Portraits with rented lens

[ronlane]

I rented a 70-200mm f2.8L for the weekend and thought I would pick up with portraits where I have been working on. This lens is amazing, I was even trying it in low light with high ISO's that I wouldn't think about with my equipment. I just thought I would share a couple of pictures taken with it. One is with OCF and one is with only natural lighting.

1.) 130mm at f2.8, ISO 400, 1/100 shutter speed, speed light and reflector was set up in a clamshell formation. I am wanting to learn how to use the clam shell lighting better.


IMG_8967 by Ron_Lane, on Flickr

2.) 70mm at f2.8, ISO 1600, 1/60 shutter speed, with natural lighting mainly from the laptop monitor that he was playing on.


IMG_8958 by Ron_Lane, on Flickr

 

[cgipson1]

Nice shots, Ron! On #1... I am not seeing the classic two catchlights in her eyes, that you see with Clamshell lighting... and also, she has shadows on the lower portions of her eye sockets (almost coon eyes). That would not happen with good clamshell lighting. She also has a shadow on her left cheek from her nose, again.. should not be there. It almost looks like the key light was low and the fill was high. Can you take a shot of your setup from the side... and post it? I want to see if we can figure this out for you...

 

[ronlane]

Thanks Charlie. I will set it up and snap it tomorrow. The top light was probably too high and she needed her chin up to get the top catch light. The bottom is just the reflector, again,only one light set up. (that's all I've got for now.

 

[cgipson1]

Thanks Charlie. I will set it up and snap it tomorrow. The top light was probably too high and she needed her chin up to get the top catch light. The bottom is just the reflector, again,only one light set up. (that's all I've got for now.

Cool! If you can, set it up exactly like you had it.. and have your wife sit where she was also! Subject placement / light placement is important here.

 

[ZenNguyen]

very nice shoots, i like them, pic 1, i feel too bright, right ?..set it down a litte maybe better ^^

 

[ronlane]

Thanks Zen. I brought the curves up that brightened but I really felt like that one needed that brightness.

 

[ronlane]

Charlie, This is as I shot the original. I really think I had the light too high away from her or I had the power too low.

 

[cgipson1]

Charlie, This is as I shot the original. I really think I had the light too high away from her or I had the power too low.

View attachment 35566

Light is way too high...the rear of the reflector should be about her chin level.... and the bottom of the umbrella about even with the top of her head. You shoot in between the two....

don't put the reflector in her lap.. just back the light stand out a little more. You don't have an reflector holder, do you? lol!

 

[ronlane]

Charlie, This is as I shot the original. I really think I had the light too high away from her or I had the power too low.

View attachment 35566

Light is way too high...the rear of the reflector should be about her chin level.... and the bottom of the umbrella about even with the top of her head. You shoot in between the two....

don't put the reflector in her lap.. just back the light stand out a little more. You don't have an reflector holder, do you? lol!

I do but it goes on top of that stand. I need to get another stand and then I can use the reflector holder.

 

[cgipson1]

Charlie, This is as I shot the original. I really think I had the light too high away from her or I had the power too low.

View attachment 35566

Light is way too high...the rear of the reflector should be about her chin level.... and the bottom of the umbrella about even with the top of her head. You shoot in between the two....

don't put the reflector in her lap.. just back the light stand out a little more. You don't have an reflector holder, do you? lol!

I do but it goes on top of that stand. I need to get another stand and then I can use the reflector holder.

Well try that same setup.. just move the umbrella down, leaving just enough room to shoot between them....

 

[ronlane]

I lowered the light and backed it up about 1'-1.5' and sat leaned the reflector on the stand and the floor.

 

[cgipson1]

Much improved!

 

[ronlane]

Thanks Charlie. Now can you convince my wife to buy me this 70-200 f2.8L?

 

[cgipson1]

Thanks Charlie. Now can you convince my wife to buy me this 70-200 f2.8L?

Just explain to her that it is the only lens that will do justice to her beauty... no other lens will do!

 

[ronlane]

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (She said that she wasn't that impressed with those two photos.) She didn't buy that one. (Been married a long time, she knows me.) I even tried to convince her that it would be a great valentines day gift for both of us. (Lasts WAY, longer than roses.)