First Umbrella Shot

Hi,

I came across the Stobist blog recently and thought I'd give some of the flash techniques I read about a try, so I got myself an inexpensive light umbrella and flash stand off ebay. For this shot I placed the umbrella with a 580EX slave about 3 feet away from my subject, at an agle of about 45 degrees, and 2 feet above eye level. On my 30D I had a 580EX ii set at master, with a 1:4 ratio, the flash set on ETTL.

I used my EFS 60, shoting at ASA 640, f/4.0, 1/45s.

This is what managed to come up with on my first shoot with two stobes and an umbrella. Any feedback on my lighting and lighting technique would be most appreciated!

Thanks,
~Dom

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Sorry your post didn't get any love. Hey, one important thing you managed is to not get any flash glare in the glasses. So at that level, nicely done.

Thanks for the feedback, Mark. This was my first two strobe / one umbrella shot ever. I was pleased that I managed not get any significant glare on the glasses! I did notice a couple of things though:

1. The subject's glasses, which are quite thick, have resulted in some diffraction that has broken up the side of the face. I guess there is no way round this other than to remove the glasses before the shot.

2. The side (key) lighting resulted in a shadow from the glasses' frame. Should I have used a stronger fill light, or moved the key light?

Thanks,
~Dom

umbrella worked for his glasses. no need to take it off when he cant focus his look at camera. i wear thick glasses i know what i say watch its frame doesnt cross an eye.

Good shot, but I would position one light to spill on the background for some seperation.
Camera position in relatin to face, glasses acrually bothers me as the left top of the glasses frame slashes into the eye.