First attempt at a portrait

How's the lighting on this portrait? I have no idea what I am doing here as this is my first attempt with my 580EX II flash. I've been reading a lot about OCF but I don't have my long cord yet to plug it in "off-the-camera" so I bounced the flash off a 2 x 6 piece of white foam core board on my right and had my 36" silver reflector for fill on my left. Very crude setup indeed. I had to set the flash to +1 2/3, whatever that is, because it was so dark on the first 20 or 30 shots. I thought that the book said the flash would expose for the scene if I kept it in ETTL mode but it didn't seem to do that. This is one of the last shots that actually looks like it was halfway decent. Wondering if it is even close? Thanks

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There's a flash hotspot on the chin and a creased background. The lighting whilst restrained for flash ie no harsh shadows is just a little flat.

You obviously need some help with the mechanics of flash, but I have to leave that to people who are good with flash.

Your lighting, however you accomplished it, is not too bad. At least you are on a good track.
The subject's right face is brighter than the left face. You have also avoided the tell-tale deep black shadows that usually appear in flash pictures. Therefore, the lighting seems to be rational - i.e. it looks like it is coming from one source.

In order to get a bit more illusion of 3-dimensionality, you could use weaker light directly into the face and depond more on the off-center lighting, which will then have more shadow on the left side of his face. Finally, by raising the off-center light, so that the shadow is more diagonal, you will be closer to Rembrandt lighting.

*************Studio Portrait Lighting**************​*
Tutorial on Studio Portrait Lighting Using Two Lights, with Emphasis on Rembrandt Lighting:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.htm
or the downloadable PDF version at:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.pdf

Also see this helpful reference:
http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Rembrandt_light​ing

corkneyfonz wrote in post #10212881
There's a flash hotspot on the chin and a creased background.

I hadn't even noticed that hotspot until you pointed it out. It's things like things that I hope to become more aware of. Thanks.

corkneyfonz wrote in post #10212881
The lighting whilst restrained for flash ie no harsh shadows is just a little flat.

Any suggestions on how to get the lighting "un-flat"? I have only 1 flash which is a EX580 II. I'm going to read the links from Bob below but it appears to be for 2 lights.

Robert_Lay wrote in post #10213416
You obviously need some help with the mechanics of flash, ...

I'll be the first to admit that.

Robert_Lay wrote in post #10213416
*************Studio Portrait Lighting**************​*
Tutorial on Studio Portrait Lighting Using Two Lights, with Emphasis on Rembrandt Lighting:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.htm
or the downloadable PDF version at:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/PortraitLightin​g.pdf

Also see this helpful reference:
http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Rembrandt_light​ing

Thank you for the links. I'm off to do some reading.

Thanks for your input guys. I really do appreciate it.

Controlled shadows on the face are a good thing - they give the image depth. Find some sort of large white board reflector, place it left of right of the camera angled to the subject, and point the flash into it.

Titus213 wrote in post #10219736
Controlled shadows on the face are a good thing - they give the image depth. Find some sort of large white board reflector, place it left of right of the camera angled to the subject, and point the flash into it.

Exactly the type of guidance I was searching for. I'll try that. Thank you for your help.