My Son + trying lighting C+C welcomed

[cynthiav99]

My son Aries helping me with learning to fix my lighting in my dark house LOL I am adding more things to help little by little
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[tirediron]

Not bad, but there's room for improvement. What is your current lighting set-up? My first thought looking at these is that the key light is about 1/3 - 1/2 stop too hot, and, judging by the catchlights, it is both too low and too small.

 

[cgipson1]

Like TI said.. lighting is very hot. It looks like there is also some facial distortion. Checking Exif.. I see you shot these at 30mm, 52mm, and 48mm. For shots this close... anything under 50mm has strong risk of distortion, and even the bottom shot at 48mm looks like there is some distortion. Just something to think about....

 

[cynthiav99]

lighting is two umbrellas and small light stand also natural light from 3 windows in the livingroom. Camera canon 60D and lens 18-135mm
so saying its too bright at one point I need to move the stands in a better place? I will be getting a soft box light and reflectors soon

 

[cynthiav99]

is this one any better I think I went to far in PS elements on the others

 

[tirediron]

lighting is two umbrellas and small light stand also natural light from 3 windows in the livingroom. Camera canon 60D and lens 18-135mm
so saying its too bright at one point I need to move the stands in a better place? I will be getting a soft box light and reflectors soon

Yes, but without all the information it's hard to say where. When explaining your lighting set-up you need to reference it to the camera and subject, such as: "Key light: shoot-through umbrella, 3' from subject, 30 deg camera right 12" above subject's head, fill: second shoot-through, 5' from subject, 75 deg camera left, 1 stop below key". This way we can provide more accurate recommendations on ways to improve your set-up.

 

[kundalini]

lighting is two umbrellas and small light stand also natural light from 3 windows in the livingroom.

I see two catch lights, but it looks as if you used the built-in flash for Fill because it is pretty much dead center in all shots. If your Main light is going through an umbrella, I believe you have it set too far away since its catch light is similar in size as the middle one. You are getting a Butterfly lighting effect, but I think your Fill light needs to be knocked down some, perhaps a quarter to half the power setting used.

BTW, I am a fan of having the Fill light close to lens axis on the same camera side as the Main.


This little program may help when tring to describe you lighting setup. The diagrams will serve as help for you and to those that are trying to help you.

http://www.lightingdiagrams.com/

 

[cynthiav99]

yes you are right I was trying out the fill flash on it, so it just needs to be brought down a notch or so. I am self taught so I will need to learn the terms for everything.
my father is a published photographer but I never got to learn from him and can't go to him for help.


Thank you for the help