Portraits 2nd attempt with strobes

My first attempt with off camera strobes ... triggered by off camera 580 EX 2 (behind the model) ... I'm getting closer (I think) but not quite there yet?

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a couple more

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and 2 more ...

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there are some nice attempts but I think your post processing method isn't adapted.

Like the first as far as lighting and colour goes, the fourth has the best smile. Good focus on them with very good eye contact. Over all a mixed bag for lighting and exposure.

Thanks for the crit ... KTA - after watching/reading endlessly about lighting methods - it seems to me that the general consensus from the 'masters' is that they prefer the camera to do most of the work with minimal PP ... (and my forte is def. not PP - huge learning curve - I am using Corel Paint Shop Pro X2 - a small amount of blemish fixing/skin smoothing/unsharp is about it)

thanks Khall - I have been experimenting with the softbox at different angles/distance passing in front of the subject as opposed to hitting her direct on - umbrella on the right side then moved behind me for a few shots ... #1, #4, #5, #6 is with my 24/70L and #2, #3 are with my 50 f1.8 but at f8 ... I think for these shots I have done better with the 50?

anyway - thanks again - please feel free to pass on some advice on how to improve with PP

Phil

here's one more from last night - a bit more PP work done ...

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Are you trying for a high-key image? Some of them (for example the latest addition) are overexposed and washed out. Indeed, most of them appear a little overexposed. Could it be too much fill flash? Perhaps toning down the fill flash using flash exposure compensation, setting it at about -2/3 stop or so might help?

Very nice model & pose, BTW.

Jim.

Thanks Jim - yes I am going for high key - I will try and step down the fill-flash next time ... will post them again soon (if she agrees to sit for me) ... I'm a learnin'

Ok. I'm no expert on high key or how to create such an image, but I wasn't sure if you just blew it out with the flash or were really trying for that. I'll be interested to learn how to do high key without being hit and miss (mostly miss) in my case. I've seen some outstanding examples on this forum and gives me lots to think about.

Jim.

I'm thinking 3 & 4 are your only keepers lighting wise. The subject is slumped in #3, but the light looks good. High key does not mean over exposed. Most of them are simply over exposed. I realize that high key is a sliding scale, but high key seems to work best if the model has light colored clothing, fair skin, and light hair. This is called staying in key. The exposure is normal or close to it, but the tones in the picture are mostly light. Frankly, I wish the terms "high key" and "low key" had never been invented, but they have, so there you go. My advice is to stay in key. Don't mix high key lighting with subjects showing a lot of dark tones. It just doesn't work well.

Do you have the book "Light - Science and Magic"? If not, it will open a world of lighting for you.

From the catchlights, it looks like you are shooting a bare flash? Are you using any modifiers? If not, heres a thought. Grab an omni bounce, and try two shots -- 1 straight on, and one with the flash aimed STRAIGHT at the ceiling. The first option will maintain more of the high key feel but soften the edges a bit. The second will give you a more of a bare bulb effect, with even softer wraps. If you try this, you probably won't need to dial in any EC for either method.