Beauty w/ DIY Softbox C&C!

TimothyPeacock · Dec 10, 2012

*EDIT: Photos softened a little...*

I would love your feedback and critique on these; I made a softbox the other day and of course had to try it out! (Picture of softbox also below)

My flash is a currently a no brand, flashgun from ebay with no method of controlling intensity/exposure; so using the aperture to set flash exposure.

Shutter speed pretty much dictated by the less than desirable sync-speed of the flash/cheap triggers.

Shooting ISO 100 for the least noise possible.

Canon 550D with Canon EF-S 17-85 f4-5.6 IS USM

I have processed these on my desktop, with LR and PS. However I've just looked at them on my Macbook Pro and they look a little bit more orange on there than on the desktop monitor...any clues on which is more accurate would be fantastic!

Thank you for any feedback you can give!

1.

2.

3.

4.

And the softbox:

Thanks for looking

Tim

fjrabon · Dec 10, 2012

good results. Your only real limitations are going to be if you want to mix ambient and flash, as the only method you'll have of balancing them is flash distance, which will unfortunately then impact flash softness.

frommrstomommy · Dec 10, 2012

Having a model wear that much makeup in a photo and not smoothing skin and evening her out is strange to me.

TimothyPeacock · Dec 10, 2012

fjrabon said:
good results. Your only real limitations are going to be if you want to mix ambient and flash, as the only method you'll have of balancing them is flash distance, which will unfortunately then impact flash softness.

Thanks, fortunately Christmas is soon, just in time for me moving away from natural light only photography. And a better flash unit is at the top of the Santa list!

frommrstomommy said:
Having a model wear that much makeup in a photo and not smoothing skin and evening her out is strange to me.

I was trying to keep a good amount of skin texture in there, I removed blemishes etc with spot healing in PS.

I'll give it a go softening up the skin slightly though!

frommrstomommy · Dec 10, 2012

I think I was just a lil surprised when I opened with "beauty" being the title I guess I expected more pp?

TimothyPeacock · Dec 10, 2012

frommrstomommy said:
I think I was just a lil surprised when I opened with "beauty" being the title I guess I expected more pp?

Not a problem! How do you think this looks, slightly softer skin whilst attempting to keep a bit of texture:

ManualMode · Dec 10, 2012

Can't quite put my finger on it, but.. while im sure she's a pretty girl.. I find these photos very unappealing.
The light seems very harsh and her makeup is just... well it looks gross..

Honestly i think your light source needs to be bigger and softer..

frommrstomommy · Dec 10, 2012

I think the new edit is better!

texkam · Dec 10, 2012

Having a model wear that much makeup in a photo and not smoothing skin and evening her out is strange to me.

Yes, in a wonderfully disturbing sort of way. Don't know if that's what you were after, but these are really out there. These don't come across as traditional beauty shots. #1 is a powerful image.

Derrel · Dec 11, 2012

My FIRST thought on seeing shot #1 was the old "Italian Vogue-inspired look" that Robert Palmer's Simply Irresistable video used on the women playing guitars...all pale-faced, with dark, pulled-back hair and bold lips...and almost expressionless, slightly vacuous looks on their faces!

Simply Irresistable, by Robert Palmer

AgentDrex · Dec 11, 2012

Keep practicing this look and make your own way is what I say. I see what you're going for. I would like to mention the cropped head and ear though.

gsgary · Dec 11, 2012

TimothyPeacock said:
Thanks, fortunately Christmas is soon, just in time for me moving away from natural light only photography. And a better flash unit is at the top of the Santa list!

I was trying to keep a good amount of skin texture in there, I removed blemishes etc with spot healing in PS.

I'll give it a go softening up the skin slightly though!

Take a look at Lencarta lights very good quality for the money and beating top brands in head to heads i have 2 of their lights

TimothyPeacock · Dec 11, 2012

texkam said:
Having a model wear that much makeup in a photo and not smoothing skin and evening her out is strange to me.

Click to expand...

Yes, in a wonderfully disturbing sort of way. Don't know if that's what you were after, but these are really out there. These don't come across as traditional beauty shots. #1 is a powerful image.

Thank you for the feedback, I don't think I intended them to be THAT out there...maybe some softening is required on all of them.

Derrel said:
My FIRST thought on seeing shot #1 was the old "Italian Vogue-inspired look" that Robert Palmer's Simply Irresistable video used on the women playing guitars...all pale-faced, with dark, pulled-back hair and bold lips...and almost expressionless, slightly vacuous looks on their faces!

Simply Irresistable, by Robert Palmer

Brilliant, haven't seen this before! As you say, not the most expressive model out there. I tried everything haha!

AgentDrex said:
Keep practicing this look and make your own way is what I say. I see what you're going for. I would like to mention the cropped head and ear though.

Thank you, I'm still building up my experience of all genres of photography and trying to find my own style. Dang, those ears are pesky critters!

Tim

frommrstomommy · Dec 11, 2012

your photos said ok to edit so I played with that first one a lil last night but didn't have a chance to post after my son woke from his nap.. somethings still off about it to me but not sure what? the shadows to me kinda made her neck look dirty too..