Yes this is my kid, Yes you can C&C, No don't worry about emotional attachment!

[KAikens318]

Playing around in my "studio" today. My biggest downfall is lighting when it comes to portraits so I was trying to do some one light SB-600 photos with a reflector on the side, although it doesn't look like there is much of a reflector in these....it was a BIG reflector too! I put a warming filter on these too but especially in the first he looks so pale. I am going to guess because that side of his face is overexposed?

1.

2.

3. LOL this one is more for fun. I told him to open his eyes because he was squinting.

 

[Destin]

the first thing I notice, is that I think it would look better if he was farther from the background on 1 and 3

 

[TheEugeneKam]

I concur the background stament. The skin is also way too smooth on 1 and 2. It works well with number 2 though.

 

[gsgary]

The only good thing about them is they are sharp, lighting is very poor way too harsh without an umbrella or softbox

 

[ghache]

Only good thing about that harsh light you used, they make eyes color pops..

 

[gsgary]

Even if you had bouced your flash off a large white card it would make a big difference

 

[adewitt]

I am completely new here..and frankly I am not even an amateur photographer. But wanted to share that I feel smashed up against him and the background in the first photo. I like the softer look of the 2nd photo, without all the extra shadows.

 

[Photogger]

Beautiful eyes on him! The second one is my fav. Agree with lighting and background comments. Would like to see this with some natural light, then compare, helps to make what you need to change stand out....if you already don't know that is!

 

[KAikens318]

Even if you had bouced your flash off a large white card it would make a big difference

I will have to try that. I have a diffuser cap coming in for the speedlight as well this week. I tried using my new silver umbrella but I wasn't getting enough light. Will have to bump my stops down a little more.

Will try farther from the background too. How many feet? Four?

Thanks all!:thumbup:

 

[Dominantly]

Hmmm.. Me thinks you went a bit too far with the eye enhancements.

I also think that f/16 was a bit of an overkill here, at least cut that in half.

Not sure what your backdrop is, but pull him about 6' away from it (or more if you can).
Was this bare SB-600 fired at him? Do you have an umbrella?

 

[KAikens318]

Hmmm.. Me thinks you went a bit too far with the eye enhancements.

I also think that f/16 was a bit of an overkill here, at least cut that in half.

Not sure what your backdrop is, but pull him about 6' away from it (or more if you can).
Was this bare SB-600 fired at him? Do you have an umbrella?

I have 3 white umbrellas, 2 brollies, and a silver umbrella. I need to get a stand attachment that will let me screw the SB-600 on it and have the umbrella on it b/c right now I dont have something that will do that. The only attachment I have is for actual lightbulbs, and I have my strobe that has an umbrella spot.

 

[doziergraphic]

The reflector is all about geometry. Not my best subject, but you have to look at where the flash is pointed toward the reflector, and then how the reflector will bounce that back to your subject. Amazing how moving it every so slightly can give you the result you need.

But I have modeling lamps on my strobes so I suppose that makes it easier, as I am able to see the reflective light as I adjust the reflector. But usually where I think it should be, is usually not where the best angle is. So having no modeling lamp would give me fits.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

I agree that having him a little farther away from the background would help here...

Also, on # 1 and #3. I think a little more fill light on his left would be helpful.

 

[kundalini]

#1 - You have a Loop lighting pattern. Notice the loop like shadow pattern on the side of the nose/nostril. This is good and remember how you achieved it. However, you also have a hard shadows on his neck and chest. Try bringing your main light back towards the camera and add another reflector under his chin to lighten. The masculine head position is tilted toward the lower shoulder.

#2 - The nose should have been brought towards the left ear slightly to keep from having his eyes in the corners of their sockets. Some white on either side of the eye is a prefered look.

#3 - Uplighting tends to give a manic look. This looks manic. You can have secondary catch lights, but the main ones should be in the 10:00 to 2:00 o'clock positions.

Nice "playing around" with your lights. Keep at it.

 

[Derrel]

Kundalini raises some solid technical/traditional points about light placement,lighting patterns, and the masculine posing,etc,etc. I think one can allow the somewhat 'feminine' head angle on a shot of a little boy wearing jammies...he's hardly "masculine" at that age! The one thing I think is worth taking away from this set of three is how the soft quality of the lighting in the second shot was achieved...compare shot #2 with #3,and the (awful) up-lighting in shot #3...that's good for Halloween photos and shots of Dennis Rodman,and not too much else...