Using a single strobe - creative examples - post yours

Group hug round 2?

beano wrote in post #10883932
Critique is just personal opinion, and has nothing to do with how many photo's you post!?! I personally critique on these forums far more than i post photo's.

Cathpah wrote in post #10883965
I've stayed out of this until now....but I gotta say, it's you who looks like the bad guy right now. Sure his critique wasn't positive, but frankly....I find that to be the most helpful. If you want only praise, go post it on your mother's refrigerator. If you're going to post it here....realize that you may get some criticisms. Those are meant to help you improve that image, as well as not make a similar mistake in the future.

You now swiping at his skill-level because he found something that he didn't like in your photos? Lame. Sure, he may not be as experienced/talented as you may hope...but that doesn't mean he can't see a fault in someone elses picture.

If all you're doing is looking for praise, post elsewhere. This is a forum where people can and should be honest. I know I'd vastly prefer criticism/ways to improve than a bunch of ego stroking. One will help me get better at photography, the other will feel like a simulated pat on the back.

If i was looking for praise then I wouldn't of agree with it dumbass.

rohicks wrote in post #10878756
I actually could see that being a problem i'll edit it later tonight.
Thanks.

Nowhere did I say even from his first post about the clock that his "critique" was a pointless observation. "I found it laughable" as you can check my post that someone would point that out and then everyone acted like i "jumped down his throat" insulting him when all i said was "srlsy". Maybe instead of "srlsy" I should of put "that is laughable".

TMR Design wrote in post #10883976
Where is the rule that says you have to love every image that is posted?

Where is the rule that says you have to post images in order to comment or critique others?

Are we now trying to qualify everyone that comments or posts?

Why are comments and nitpicks spun into some horrible insult rather than just seeing them for what they are.... opinion and preference, and yes, useful information to consider.

There are actually some people around here that know a lot more than others and perhaps the naive people are the ones that don't open themselves up to the possibility that they might just learn something.

It's quite hypocritical for some to come here and judge everyone's photo when he has nothing post himself. There are no rules except for what the admins or mods enforce.

@ Matt.. haha..

Ok.. no more fighting !

i agree on the group huge..

rohicks wrote in post #10884010
If i was looking for praise then I wouldn't of agree with it dumbass.

Dumbass? Yeah....one more round of your proving yourself of how much respect you give and deserve.

That was my one and only post on the subject and never was I disrespectful, rude, or combative. I basically told you to calm down.

Back off, grow up, and gain some perspective.

Cathpah wrote in post #10884076
Dumbass? Yeah....one more round of your proving yourself and how much respect you give and deserve.

That was my one and only post on the subject and never was I disrespectful, rude, or combative. I basically told you to calm down.

Back off, grow up, and gain some perspective.

I was trying to be civil until you chimed in with ignorant statements.

Taking your own advice would suffice as well.

rohicks wrote in post #10884088
Taking your own advice would suffice as well.

So far you're the only one that insists on referring to others as an 'annoying little gnat' and then as a dumbass, and you seem to want to qualify people before they can comment on your images. It doesn't work that way. For all you know, a person making a comment that has never posted an image could be a brilliant photographer that had a 40 year career and no longer shoots but enjoys the company of other photographers. Maybe it's someone with an injury that is unable to shoot but has a wealth of information and knowledge.

Learn to take criticism and stop insulting people. There's no reason for it. If you don't like the comment or think the person is full of s*it then take the high road and either leave it alone or perhaps ask for an explanation. You never know. You might just learn something. Understanding and learning good technique doesn't turn you into a technician that can no longer be creative. In most cases it helps in a very positive way.

rohicks wrote in post #10884088
I was trying to be civil until you chimed in with ignorant statements.

Taking your own advice would suffice as well.

What about my statement was ignorant or incorrect? Was it the part where I admitted his critique wasn't positive? That critique should be seen as helfpul? Or that you were swiping at his skill?

Taking my own advice? Show me ONE time that I responded disrespectfully to some critique of my photo. Only time I get bent out of shape/upset is when people act disrespectfully to one another for no good reason. This is a critique forum, meaning critique is welcome....but disrespect and name-calling is not. You have no reason or right to call me a dumbass.


Now, on this cheery note....back to pictures.

Cathpah wrote in post #10884111
Now, on this cheery note....back to pictures.

So, on the instruction end, the tread is one light, so I assume you lit her with one light. She seems very even in her lighting. If I may ask, what kind of light, modifier, and distance did you use to get that?

ckfishel2001 wrote in post #10884149
So, on the instruction end, the tread is one light, so I assume you lit her with one light. She seems very even in her lighting. If I may ask, what kind of light, modifier, and distance did you use to get that?

This one was actually a maxi-lite with a gold deflector (poor-man's gel to compensate for reddening of the sky in sunset) and a grid. There's a chance I had taken the grid off by then, but I just can't be sure. This was all attached to a ranger rx speed as-->lightpole-->assistant....probably about 20-25 feet away, camera left and high.

