photo advice and flash question. thanks

[photosoto]

Hi,
this is my second or third attempt at doing an outdoor portrait. These were taken with a D40 and Sb600 with crappy homemade flash diffuser that flapped around in the wind, ha ha... but seriously... I'm open to critique and suggestions here.
I realize I need some type of flash diffuser as well for the sb600. most of the photos i take are outside, so any recommendations?
I was considering a Flashbender bounce card for outdoor and maybe just a simple stofen for indoor. I'm not pro so I just thinking basic here...

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[edouble]

I think #1&#3 are fantastic exposure and composition wise. You did very well. I am not a pro either lol but I do have umbrellas and I honestly rarely use them outdoors. I just do not find them necessary but like I said I am no pro! Maybe with serious strobes diffusers are needed but for our speedlights I am not sure they are always needed.

 

[gsgary]

These look preety damn good, i can see a bit of light coming through her hair from the sun, try again when it is a bit brighter so you can really get some light coming from behind through her hair

 

[photosoto]

appreciate that. If anyone has any advice in reference to the flash diffuser that would be awesome. Demb products? Suggestions on something I can use to bounce light but also to use as a fill flash for indoor?
thanks

 

[tirediron]

C&C per req:

These are a good start, however a few thoughts/observations: Your white balance is a little off, as they all seem to have a slightly cool hue. Your backgrounds are rather distracting, esp. in #s 2 and 3. Try and find a setting that is a little more even and homogenous; a green hedgerow or something. All of these are slightly under-exposed; I'm guessing between 1/2 (#3) and 1 1 1/3(#2) stops. How are you metering these? Do you have a flash/incident meter? Lastly, the lighting seems a bit flat or dull. Where is your light in relation to the subject and the sun?
As far as a diffuser goes, check eBay - you can either spend $20 on the Nikon brand slip-on diffuser (which clips on to the flash-head) or <$10 for an off-brand. Failing that, a chunk of translucent plastic, milk jug or similar slipped over the flash head will work fine.

On the plus side, you've nailed the focus; the eyes are beautifully done. Just try and get her to smile a little more!

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

 

[Village Idiot]

You need a large light source, which may be difficult with an on camera flash. A diffuser outside really doesn't nothing besides robbing power from your flash. To get a softer light, you need a bigger light source, like using a shoot through or reflective umbrella.

The below photo was shot in the middle of an overcast day with one Canon speedlight off camera and a shoot through umbrella.

Shooting with the flash in manual mode can also give you more control over your portraits. I adjusted the camera's settings to slightly under expose the background and then upped the power on the flash to properly expose the subject. This gives you a clear and exposed subject and helps to create drama.

 

[ArranLomas]

I really like #3

Just a suggestion, but try to add in a flashgun on manual using a very low power setting such as 1/32 or 1/64 (with a diffuser), add an off camera flash at 45 degrees to you to add shadow

 

[Early]

I think the flash made your portraits too flat. Try using them only for fill, especially if you can bring up some soft shadows. In fact, you might not need any flash in that light.

 

[KmH]

The flatness of the lighting is because the strobe was on the camera.

OCF (off camera flash) and using an apparently large light source is how you get really nice lighting.

An apparently large light source could be from a piece of white foamboard you bought at Wal-Mart or a $15 convertable 45" photographic umbrella: Impact 45" Convertible Umbrella UBBW45 - B&H Photo Video

To use the umbrella, you would also need a $17 umbrella bracket: Impact Umbrella Bracket 3117 - B&H Photo Video and either a tripod, or better still a $20 light stand: Impact Light Stand - Black, 6' 2205 - B&H Photo Video

Lastly, you would need a way to trigger your SB-600 off the camera:
$30 (has an extra receiver)... PT04 Wireless Radio Flash Slave Trigger+2Rx NIKON CANON - eBay (item 280533509330 end time Nov-08-10 20:09:36 PST)

So for just $82 you can have the start to some pro lighting gear.

 

[photosoto]

C&C per req:

These are a good start, however a few thoughts/observations: Your white balance is a little off, as they all seem to have a slightly cool hue. Your backgrounds are rather distracting, esp. in #s 2 and 3. Try and find a setting that is a little more even and homogenous; a green hedgerow or something. All of these are slightly under-exposed; I'm guessing between 1/2 (#3) and 1 1 1/3(#2) stops. How are you metering these? Do you have a flash/incident meter? Lastly, the lighting seems a bit flat or dull. Where is your light in relation to the subject and the sun?
As far as a diffuser goes, check eBay - you can either spend $20 on the Nikon brand slip-on diffuser (which clips on to the flash-head) or <$10 for an off-brand. Failing that, a chunk of translucent plastic, milk jug or similar slipped over the flash head will work fine.

On the plus side, you've nailed the focus; the eyes are beautifully done. Just try and get her to smile a little more!

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

I'm afraid I don't remember where the light source was. The sun was going down and I really didn't even take into consideration at that point. There was visible direct sunlight in the background but I don't think it is really visible in the photos. I think for most of these I was using Aperture priority, preset 1/3 stop down, and for most of these were actually stopped down a few more primarily to keep the sky from being overexposed looking. The flash is was actually stopped down between -.07 and -.1 with the intention of keeping her face look naturally lit or looking pale... which helped i think.
Not sure what a flash/incident meter is??

 

[farmerj]

check out Strobist

 

[photosoto]

So I'm a little confused, please help me understand. Is the shadows/lighting on the face just subjective thing? My intent was to fill in shadows on her face and look as natural as possible...but there seems to be a trend of creating shadows with side lighting. Is this for depth? texture?

Also I think I helped the white balance and I didn't realize how bad the WB was off til I fixed them. Look better?

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[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Outdoors, most modifiers become a waste as I think VI stated already. Instead of buying some $20-$30 diffuser, get one of these
CowboyStudio Photography Lighting | Studio Equipment | Studio Accessories
and get that flash off camera. You don't have to go far to the side, but straight on flash is typically harsh and fake looking. Yes you CAN make it work at times and especially in a bind, but if you are trying to make your shots look like other pro shots you see, then you will need off camera flash, plain and simple.

EDIT - Umbrellas are very nice also, but make sure you find a way to secure it or it will become a big projectile flying into your models face.

 

[KmH]

Yes, it's for depth/drama/tension/interest/texture, or what is called facial mask modeling.

The more light sources you can use, the more control you have over the facial mask modeling. That's why so much portrait photography is done in a studio.

Ultimately, photogaphey is entirely about controlling the light.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Also, I forgot to add, don't forget the obvious; the sun is like a second flash. If you are using off camera flash to the left and have the natural light hitting the right side ( assuming your lighting is balanced ) shadows get filled and in a much more natural looking way.