Studio Work

I posted these in the G&N forum, but had very little feedback from over 1500 views. So i thought i would post a few here for some critique. A very modest girl, but great in front of the camera once she relaxed a little.

Rob

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And some processed ones...

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Llighting is everything!
Looking at the color shots only --

Left hand image:
Note that the lighting is very harsh (contrasty) as evidenced by the deep, black shadows on her left cheek and left nose.

Right hand image:
Note that the lighting does not appear as harsh, but now the lighting is too flat (on-axis), thus flattening her features. The highlights in this face are a little too hot and shiny. Note also that the fill light is markedly stronger on the hands and arms. This is a perfect illustration of the effect of distance on a non-diffuse light source. The brightness falls off as the square of distance. In this case, even thought the hands and arms are not very far in front of her, they are far enough that they are getting double the illumination.

The lighting can be improved in such scenes by using the modeling light above and to one side while the fill light, on axis, is of just enough strength to control the shadows and prevent them from being too deep. The shadows will best define the facial contours and structure when they fall diagonally across the face and are just dark enough to model the contours and show the 3-dimensionality (depth).

All of the problems relative to harshness and highlights being too hot could be alleviated by putting some more distance betweent the subject and the lights and camera. Longer lens, lights further away and re-positioned, combined with use of diffusion will cure all of the problems.

You have a good model who has some good poses, and all of the problems are easily resolved.

These are already very good shots but can be improved upon!

Good work!

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the advice.

Both strobes were diffused (main with a big softbox, fill with an umbrella), but i think i got my ratios out of wack somehow.

My studio space is quite limited, so unfortunately i can't really get much more distance than what is already there. Outside i only use my 70-200 for stuff like this, so i would really like to get a bigger studio, but wouldn't we all.

Thanks again,

Rob