My assistant was more than crucial on this shoot as the winds were truly insane. Rooftops are always windy, but the even forecast for the day was just "windy." While holding the deep octa earlier, I saw fear in his eyes as it turned into a sail and looked as though it was going to lift him off the ground (and he's 180lbs or so).

You can see from the catch light in the eye and directionality of the shadow on the ground that the light is above and to the left of the subject. It would appear to be a nice large light source that is probably just out of frame, creating very even light.

Jeff can of course correct me

OOPS: Jeff beat me to it.

Cathpah wrote in post #10884175
This one was actually a maxi-lite with a gold deflector (poor-man's gel to compensate for reddening of the sky in sunset) and a grid. There's a chance I had taken the grid off by then, but I just can't be sure. This was all attached to a ranger rx speed as-->lightpole-->assistant....probably about 20-25 feet away, camera left and high.

My assistant was more than crucial on this shoot as the winds were truly insane. Rooftops are always windy, but the even forecast for the day was just "windy." While holding the deep octa earlier, I saw fear in his eyes as it turned into a sail and looked as though it was going to lift him off the ground (and he's 180lbs or so).

Hey Jeff,

I'm not sure if you've noticed this but I've found a real love for gold deflectors and sold or sunfire reflectors when working with women of color and those with dark skin. I really love it and I see you're getting the same beautiful skin tones with your model.

TMR Design wrote in post #10884177
You can see from the catch light in the eye and directionality of the shadow on the ground that the light is above and to the left of the subject. It would appear to be a nice large light source that is probably just out of frame, creating very even light.

Jeff can of course correct me

OOPS: Jeff beat me to it.

I got the left from the shadow, but my shadow reading still needs some perfecting Didn't catch the high part. Think I'm starting to see in the shadow how you'd know that. With the deflector, where'd you get that placed....and who had the joy of holding that in the wind?

TMR Design wrote in post #10884193
Hey Jeff,

I'm not sure if you've noticed this but I've found a real love for gold deflectors and sold or sunfire reflectors when working with women of color and those with dark skin. I really love it and I see you're getting the same beautiful skin tones with your model.

haha....nope, that was not by chance at all. I would've likely been using the gold deflector on her whenever possible for that very reason. In general, I'm very hesitant to use gold reflectors (either the fold-up kind, or the deflector kind) as I think it can be a bit artificial/fake looking....however beautiful dark skin like that just eats it up (in all the right ways).

ckfishel2001 wrote in post #10884222
I got the left from the shadow, but my shadow reading still needs some perfecting Didn't catch the high part. Think I'm starting to see in the shadow how you'd know that. With the deflector, where'd you get that placed....and who had the joy of holding that in the wind?

Give it time....shadows, direction, and characteristics of light will soon be all you see. The number of times that my wife catches me staring off into the distance at some "intriguing light" is downright embarrassing.

The joy of holding the lightpole goes to my assistant, Devin Frederick (www.devinfrederick.com) who is truly one of the most driven people I've ever worked with. His experience is relatively limited (was a pro motocross rider prior to this) but he wants it so badly....and I love that energy/effort. A good assistant is by far the best tool (pun fully intended) that travels in my car, as he helps me position lights in places/directions just not possible with light stands. (the ability to have an an assistant instantly feather to one direction or be able to move with the model, is truly priceless)

EDIT: oh, and thank goodness the light was coming from the left, because if it was coming from the right that would've meant my assistant was falling off the building, and his girlfriend would've been really unhappy with me.

Cathpah wrote in post #10884313
EDIT: oh, and thank goodness the light was coming from the left, because if it was coming from the right that would've meant my assistant was falling off the building, and his girlfriend would've been really unhappy with me.

LOLOL Funny stuff Jeff.

pantherphotos wrote in post #10878742
It's a great image, Ryan, except the black line coming out of her head at the top is very distracting to me.

Sorry couldn't help it, seeing the scuffle that happened earlier! LOL I am completely joking, btw! I was gone for a week, and come back to trolling this thread, and there is the drama from the hands of the clock being mentioned. Way too funny!

Yours and Pham's images are definitely an inspiration to me and I hope to get to that level some day! I just couldn't help stirring the pot a little! :p

I want to apologize for starting POTN World War III. I was simply trying to be funny...I tend to respond to tense situations with humor. I was not intending to be critical in any way, nor was I wanting to start the feud back up. I just want y'all to know that, since it could be perceived I was doing that. I honestly did not think the bickering would start up again!

Now, for me, I do not critique much in this thread for several reasons. One, I am just learning to use OCF. I do troll this, and other lighting threads, to learn from others. Secondly, I live in a town of 700...so I do not have as much of an opportunity to shoot live people like some of you do. If I had more opportunity, I would shoot more, and post more, because I want the critique to learn and become better. Lastly, an issue everyone has, is time...I just don't have (or make?) the time to shoot and PP like I want to.

Again, I apologize for stirring the feud back up. Please understand it was not my intent. Now...back to the images!