Cool Idea

Poorly executed...

I just thought I'd put this up, and maybe someone can do something similar, but better.

is it a montage with one pic for the entire group and you changed the BG?

Everything is a single capture. Used a four stop ND filter to bring the BG exposure down to around -2 stops, and used the flash to properly expose the subjects.

Its fun! realy looks like a montage. I assume this is the effect you wanted?

Yes, the general effect is there. Better smiles, less wind, different line up, and a more balanced exposure from front to rear are what I need to get. Note the skin tone differences in the right arms.

jfrancho wrote in post #4182776
Yes, the general effect is there. Better smiles, less wind, different line up, and a more balanced exposure from front to rear are what I need to get. Note the skin tone differences in the right arms.

not only the skin tones but also the light spots on the faces are different.

Yep. I'm thinking a large horizontal softbox would do the trick. I don't have that mobile capability, yet.

I like it - and we may have an opportunity to try it this week with a couple of families. I think what you need to do is get your flash more centered on the group from the left side. You're dealing with normal light fall off if the flash is at the camera.

BTW - haven't seen you around here in a while. Glad to see you posting again.

jfrancho wrote in post #4182825
Yep. I'm thinking a large horizontal softbox would do the trick. I don't have that mobile capability, yet.

exactly what I thought. I remember some month ago a post showing an outdoor shooting session with a huge softbox and a model taken at very wide angle (kind of 14mm). The sky was dramatic and the model perfectly lit. I have searched this post but could not find it. The model was in a blue dress, lying on a white fountain. BG was a dark blue sky with dramatic clouds.

maybe shortest person first? last person seems to be trying to inch over that guys shoulder. but i think the lighting looks great on their faces

Lucky guy in the middle. PP the reflection in the glasses. Neater if all the arms were bent the same way, but it is still a fun capture.

I agree, cool idea

I would have probably put the guy in the back, since he has the lightest skin, then the blond girl who's in front tight now (I could swear I've seen her before, and not in a photo), and so on with the darkest skinned girl in the front. Maybe that would take care of the light fall-off.

And definitely put the arms in the same positions.

Cool idea

LOL lot of ideas on how to make it different.
I think its a cool idea, I think they all need to step a step to the cameras left or at least half a step so noone is blocking someone else's head, if you know what i mean. Beware of flying hair too, have the girls with long hair brush it to the opposite side so when the wind blows it will at least blow away from the faces and not into them.
If you try it again I'd love to see it...