Lighting C&C

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

So theres been some talk about my lighting being flat so I decided today to set up a little differently. I had a light camera right and I used my speedlight on camera. I usually have a light camera right, and another more to the left of my camera. I know it should be near my camera axis but it gets in the way (I have a light stand). I'm not too happy with this session. Mainly because i have a horrible tendancy to shoot high with a lot of headroom (I DONT KNOW WHY!) and because there wasn't much room for this cute little boy to do his thing, so cropping is tight. I should of arranged the backdrop long ways instead of high. :er: I also used my kit lens when I should of just used my 35mm. Anyways please C&C this lighting and post processing. Im trying to get nice dimensional lighting. I added curves in post processing. Ive also been told my work has too much contrast so I don't know what to believe. How are these?

1.

Ryan L · Jun 12, 2011

The thing I see is that the light isnt hitting his eyes very well. In #5 it hits pretty well, and thats because of his pose. His head is turned back 45 degrees and his eyes are looking at the camera...no easy feat explaining this to a child though! You can see the whites clearly and they are bright. I can see catch lights in both his eyes. As far as the light overall, I dont think it looks bad. You can tell there is more shadowing on the left side, which gives ihis face dimension. Since you are asking about light I wont critique anything else, but I think you are on the right track.

Bitter Jeweler · Jun 12, 2011

OMG! We are graced with two Sabrina threads in one day!These have a little more depth than the last set.I don't care for the knee cut in number one, but this would make a nice 8x10 trimming off the top.You got lazy with your numbering.The last one makes me think that shooting this one landscape would have made for an excellent image having the front wheel land on a thirds intersection, the back wheel near another, and his head on another. Add to that, the implied direction of the trike, his body facing opposite, and still looking back like that.

mrpink · Jun 12, 2011

Just keep an eye out, you can see where you roll your floor, the bumps give it away.

Lighting looks good, maybe one more stop on the key light.

p!nK

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

Ryan L said:
The thing I see is that the light isnt hitting his eyes very well. In #5 it hits pretty well, and thats because of his pose. His head is turned back 45 degrees and his eyes are looking at the camera...no easy feat explaining this to a child though! You can see the whites clearly and they are bright. I can see catch lights in both his eyes. As far as the light overall, I dont think it looks bad. You can tell there is more shadowing on the left side, which gives ihis face dimension. Since you are asking about light I wont critique anything else, but I think you are on the right track.

please critique everything else. I know there is major composition issues here

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

mrpink said:
Just keep an eye out, you can see where you roll your floor, the bumps give it away.

Lighting looks good, maybe one more stop on the key light.

p!nK

Yes because i decided to unroll the floor right before the session. :-x. So many things went wrong with this session. One more stop higher or lower?

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

Bitter Jeweler said:
OMG! We are graced with two Sabrina threads in one day!These have a little more depth than the last set.I don't care for the knee cut in number one, but this would make a nice 8x10 trimming off the top.You got lazy with your numbering.The last one makes me think that shooting this one landscape would have made for an excellent image having the front wheel land on a thirds intersection, the back wheel near another, and his head on another. Add to that, the implied direction of the trike, his body facing opposite, and still looking back like that.

Bitter, i was going for that shot too. But the trike kept rolling away, and my background wasn't wide enough for it. Heres the orignal/pullback

and heres the pullback. If i just rotated the backdrop horizontally ive could of done so much more, and had better composition. I don't know what I was thinking...

mwcfarms · Jun 12, 2011

Lol and here I thought you just had hardwood. Pretty cool floor backdrop. Do you lay it on pressboard or something?

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

mwcfarms said:
Lol and here I thought you just had hardwood. Pretty cool floor backdrop. Do you lay it on pressboard or something?

haha... Yes. There is carpet in my studio so I have a huge faux hardwood panel board (I don't know what else to call it

) that i put down before I put the vinyl drop down.

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

I have to take the wrinkes out the floor. Maybe burn the highlights a little on the humps? Ill just rubber stamp out that huge wrinkle in the back. It hope it works out..

dallasimagery · Jun 12, 2011

Bitter Jeweler said:
OMG! We are graced with two Sabrina threads in one day!These have a little more depth than the last set.I don't care for the knee cut in number one, but this would make a nice 8x10 trimming off the top.You got lazy with your numbering.The last one makes me think that shooting this one landscape would have made for an excellent image having the front wheel land on a thirds intersection, the back wheel near another, and his head on another. Add to that, the implied direction of the trike, his body facing opposite, and still looking back like that.

Lol, true.

You asked for c&c on the lighting - it's atrocious. They call this "mall lighting" in our industry, because it's flat, basic and amateurish like you'd get at a mall studio. However, what's far, far worse, is the composition and posing. I'd recommend you read this thread for starters: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...ery/246992-few-recommendations-beginners.html Further, I'd recommend you stop trashing the advice of seasoned pros. I'd start worrying less about hanging out on photography forums, and spend more time reading books, taking classes and practicing - starting with posing, then lighting. Actually, in your case I'd recommend you start by reading your camera owner's manual.

This is what "non-flat" mall lighting will give you:

Notice the three-dimensionality given by the shadows and lighting ratio.

thebutler4 · Jun 12, 2011

how do you like the vinyl back drops? .. I was looking at them the other day and though I had better do some research on them first ...

how well are they made? ..
is yours 1 piece or 2? ..
where did you get yours ..
and last but not least ... is the quality there to be able to use time and time again ...

sorry I don't mean to high jack the thread .. just wondering about the back drop ..

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

dallasimagery said:
Bitter Jeweler said:

OMG! We are graced with two Sabrina threads in one day!These have a little more depth than the last set.I don't care for the knee cut in number one, but this would make a nice 8x10 trimming off the top.You got lazy with your numbering.The last one makes me think that shooting this one landscape would have made for an excellent image having the front wheel land on a thirds intersection, the back wheel near another, and his head on another. Add to that, the implied direction of the trike, his body facing opposite, and still looking back like that.

Click to expand...

Lol, true.You asked for c&c on the lighting - it's atrocious. They call this "mall lighting" in our industry, because it's flat like you'd get at a mall. I'd recommend you read this thread for starters: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...ery/246992-few-recommendations-beginners.html Further, I'd recommend you stop trashing the advice of seasoned pros. I'd start worrying less about hanging out on photography forums, and spend more time reading books, taking classes and practicing - starting with posing, then lighting.

Still on your raging warpath huh?? lolol. looks like I really struck a nerve about your photo. I really feel sorry for you how you are handling it. Some people just can't take the truth. You are acting very pathetic and desperate. Anyways.. Tell me where im trashing the advice of "seasoned pros"? I'm not gonna read ANY advice from you.... When you say reflectors are amateurish and photographers who use them don't have skills. Just wow!

dallasimagery · Jun 12, 2011

LMAO@YOU! Dude, do you not get it? There is what, TWENTY people on that other thread talking about how much you SUCK, and you still somehow think you dont need to take the advice of seasoned pros?

WOW... I'm speechless

SabrinaO · Jun 12, 2011

dallasimagery said:
LMAO@YOU! Dude, do you not get it? There is what, TWENTY people on that other thread talking about how much you SUCK, and you still somehow think you dont need to take the advice of seasoned pros?WOW... I'm speechless

Huh? What thread are you reading? Most of the people (besides you and your other troll friend) think I'm good

I don't know where you see that 20 people think I suck... Maybe it's just your delusions getting to you again. Hey... You gotta do what you gotta do to make yourself feel better... Lol