Volunteered the kid again. CC please

minicoop1985 · Mar 3, 2016

Volunteered him because I was getting absolutely nowhere in lighting myself without a mirror. Here's the setup-I changed a few things around this time:

2016-03-03_04-19-03 by Michael Long, on Flickr

And here's the shot:

Cooper by Michael Long, on Flickr

Anything I can do to make it better next time? I swear I had his shirt straight before I started shooting... children :lol:

OGsPhotography · Mar 3, 2016

Maybe you can move the chair out a bit and crop a bit tighter.
Perhaps the key light is a little high.

Getting better already! Keep it up man.

Designer · Mar 3, 2016

minicoop1985 said:
Anything I can do to make it better next time? I swear I had his shirt straight before I started shooting... children

Never mind the shirt, he's a kid.

There are a couple of things that you might not have thought of however;

His hands and feet probably should be cropped on this shot. Also have him sit on a posing stool (and sit up straight) because the chair back is distracting.

minicoop1985 · Mar 3, 2016

Is this a better crop?

Leaf_000697-2 by Michael Long, on Flickr

I do need a stool...

tirediron · Mar 3, 2016

Not bad! Definitely going in the right direction. I'd say your key light is positioned well, but it's about 1/3 stop too hot in his face.

minicoop1985 · Mar 4, 2016

How's this? Dropped the key light about 1/3 I think. Also opened my aperture a bit, moved him forward to throw the background out of focus.

Cooper by Michael Long, on Flickr

I know this one needs some improvements. I'm just not sure what to do on this one. Maybe a weeeee bit more fill?

Braineack · Mar 4, 2016

Pretty good showing.

you're doing this:

and I'd probably do this:

tirediron · Mar 4, 2016

Pretty much exactly what you see in the diagram Braineack posted.

minicoop1985 · Mar 4, 2016

Which one's main and which is fill?

Edit: I think I figured that out.

Braineack · Mar 4, 2016

The key would be the bounce, and the fill would be the shoot-through.

the idea would be to provide flat even light from camera axis, to bring the shadows to the level you want. Then you add in the directional-light key to light up the face to the level/shape you want.

I'd also bring it lower and more forward to get the catch lights looking better and the get the far eye lit up better.

minicoop1985 · Mar 4, 2016

This was taken before seeing that diagram. Ditched the tripod, though, so that explains why I BARELY missed focus... BAD MIKE BAD. I need to let the camera focus between shots. Oops.

Cooper by Michael Long, on Flickr

Edit: Now to try the new setup.

Braineack · Mar 4, 2016

im looking for a good link that shows how this lighting pattern works (plus additional lights -- rim and background). I've posted it before but im failing to find it again.