also drawn to his right shoulder, which is lit, but is not really doing anything. Then down to his groin which is where is hands are focused.

Here is another shot taken from same session but the 2nd flash ran out of batteries!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/josh1408/113315​91576/

Lots of differences. Your flash is too low, look on the shot you want to emulate, the shadow falls behind the subject onto the drop, in yours it goes up like the shadows in an old monster movie. The sample you are trying to achieve is very soft light. Unless you are using very large modifiers and strobes you probably arent going to get that same effect.

gonzogolf wrote in post #16524157
Lots of differences. Your flash is too low, look on the shot you want to emulate, the shadow falls behind the subject onto the drop, in yours it goes up like the shadows in an old monster movie. The sample you are trying to achieve is very soft light. Unless you are using very large modifiers and strobes you probably arent going to get that same effect.

If i increase the flash power it will overexpose the right side of the subject.


Maybe i should do a 3 light setup. two 45degree main key lights left and right, and the backrgound blue light at the back.

Just bought a 60inch unbrella and see how that fairs.

jonneymendoza wrote in post #16524173
If i increase the flash power it will overexpose the right side of the subject.


Maybe i should do a 3 light setup. two 45degree main key lights left and right, and the backrgound blue light at the back.

Just bought a 60inch unbrella and see how that fairs.

No, you want your fill on the axis of the camera. Key left or right, fill at the camera (above perhaps) and then a background light. Skip the blue until you can show you can control the lights without the gel.

Cool thanks mate will give that a go tonight on some selfies

You probably will need 2 background lights.
The best guide around
http://www.zarias.com …torial-part-1-gear-space/

nice article

OK, good to see what you are trying to achieve.

I think you may be hoping for too much to think you'll get something like that with what you have.

That whole shot has soft fill. In order to achieve that you need BIG modifiers and enough light to fill them.

Here is what a friend of mine uses:

http://instagram.com/p​/OPqXBWHvBE/

In case you don't get a perspective of what commercial photographers have in their studios, have a look at this:

https://www.facebook.c​om …et/?set=a.17824​5568917032

So, now for what you can do;

There is too much contrast in your pic. Move the umbrella back behind you to camera left or right until it fills the whole frame evenly.

Then add lights to create subtle contrast, e.g. rim lights (strip boxes), hair lights (snoots/strips/barn doors).

You can also add a low powered hard key from the same angle as your soft fill (i.e. a bare speedlight at 1/64 in front of your umbrella at 1/1).