Using a single strobe - creative examples - post yours

A couple more from the same shoot, just for fun. Same thing, single Vivitar 285 in the PhotoflexQ39 Medium

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tenoverthenose wrote in post #9900647
BTW- This exchange between Robert and Pham reminds me so much of my wife and I talking about my work.

Me- Look at how cool this photo I just took is!
Her- Um... you know you just made her look horrible, and I've seen her and know she looks great.
Me- sigh....

Hyperbole added, but this is an important and tough area of posing that I am constantly learning.

And I thought it was only like this here at my house. The blank look at something I thought I actually did a good job on... I don't even bother showing her anymore.

gembobs wrote in post #9899158
Thanks for the advice. I don't have a flash meter, just trying to learn by trial and error at the moment!

Had another look at the image from last night, and agree it is under exposed badly - it didn't look that dark last night, but it was late! I have played around with the histogram a little, and processed in the same way as before.

Is this looking any better?

There you go! Good job!

^I agree! Much better! Good job with avoiding glare on the glasses, too!

Lightworks Imaging wrote in post #9900666
A couple more from the same shoot, just for fun. Same thing, single Vivitar 285 in the PhotoflexQ39 Medium

1)

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I love the #1. #2 isn't very flattering for legs

exodusfman800 wrote in post #9900868
I love the #1. #2 isn't very flattering for legs

And now that I look at it, I cut off her feet due to the angle... I suspect that I should use a much longer focal length if I'm going to try that angle.

Lightworks Imaging wrote in post #9901136
And now that I look at it, I cut off her feet due to the angle... I suspect that I should use a much longer focal length if I'm going to try that angle.

It might lessen the thunder thigh effect, but its still not going to be flattering.

really tough to shoot from so far under your subject and make it look good.

Yeah, I see that now. Just another thing to remember... Shutter speed (check). Aperture (check). ISO (check). Strobe power (check). The list grows. Grrr... Isn't everyone with a digital camera a photographer? Why is it so damn hard for me to make a good image!

Boy now that I look at that shot, I need to add a ladder to the kit. I like it, but not the pronounced over emphasis on the thigh. She's skinny as a rail, and I made her look pretty awful.

Lightworks Imaging wrote in post #9901406
Boy now that I look at that shot, I need to add a ladder to the kit. I like it, but not the pronounced over emphasis on the thigh. She's skinny as a rail, and I made her look pretty awful.

One of the problems with portraiture is that many of the things that create drama in a photo, also are unflattering (low angles, high angles, ultra wide angle lens, regular wide if used too closely). Its a delicate balance between creating that energy, and still making your model look good.

Lightworks Imaging wrote in post #9901406
Boy now that I look at that shot, I need to add a ladder to the kit. I like it, but not the pronounced over emphasis on the thigh. She's skinny as a rail, and I made her look pretty awful.

it's always something right Eric.... now pack a nice light aluminum ladder in your kit too; one that entends about 6 feet in the air, has a flat area to rest a laptop, beverage, or makeup kit

helloagain36 wrote in post #9896808
Hey all, this is my first time posting in this thread, I'm still learning with this off camera flash stuff. Here's a few shots from this weekend.

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Did you photoshop out the reflection in her eyes in #2?

^ nice shots! Light looks good, but my experience is that with those "out of the corner of the eye" looks there's far too much white of the eye showing. This is magnified with darker skinned models...

dufrenbk wrote in post #9901655
Did you photoshop out the reflection in her eyes in #2?

In the second image you can see the direction that the light is coming from and with the light coming from camera right and the model having her eyes turned fully to her right, the catch light would fall on the white of the eye and typically you won't see a catch light against the white part of the eye. If she turned her head and/or eyes then the catch light would fall on the pupil or iris.