I recently acquired some Alien Bees! Woot woot! So I figured I would take a few self portraits!
The first one is a joke, but I know it doesnt look that way. I committed to taking myself seriously and was going for the 'tough' look. My wife hates it (its my facebook profile pic now) because she says that it looks like I was being serious (so I nailed it)!.
The second one is more practice than anything and I am quite pleased at the results.
Both setups were a single light with a shoot through umbrella. First shot was with a 50mm and the second was with a 100mm macro.
I know the model needs A LOT of work...but I cannot afford plastic surgery...so help me with something that I can work on...my lighting!
j.curtis wrote:
The second shot is nice. The first one...
hahahahahahahaha! I'm still laughing as I write this. Chuck, thanks for posting these. It's always nice to see the people behind the camera once in a while. That second shot is great!
On #1, it looks like you're having a little sync speed issue with the dark line on the left (though you also have it on the bottom ?? ). The EXIF says you shot it at 1/200 which is technically the 5Ds max, but the manual says it only guarantees that speed with on camera Canon Speedlights. It recommends using 1/160 for off camera speedlights and strobes to ensure good sync. Some people are able to get sync off camera at 1/200, but I've never been able to consistently get higher than 1/160 and I know a bunch of other people who can't either. It doesn't look like you had an issue with 1/200 in #2 unless you cropped, but I'd stay at 1/160 in the future to ensure clean sync, especially when you shoot your When I Grow Up series.
congrats on the lights, man-i like the first one (though maybe clone out those dust spots)-big contrast between #1 "the bouncer" and #2 "nice guy next door"
They're both great shots in their own way, I got a laugh out of the first one. How did you set up the second? Catchlight looks round--maybe shoot-through or beauty dish? I just got an AB800 for my first studio strobe too, so I'm trying to figure out all these light setups now. Great stuff.
Which one(s) and how do you like so far? I'm contemplating some strobes with greater power and ABs appear to offer very good 'bang for the buck'. Any feedback most appreciated (but no obligation here; I understand we all have much to do).
thanks again...i figured that the dust bunny was the least of my concerns in the first!
initally, I was only looking for one AB800. so i put up a WTB on the BS forum. a LONG time member replied telling me he wanted to sell his whole kit (3 ABs (400, 800, 1600), 5 umbrellas, 3 stands, replacement bulbs for each, bags for each). i politely declined, but asked out of curiosity his price. lets just say that it was 'an offer i couldn't refuse'! and to top it all off, the guy was one of the nicest guys i've met here (and i've met a ton of nice guys!). when the package arrived, he threw in some other goodies (a canon st e2, light meter, other little cords, etc). so if you ever see 'rebel300' around, he is the man!
as for the lights, they are my first strobes. i absolutely LOVE them so far. its amazing to shoot at f/8, ISO 50 indoors! the first shot was with the 800, the second with the 400. so far, so good!
canerino wrote:
as for the lights, they are my first strobes. i absolutely LOVE them so far. its amazing to shoot at f/8, ISO 50 indoors! the first shot was with the 800, the second with the 400. so far, so good!
Chuck, you probably don't want to use ISO 50 on a normal basis. Even though lower ISO is normally better, the 5D has a base ISO of 100 and the ISO 50 is an expanded ISO that actually lowers dynamic range without really offering any noise advantage. It's useful sometimes if you need shallow DOF in bright light or with a strobe you can't reduce power on any further, but other than that you're better off with ISO 100.
