getting an umbrella tonight. Now what?

[JeffieLove]

I don't want to highjack the thread, but what do ppl think is better... umbrella or softbox?

When I shoot in the studios at my college, I prefer to use the softboxes. I've only used the umbrellas a handful of times and didn't really like them a whole lot... I'm going to have to get used to them though because I will be getting myself a convertible umbrella when I get some money that's coming in this month...

 

[cnutco]

I don't want to highjack the thread, but what do ppl think is better... umbrella or softbox?

When I shoot in the studios at my college, I prefer to use the softboxes. I've only used the umbrellas a handful of times and didn't really like them a whole lot... I'm going to have to get used to them though because I will be getting myself a convertible umbrella when I get some money that's coming in this month...

Thank you for your feedback!

 

[Stradawhovious]

Took a couple of shots of the kiddo tonight.... he was watching TV, and didn't even notice me setting up the "studio" until it was too late.


Here are the results. All light reflected from umbrella, and some from 42# reflector. I think all shots were taken at f/5.6, ISO 100, 1/100 sec.

here is just the umbrella and an SB-600

Here is the Umbrella, SB-600 and a white reflector right next to him, directly to his left.... I don't like what the catch lights do to his pupils here....

Here is with a gold reflector out at 45 degrees from him....

And here is with Silver. (I don't much care for this one...)

Feel free to C&C the quality of the light, just remember that these were forced "portraits" and critique on the pose and background are unnecesary, since I know they are terrible.

I have a feeling that I will be doing an awful lot of experimenting with this..... and hopefully will be getting another speedlight and umbrella soon.

 

[kundalini]

The first shot is your best vertical position of the umbrella. You've got a nice bit of loop lighting going on. I think it's too far camera left though which is causing the hard shadow line on his right side. A properly positioned reflector here would've helped, but bringing the umbrella back towards the camera would've been even better.

The umbrella is set too high on the last two shots. The catch lights are coming from the reflector instead of the main light. The nose shadow is running well past the upper lip. Ideally, it should stop just short of the upper lip.

Congratz on the new gear. Practice, practice, practice. (keep in mind that not all portraits have to be similing)

 

[Stradawhovious]

The first shot is your best vertical position of the umbrella. You've got a nice bit of loop lighting going on. I think it's too far camera left though which is causing the hard shadow line on his right side. A properly positioned reflector here would've helped, but bringing the umbrella back towards the camera would've been even better.

The umbrella is set too high on the last two shots. The catch lights are coming from the reflector instead of the main light. The nose shadow is running well past the upper lip. Ideally, it should stop just short of the upper lip.

Congratz on the new gear. Practice, practice, practice. (keep in mind that not all portraits have to be similing)

Thanks! I will try again, and move the camera more counter clockwise to the subject, and lower it a bit. It will take some time to learn, but this is something I really Don't mind doing. The biggest mind block I'm having is reflector placement. I just don't quite get it yet. It's going to be fun working with one light for a while though.... I hope it gives me a better overall feel for lighting in general.

And you're right, they don't all have to be smiling, but that's what the little guy wanted to to, no direction from me. As long as he's letting me press the shutter at him, he can do anything he wants.