first portrait with my new flash

[FranDaMan]

Took a portrait shot of the wife.
Shot in a forrested area, bright sunny day.
Used the flash to fill, post processed with portraiture and lightroom.

C&C pleazzzzzze !!


513B.jpg by Francis de Beus, on Flickr

 

[rehab]

idk if its my screen or what but she seems a bit over blurred. Have her stick her chin out a bit next time.

 

[MissCream]

There are some harsh shadows, what was your flash powered at? Looks like you could have turned it up a bit more

 

[FranDaMan]

I can't remember exactly, I think it was 1/16th.
No modifiers yet and on camera flash, which might explain the hard shadows.

 

[KmH]

Bad, bad case of 'raccoon eyes', because the model was in direct sunlight and the sun was to high in the sky. Nose shadows should not interest the lip line.

The sun produces harsh light and is apparently a quite small light source that makes unflattering sharp edged shadows.

The harshness and sharp edged shadows can be avoided by placing the model near the edge of open shade.

You then have the option of using the sky as your main light and flash as fill, or use the sky as fill and tour flash as the main light.

If open shade is not readily available you can make your own with a diffuser. Most 5-in-1 reflectors include a diffuser for just that purpose.

Next time, have your model tilt her head slightly to the close shoulder and lower her chin just enough her nostrils are not visible, or raise the camera perspective until her nostrils are no longer visible.

Do you have a UV filter on the lens?



Posing basics:

• shoulders approximately 45° to the camera
• rear foot parallel to the camera
• front foot pointing at the camera
• 90% of the model's weight on the rear foot
• very slight forward lean from the waist, just over the belt buckle
• tell the model to 'stand tall'

 

[FranDaMan]

Hmmm interesting. She was in shaded area. Guess the sun peeking through still was too much direct light.
No, there is no UV filter on the lens.

So, next time I should place the diffuser between the sun and my model ?

 

[KmH]

Yes, dappled sunlight is as bad as direct sunlight. I was noting the highlights at the top of her forehead and on her neck. A diffuser would have given you more control.

Open shade and using the brightness of the sky works well because the light source is then apparently huge making nice soft light that wraps well leaving very soft edged shadows.
Apparent light source size and direction of the light source is key to lighting portraiture.

 

[FranDaMan]

And to think I had the brand new 5 in 1 reflector dangling from my camerabag !!!
LOL....this was my first day of trying something portraiture wise, so many more testshots to come.

I really need to get me something to get that flash of the camera though. Even more control then.