Any tips?

Just got my first lighting setup this weekend and tried messing with it outdoors. I would love to hear your suggestions and critique regarding lighting and composition for these. Thanks!

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The third and fourth are my winners. The lighting is very even and I like the amount of contrast you have. Very flattering for the subjects. To my eye there's nothing to criticize. Good work!

The second one is appealing and has potential to be great. I like the contrast and shadow on her face, but I think I want her turned a bit to her right so we can see both eyes. Or maybe a bit more to her left for a straight profile.

The first one is my least favorite but I can't precisely tell you why. I think it's partly framing and partly her expression. Lighting seems fine, though.

Anyway, I think the results are great for just starting out with lighting. You seem to be playing with different ways of using it, which is good. I own zero off-camera lighting and my brief forays with other people's equipment didn't turn out nearly as well as what you have posted.

Thanks for the reply!

looks to me like you got the ambient to flash ratios spot on in #3-4. The other two setups are a little trickier and probably would require either a light meter (and experience!) or more trial and error.

Compared to my first flash attempts, yours are great! Nice job.

dave

Thanks!

Can't see the first picture since the link seems to be broken.

2nd picture the lighting is just not there; not sure how you had it set up. The pose is a little off, your in between a 2/3rd and profile position. I'm just not a fan of having people leaning against trees.

3rd picture is very flat and the pose is too square to the camera.

4th. Be careful of amputations when shooting people; she has an arm growing out of her left breast. The lighting is very flat in that picture aswell. She has a very large hot spot on top of her head and a smaller one on her right cheek.

What is the lighting setup that you are using? how did you have it set up?

ChuckingFluff wrote in post #10733061
Can't see the first picture since the link seems to be broken.

2nd picture the lighting is just not there; not sure how you had it set up. The pose is a little off, your in between a 2/3rd and profile position. I'm just not a fan of having people leaning against trees.

3rd picture is very flat and the pose is too square to the camera.

4th. Be careful of amputations when shooting people; she has an arm growing out of her left breast. The lighting is very flat in that picture aswell. She has a very large hot spot on top of her head and a smaller one on her right cheek.

What is the lighting setup that you are using? how did you have it set up?

Thanks for the tips. I didn't pose them as they were my family and we were taking these at a BBQ. I will have to try to pose my subjects next time. The lighting setup for all of these shots was a B800 through a octabox. I notice the hot spot on the cheek in the last spot, but not on the forehead? My monitor must be really screwed up. The hair definitely has some hot spots from the sun.

Very nice with a good balance between flash and daylight. Whilst there maybe some slight posing anomalies, the winning smile you've captured deflects atteention away from them.

corkneyfonz wrote in post #10733995
Very nice with a good balance between flash and daylight. Whilst there maybe some slight posing anomalies, the winning smile you've captured deflects atteention away from them.

Thank you! I am off to read some info on posing subjects.

rpcruab pm me your email address I have a little pdf file written by one of the best portrait guys around. It will help you a lot.

PM sent, thanks!