New using flash. C&C please, 4-mth old daughter

Rocketman1978 · Feb 20, 2013

Nothing formal, just a quick shot while waiting for my wife to get ready. I did crop in PP since the rest was just of our chair. I'm still learning as you can see, especially with the new flash, I've had very little time to experiment and study it. I bounced the flash at an angle towards her (don't recall the degree), as you can see by the lighting on the leather. My living room has an 8-18' angled ceiling so this is the best 'I' could get. Generally I can get some good bounce if I am near the 8' ceiling side of the room but I wasn't for this shot. The shot was also taken in a somewhat dimly-lit area at dusk.

RAW PP consisted of crop (as I mentioned), white balance, exposure, sharpness and a little skin smoothing via Apple Aperture. Oh and unbeknownst to me, she had a booger in her left nostril that I had to correct, lol. She also has a little drool on the top-left of her chin but I was too lazy to mess with that at the time.

Thanks in advance! :hail:

tirediron · Feb 20, 2013

Cute shot, but watch your composition; you've cutoff her left knee!

jwbryson1 · Feb 20, 2013

I'd like to see some catchlights in her black eyes.

Rocketman1978 · Feb 20, 2013

tirediron said:
Cute shot, but watch your composition; you've cutoff her left knee!

Thanks! Yeah I was annoyed that I did that, she just squirms so dang much at this age she is tough to catch. Wish I had backed off a bit.

jwbryson1 said:
I'd like to see some catchlights in her black eyes.

I noticed how dark her eyes turned out, they're actually a really pretty medium blue. If you wouldn't mind, how could I have obtained catchlights (or more accurate eye color) in this shot? Or can I brighten them up in PP? Just looking to better myself in the future.

CandySvoboda · Feb 20, 2013

If you wouldn't mind, how could I have obtained catchlights (or more accurate eye color) in this shot? Or can I brighten them up in PP? Just looking to better myself in the future.

Bounce-card. I assume you bounced the flash off the ceiling. Just attach a white notecard with a rubberband to your flash. It's a really easy way to get some catchlights in eyes. And yes, you can always brighten up her eyes in PP.

I'm sure other members have better suggestions, but that's the easiest way I can think of

Rocketman1978 · Feb 20, 2013

CandySvoboda said:
If you wouldn't mind, how could I have obtained catchlights (or more accurate eye color) in this shot? Or can I brighten them up in PP? Just looking to better myself in the future.

Click to expand...

Bounce-card. I assume you bounced the flash off the ceiling. Just attach a white notecard with a rubberband to your flash. It's a really easy way to get some catchlights in eyes. And yes, you can always brighten up her eyes in PP.

I'm sure other members have better suggestions, but that's the easiest way I can think of

I recently picked up this diffuser but haven't used it yet: Amazon.com: Stofen Omni-Bounce OM-EW for Canon 430EX flash diffuser: Camera & Photo

Would the above serve the same purpose as the rubberband and note card?