What am I doing wrong?

redessa · Oct 26, 2011

I just got my first light stand, umbrella and trigger to take my speedlite off camera. (yay!) But now I have to figure out what to do with it. I thought the umbrella would make it look less flashy. I have pics here of one of my DDs and a nephew using the same setup (nephew was needing a pic for something specific and I was using my DD as the test subject in setting things up.) I have the umbrella on one side and a reflector on the other. I think the test shot w/ my DD looks okay (to my untrained eye) but when I put nephew in there, he's got all these shiny "flashy" areas on his cheeks and forehead. Is this just due to a difference in skin types?

How do I get it to not look like that? Should the light stand have been farther away? I experimented a bit with turning the flash down, adjusting the aperture and ISO but I wasn't able to find that sweet spot where he was still exposed well but didn't have the hot spots. And how come those same hot spots aren't on my DD's pic?

IMG_9877 by redessa, on Flickr

IMG_9878 by redessa, on Flickr

Trever1t · Oct 26, 2011

Shooting through or bouncing. His skin does look a bit shiney. Distance from umbrella?

Robin Usagani · Oct 26, 2011

make sure your flash head is not too close to the umbrella so it is more even.

kundalini · Oct 26, 2011

Just a few thoughts.....

With portraits such as this, I would try placing the main light just outside of the frame so that the light source becomes larger. Also, I would feather the light towards the camera so your subject is not hit by the center hotspot (assuming a shoot-through brolly) but will still be illuminated properly. Your images look as if the main light should be brought closer to the camera (in degrees of an angle) and raised vertically on the girl and lowered slightly on the guy. The nose shadow and catchlights are the tells here.

I would also try placing the reflector below and slightly on the opposite side of the main. it looks like you may be cancelling out the lighting ratio by the position of the reflector.

The dude may have sweaty or oily skin that is causing the hotspots, keep some powder close at hand.

Still these are a good start. Thanks for sharing.

EDIT:
Forgot to add.... when shooting people with eyeware, try to avoid the frame encroaching the eye.

KmH · Oct 26, 2011

It's not so much that you're doing anything wrong, as much as it is that you don't yet have the understanding and experience to control your lighting the way you want.

Some people have naturally oily skin. Having some wet wipes, or some face powder handy can help.

Try to adjust your lights so the shadow cast by the nose doesn't intersect the lip line.

redessa · Oct 26, 2011

Thank you for the suggestions!

And yes, I was using the umbrella as a shoot through but the one I got has the option of being reflective as well (removable cover). Would it do better to use it that way or not make much difference at this stage?

KmH · Oct 26, 2011

The difference is in how close you can get the umbrella to the subject. The closer the umbrella is, the softer the light.

You can get the umbrella much closer when it is used for shoot through, than you can when it is used reflectively with the black cover on.

One of the issues with using a speedlight in lieu of a studio strobe is not having a modeling light so you can preview the light before you release the shutter.

redessa · Oct 26, 2011

KmH said:
One of the issues with using a speedlight in lieu of a studio strobe is not having a modeling light so you can preview the light before you release the shutter.

Okay, so I had to look up modeling light but this is good information to know. I'm not to the point of looking into strobes just yet but this might nudge me in that direction.

As it is, I'm currently only in posession of hotshoe flashes; 3 of them now - my own canon 430 ex II, and a couple of old vivitars (about 10 and 20 yrs old) that aren't compatible with my camera but do work with my triggers. I was toying around with all 3 yesterday and got this. I realize it's not professional quality or anything, but I was having fun with it. (My other DD... I know, I know, they came from opposite ends of the gene pool. I also have 3 boys who fall various places in between. LOL)

IMG_9917 by redessa, on Flickr

KmH · Oct 26, 2011

A speedlight is a strobe that is very portable because it is small, and battery powered.

But, speedlights don't put out a lot of light, don't have any modeling lights, and are limited as to the light modifiers that can be used with.

Trever1t · Oct 26, 2011

My speedlights have a 'modeling' light function in cooperation with my body.

KmH · Oct 26, 2011

Such as the speedlight 'modeling light' feature is.

tirediron · Oct 26, 2011

What is a "DD"?

KmH · Oct 26, 2011

Dear Daughter?

redessa · Oct 26, 2011

Yes, sorry,
DD = dear (or damn depending on if they're getting on your nerves) daughter
DS for son
DH or DW for husband or wife
I've even seen DSS or DSD for step sons and daughters