Trial for background Christmas lights

casegrl · Dec 2, 2011

Help???

Without background lights

MTVision · Dec 2, 2011

What do you need help with? Your white balance is off in the first one. You can fix it in post if you are shooting raw. Bring your subject away from the background more that way we can't see the background - just the lights. What aperture did you use?

marmots · Dec 2, 2011

not sure why you would want the lights behind anything

normally you wouldn't want to diffuse them

MLeeK · Dec 2, 2011

While I like the idea... I like the without lights much better. Regardless of the white balance issues and the fact that it is severely underexposed.

casegrl · Dec 2, 2011

The dark one F1.8 with a 50 mm lens......I didn't want to do any photo shop cuz I wanted you to see the original & get help from there.

eUgalde13 · Dec 2, 2011

It seems to me like if you let the camera decide what was the best for you. Set up your camera on a tripod and just like in the second picture but in fully Manual, even the focusing. Once you match that turn the lights on and shot. And as MTVison said, give more space between the baby and the lights for a better BOKEH.
My .02

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casegrl · Dec 2, 2011

I thought they looked like sleepy night time neat......

MLeeK · Dec 2, 2011

You need to change how you are metering or put in an exposure compensation of about +1 to +1.5.

You need to get that white balance issue fixed either by using auto white balance or by setting a custom white balance or something besides whatever you are doing for white balance.

casegrl · Dec 2, 2011

MLeeK · Dec 2, 2011

? What can we do for you? I am a little confused, forgive me.. but you seem to be re-posting the same poorly exposed image with the same white balance issues... I don't know how to help you... Need words here. Sorry!

MTVision · Dec 2, 2011

casegrl said:
I thought they looked like sleepy night time neat......

Whatever you are using for a background looks thin. In spots you can almost see through it (or see darker areas). If you put more distance between your subject and background it will blur out the backdrop so you can't see it. The lights will look better as well.

This is obviously doll - its meant to be a silhouette type shot just for practice but she how you can see the uneven tones in my muslin background. With it lighter you would be able to see the wrinkles in it as well. This was at f/2.0.

This next one is at f/1.6 1/100 ISO 100

You can still get the smaller bokeh like in your images and my 1st one by backing the subject away a little bit. You just don't want the backdrop showing. Are your lights behind the backdrop?