I don't remember the last time I shot on a sunny day

DavidVote · Jan 25, 2015

As always, critique and criticism please. I rarely shoot on sunny days so my lighting control isn't exactly the best. This shoot just came out "meh" but I want the next one to be at least a bit better than "meh".

I'm thinking about buying a reflector or flash, which one would be appropriate for situations like this?

KmH · Jan 25, 2015

Both. But get a flash first, and a light stand, and an umbrella bracket, and a convertible umbrella.
Two flash units (2 light stands, 2 umbrellas) and a reflector is even better.

The Sun has to be available for a reflector to be effective.

snerd · Jan 25, 2015

KmH said:
Both.
But 2 flash units and a reflector is even better.

Yeah, both. I think a flash would provide some nice fill light, and a reflector would help to lighten up under her chin and neck area. Keep at it!

DavidVote · Jan 25, 2015

KmH said:
Both. But get a flash first, and a light stand, and an umbrella bracket, and a convertible umbrella.
Two flash units (2 light stands, 2 umbrellas) and a reflector is even better.

The Sun has to be available for a reflector to be effective.

snerd said:
KmH said:

Both.
But 2 flash units and a reflector is even better.

Click to expand...

Yeah, both. I think a flash would provide some nice fill light, and a reflector would help to lighten up under her chin and neck area. Keep at it!

Thanks! Which flash/umbrella/reflector would you recommend me getting? My budget is appx 100 dollars.

Do you guys have any idea why this edit looks so off? I can't seem to get it to look right and for the time being given up. If you could point out whats wrong with the colors, please let me know! It's partly the reason why I only uploaded this shot from the shoot! I just can't get it to look right!

Ysarex · Jan 26, 2015

DavidVote said:
Do you guys have any idea why this edit looks so off? I can't seem to get it to look right and for the time being given up. If you could point out whats wrong with the colors, please let me know! It's partly the reason why I only uploaded this shot from the shoot! I just can't get it to look right!

The sky is green and the photo has no black point. Skin color is OK.

Joe

DavidVote · Jan 26, 2015

Ysarex said:
DavidVote said:

Do you guys have any idea why this edit looks so off? I can't seem to get it to look right and for the time being given up. If you could point out whats wrong with the colors, please let me know! It's partly the reason why I only uploaded this shot from the shoot! I just can't get it to look right!

Click to expand...

The sky is green and the photo has no black point. Skin color is OK.

Joe

Hmm, are you sure the sky is green? Looks pretty blue here on all my monitors.. But thanks, I also tried lowering the black point but it's still not looking right.

Edit: Thank you for the suggestion. Your point about the black point with the addition of me turning off an adjustment layer made it look a lot better. Thanks (I think)

The_Traveler · Jan 26, 2015

The subject is too dark, imo.
The background and the blown out buildings are a nice contrast but she is so dark that my eye goes to the background.
She is also too small in the frame and there is too much extra space - for no artistic reason.
The subject needs to command the frame.
If you crop it so she fills the right side, then she is in balance with the quite attractive background.
Fill light or a reflector would fix the raccoon eyes and dark upper face.
Her legs and hands are brighter than her face and that will have to be fixed in post in any case.

DavidVote · Jan 26, 2015

The_Traveler said:
The subject is too dark, imo.
The background and the blown out buildings are a nice contrast but she is so dark that my eye goes to the background.
She is also too small in the frame and there is too much extra space - for no artistic reason.
The subject needs to command the frame.
If you crop it so she fills the right side, then she is in balance with the quite attractive background.
Fill light or a reflector would fix the raccoon eyes and dark upper face.
Her legs and hands are brighter than her face and that will have to be fixed in post in any case.

View attachment 94108

Hi the traveler, thank you for the suggestion. I cropped it how you suggested with the newer version of the picture. How does it look now?

BTW: You've also mentioned time to time again that I have a lot of extra space in my photos. I do it while shooting so I have a lot more flexibility in post when it comes to cropping and the likes.

The_Traveler · Jan 26, 2015

I am prejudiced because it was my suggestion but I think that she looks more important in the frame.

Designer · Jan 26, 2015

DavidVote said:
Which flash/umbrella/reflector would you recommend me getting? My budget is appx 100 dollars.

You will have to try to make do with low-end speedlights, which means manual control only (no TTL). For the light stands, brackets and umbrellas; these are not high-cost items, so you can find inexpensive imports. I bought a set a few years ago that included two each of cheap light stands, brackets, and four umbrellas for around $75. If you get lucky you can find an older, used speedlight for around $25.