Self-portrait C&C please

[OrionsByte]

Still experimenting with adding a second flash to the equation...

I know there are better things I could do with a second light than what I did here, but I just wanted to try something I definitely couldn't have done with just one light. However... is that rim/hair light a bit hot? Is it distracting?

Any other comments are welcome as well, of course. If I look half-asleep, it's because I'm actually 3/4 asleep and faking "only 1/2 asleep" really well.

Setup:
D7000, 50mm f/1.4 @ f/8, 1/200, ISO 200, in Manual +1EV
On-camera flash set to Manual at 1/64
SB-910 in to shoot-through umbrella at camera right, TTL
SB-600 bare behind subject out-of-frame to the left, TTL (started out in manual, can't remmeber why I switched except maybe just to try it).

FWIW, my self-critique at this point looks a little like this:

• Could use more catch lights in the eyes (I think I was just standing too close to the shoot-through, but I was trying to minimize the light falling on the background).
• Rim light might be a bit hot.
• Subject looks like they're 3/4 asleep and trying to fake being only 1/2 asleep.

 

[Samerr9]

I am not on my calibrated screen now, but the rim light is indeed over by a whole stop or so..

 

[OrionsByte]

Okay yeah I thought so. I need to find a book or some videos on portrait lighting and brush up. Thanks!

 

[StoneNYC]

I would place the light much higher to highlight the top of the hair more than the back.

I would also say that the more you learn about light, the more you will realize how much you can do with just one light and some bounce cards, think of light as ... As if you are playing pool/billiards, the light bounces off of the sides if the table and slows down the more it bounces and further it rolls.

The on camera flashes do have burst limitations over studio strobes of corse, but there's a lot you can do with one light.

Also yes the hair light is too hot and blows out the hair too much.

Keep at it!


~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

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[tirediron]

What they said! ^^

 

[Derrel]

That dude looks sketchy...I would keep a close,close eye on him net time he comes over!!! lol

My biggest complaint is the back-lighted ear...I really do not like to see the light streaming through the ear itself...looks kind of creepy to me...and once you start to look for that, it's very hard to look past it.

 

[OrionsByte]

II would also say that the more you learn about light, the more you will realize how much you can do with just one light and some bounce cards, think of light as ... As if you are playing pool/billiards, the light bounces off of the sides if the table and slows down the more it bounces and further it rolls.

Yeah I've done plenty of that kind of stuff, though I admit it's an area I could use some work on. Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[OrionsByte]

That dude looks sketchy...I would keep a close,close eye on him net time he comes over!!! lol

Tell me about it. He follows me around all the time... awkward!

My biggest complaint is the back-lighted ear...I really do not like to see the light streaming through the ear itself...looks kind of creepy to me...and once you start to look for that, it's very hard to look past it.

Point taken, thanks Derrel! I'll make sure to watch for that from now on.

 

[StoneNYC]

Tell me about it. He follows me around all the time... awkward!

LOL



~Stone

The Noteworthy Ones - Mamiya: 7 II, RZ67 Pro II / Canon: 1V, AE-1 / Kodak: No 1 Pocket Autographic, No 1A Pocket Autographic

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk