My Daughter, Alexis

Just got back from my mother's surprise 60th birthday party. While there, I snapped some photos of the party-goers. I grabbed this one of my daughter, Alexis:

Lighting was provided by a bounced Canon 580EX-II, with sunlight providing some back lighting.

Nice combination of colours there.

Deckham wrote in post #9844714
Nice combination of colours there.

Thanks! With the sunlight, the lamp lights from within the house, and the 580EX-II, I had some real temp difference concerns. I think all considered, the lighting turned out better than I had expected.

Looks good but some more light in the eyes would help. Where is the flash bounced from?

gooble wrote in post #9846949
Looks good but some more light in the eyes would help. Where is the flash bounced from?

I didn't bring any cables with me, so the flash was bounced from the hot-shoe mount, bounced off the white ceiling. A little more light in the eyes would have been nice, but using what I had to work with for quick candids, conditions were pretty much less than ideal throughout the party. Other than the direct sunlight (acting as a back light in this shot), the rest of the house was pretty dark, lit only by very low-light yellow lamps. Colour temp differences all over the place!

If you get another chance, try with her facing the window...

ebann wrote in post #9847286
If you get another chance, try with her facing the window...

Unfortunately, that wouldn't have worked as the sunlight only came into the house a short distance. To position myself with her facing the window, she would have been completely in the shadows of the house. Well - I should say it would have worked in that the lighting would have come solely from the flash, but I would not have had that nice sunlight as a light source.

710 Studio wrote in post #9847311
Unfortunately, that wouldn't have worked as the sunlight only came into the house a short distance. To position myself with her facing the window, she would have been completely in the shadows of the house. Well - I should say it would have worked in that the lighting would have come solely from the flash, but I would not have had that nice sunlight as a light source.

Got it. Perhaps a reflector positioned at the bottom to grab some of that "short distanced" light and reflect it back to her? Window portraits are my favorites!

ebann wrote in post #9847395
Got it. Perhaps a reflector positioned at the bottom to grab some of that "short distanced" light and reflect it back to her? Window portraits are my favorites!

Hmmm... I may have to try that, one of these days. This was taken at my mother's surprise 60th birthday party, so they were (for the most part) unposed, candids. But, being my parents' home, I see nothing stopping me from taking my family up there to shoot some more formal, posed shots. Doing that, I may bring more of my light kit, as well (love me my AlienBees!!!).

Have you looked at the Honl Speedstrap and light modifiers? I got the speedstrap and built my own bounce card out of paperboard and gaffer tape. Here's a link to some pictures of it: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=684503

Follow the link for some of the Honl products at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com …ndex=blended&li​nk_code=qs

I use it all the time with great effect when bouncing off of ceilings. It does wonders at eliminating the raccoon effect.

gooble wrote in post #9848706
Have you looked at the Honl Speedstrap and light modifiers? I got the speedstrap and built my own bounce card out of paperboard and gaffer tape. Here's a link to some pictures of it: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=684503

Follow the link for some of the Honl products at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com …ndex=blended&li​nk_code=qs

I use it all the time with great effect when bouncing off of ceilings. It does wonders at eliminating the raccoon effect.

Oh sweet. I like DIY things. So far, the only DIY photo project I have built is a background stand. I took some liberties to the original design to make it more stable (can hold a 10'x12' muslin without blinking) and a reflector card out of white poster board. This link sounds like something that could come in handy for these roaming, candid shots. I'll check 'em out. Thanks!

EDIT - Just checked out your first link... awesome! Looks fairly straightforward and extremely useful.

710 Studio wrote in post #9848739
Oh sweet. I like DIY things. So far, the only DIY photo project I have built is a background stand. I took some liberties to the original design to make it more stable (can hold a 10'x12' muslin without blinking) and a reflector card out of white poster board. This link sounds like something that could come in handy for these roaming, candid shots. I'll check 'em out. Thanks!

EDIT - Just checked out your first link... awesome! Looks fairly straightforward and extremely useful.

You like DIY? Then try this for your Alien Bees:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=820794

ebann wrote in post #9849883
You like DIY? Then try this for your Alien Bees:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=820794

That is AWESOME!!! And it looks at least 1.5 ounces lighter than the Vagabond II!!! Of course, the AB800 will drain the pack a bit quicker than a 300W light, but it should still perform well enough for quick shoots here and there. I'd rather carry around a couple of these home made kits for a quick shoot than that ton-and-a-half Vagabond (but I think the Vagabond II will still get my vote for the long, intensive shoots - depending on how this project tests with my 'Bees).

Thanks for linking me to that. I see a project in my near future...