Need more help with lighting/poses

I'm not quite sure why but the model looks as if she is a cardboard cut-out (flat 2-d) - particularly at the feet. What focal length lens? I am guessing too short. Or is it something from PP?

Martin Dixon wrote in post #11623949
I'm not quite sure why but the model looks as if she is a cardboard cut-out (flat 2-d) - particularly at the feet. What focal length lens? I am guessing too short. Or is it something from PP?

correct on the FL, it's at 17mm which I had to fix with LR distortion correction.

edit whoops, just checked in LR and seems like the edited export didn't get the lens correction..


here's a (LEFT) not corrected to (RIGHT) fixed:

Critique on the lighting. It is erroneously thought by most amateurs that a softbox, regardless of the size, will automatically soften any light source placed within the confines of the box. The truth is the softness of a light source is directly related to the distance from the subject. The closer the subject is to the light source the softer the light will be, and converesely the farther away from the subject the light source is the harder the light source will be. In your image the shadows are quite hard indicating a hard light source. You said you lit this with a 24 x 24 inch softbox which should give a soft light source, at least that is what all the internet "experts" will tell you) but since it was so far from your subject it is hard.

Now you are going to ask me how can you get it closer to her in order to make it softer (assuming I'm right about that) but not get the light in the image. I'm glad you asked. How about moving the light to camera right instead of camera left. This will also solve your problem of blowing out the entire front of her dress, and it will get rid of that messy shadow running across the front of it. Now the front of her dress will be in the shadow instead of being blasted by the main light. But you object that she will then be broad lit which will make her face look fat. Yes it will IF you leave her head turned in the direction that it is in now, and leave it tipped to the masculine shoulder. If it were turned toward the main light and her head tipped to the feminine shoulder (the high one, her left in this pose) her face would be short lit.

Isn't it amazing at how many problems can be solved by simply repositioning the main light. Now on to the pose. Why is she gripping her dress like she is afraid she is going to step on it, and why is she gripping the flute like she is getting ready to use it like a tennis raquet? Her hands should flow and they should make sense to the viewer.

Lastly this is high key clothing on a low key background. Both the clothing and the background should be in the same key.

Benji

Agree with all the above, but especially with not shooting with such a wide lens. Just too much possibility of distortion.

As you've worked this in photoshop, it kind of wouldn't matter if the softbox was in-shot to start with anyway.. I have a softbox that size and I find it's at its best shoot head shots or upper body & head shots. As mentioned, the light/shadows are most pleasing when the softbox is close to the subject but, as you can see in your shot, there will be fall off towards the bottom of the subject.

I reflector camera right would help this shot and, as mentioned, standing back and shooting a longer focal length would help.