2nd attempt with my new lights

One of the pics from todays test, its only my second time with studio lights. I have more to post but they need to go in the glamour section and I havent got access yet.

Anyway let me know what you think.

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It is lit well as to brightness. But it would have beem more flattering for her if you had lit her using a short light pattern instead of broad lighting. Judging by two catch lights above each other in her eyes, it looks like your form fill light is in line with your key light. Try moving the key light at a 45º angle instead. When all done ... is is usually best to take out all but one catch light in each eye. You are on the right track. Once you get lighting down, color balance will get easier then.

There are secret ways to get into the Glamor section, but I'm no mod so I can't help you there.

I like the lighting except for her lips. The catchlight there is very bright. I have the same issue with my shots a lot so I just tame them down in PP. I used to be hung up on the two catchlight thing too, but lots of magazines like Maxim and FHM print photos with two catchlights all the time so I got over it

Thanks for the comments, I agree with the comments on the lights, I have another one which i will post later where the lighting is different, this light setup worked best for the full body shots, hoepfully i will be able to post them soon so that I can get feedback on them.
I dont have to much of a problem with 2 catch lights but would have prefered one, but my softbox's arent big enough for what i needed (altough there are for this shot just forgot to change the lighting)

Im finding that my lights are v bright in my small garage area which gives the strong highlights, Im looking into extra ways to diffuse them which will hopefully help.

thanks again.

Carl

Very nice except for one thing. It's a little akward how the background is so lit, but the midtones in her hair go dark so quick, it just seems like she should be against a darker backround..

Rumrunner, thanks for the comments, your right about the background, here is one of the other pics where i changed the lights for a head shot although the catch lights were in the wrong place.

again any comments are welcome.

Carl

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Now you have it. You used short lighting and got a very nice image.

Flory - would you be willing to elaborate on the short vs broad lighting setup/perspective for an amateur interested in learning?

Much appreciated!

If a face is turned to their right (our left as we view it) and you light it from the side with more face showing ... that is broad lighting. If lit from the side with less face showing ... that's short lighting. Both have value. If someone has a slim face, then broad lighting can be good. If someone has a average to a more full face, then short lighting is better.

The thing to remember is that a person is 3 dimensional and printing paper is 2 dimensional. So you need good quality shadows to convey a 3 dimensionality to the face. To achieve that you should have a main light source at about a 45º angle or more. If using lights, your fill light should only illuminate the subject with a flat lighting. Your main (or key) light is what gives direction and contrast.

One way to learn is to use one light and a reflector. You can easily make a reflector from white foam-core or even shiny exterior home insulation. They can be used indoors or outdoors to fill in light where needed. Once you get pretty good like that you can try using a 2nd light as the fill instead. It takes practice along with patience.

D. Craig Flory wrote in post #2240966
It is lit well as to brightness. But it would have beem more flattering for her if you had lit her using a short light pattern instead of broad lighting. Judging by two catch lights above each other in her eyes, it looks like your form fill light is in line with your key light. Try moving the key light at a 45º angle instead. When all done ... is is usually best to take out all but one catch light in each eye. You are on the right track. Once you get lighting down, color balance will get easier then.

ditto

Thanks Flory - very well-explained. I appreciate it!

cdmonkey wrote in post #2240894
One of the pics from todays test, its only my second time with studio lights. I have more to post but they need to go in the glamour section and I havent got access yet.

Anyway let me know what you think.

The picture is far too red - adjust your levels.