Finally Got me some Studio Lights

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pawlowski6132
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p.1 #1 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

So, gots me an AB mono and a reflector. Below is my unwilling model and the result of sorting through how to use these things with my D700.

Question: I don't like the cathlights, what can I do?

How do folks feel about the quality of the light?

thanx in advance.

2008 © pawlowski6132

Jul 04, 2009 at 10:58 PM

Pfiltz
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p.1 #2 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Way tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much PS work on a kid....

Dont like the catchlights?

You can shoot in the dark I guess....

If you don't like 'em then move the lights, and/or size of the lights...

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:09 AM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #3 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Pfiltz wrote:
Way tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much PS work on a kid....

Dont like the catchlights?

You can shoot in the dark I guess....

If you don't like 'em then move the lights, and/or size of the lights...

First shot had zero PS work. Second had very little adjustments in LR.

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:22 AM

Pfiltz
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p.1 #4 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Something is a wack then.... He looks like mush in the first one...

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:33 AM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #5 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Pfiltz wrote:
Something is a wack then.... He looks like mush in the first one...

Do you mean his skin tone? Does it look OOF?

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:37 AM

Pfiltz
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p.1 #6 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Well, to be honest, I'm viewing it on my laptop. Something just looks weird about it... But then again, I don't even like my stuff on my laptop.

Can't describe what I "think" I see about the image...

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:46 AM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #7 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Pfiltz wrote:
Well, to be honest, I'm viewing it on my laptop. Something just looks weird about it... But then again, I don't even like my stuff on my laptop.

Can't describe what I "think" I see about the image...

You know what it might be...? I did adjust the Clarity control down to soften the skin detail. I may have over did it.

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:50 AM

JohnBrose
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p.1 #8 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Skin maybe looks a bit soft to me also, move the strobe further away to make the catchlights smaller and this will also make the light a bit harder which I think will help.

Jul 05, 2009 at 01:01 AM

anotherview
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p.1 #9 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

pawlowski6132: On the catchlight matter, I've read that for a more natural look, the catchlight should go in the upper area of the eyeball. This position emulates the position of sunlight reflected on the eyes.

Besides probable overprocessing, the subject's face lacks shadows to put a natural definition on the facial features.

The first book below presents a good discussion on how to arrange studio lights.

Three books:

Light -- Science & Magic, by Paul Fugua

Monte Zucker’s Portrait Photography Handbook, by Monte Zucker

Minimalist Lighting; Professional Techniques for Studio Photography, by Kirk Tuck

These books use plenty of illustrations, too.

Jul 05, 2009 at 01:24 AM

pilles
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p.1 #10 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

pawlowski6132 wrote:
Pfiltz wrote:
Something is a wack then.... He looks like mush in the first one...

Do you mean his skin tone? Does it look OOF?

Can;t you wizards tell that it's just a little overexposed? The b//w came out ok.

Jul 05, 2009 at 01:48 AM

Charbel Louis
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p.1 #11 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

pawlowski6132 wrote:
Pfiltz wrote:
Well, to be honest, I'm viewing it on my laptop. Something just looks weird about it... But then again, I don't even like my stuff on my laptop.

Can't describe what I "think" I see about the image...

You know what it might be...? I did adjust the Clarity control down to soften the skin detail. I may have over did it.

YES, you went too low with the clarity which tends to blur / smoothen pics. It looks unnatural. Can you post the original?

Jul 05, 2009 at 02:05 AM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #12 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Charbel Louis wrote:
pawlowski6132 wrote:
Pfiltz wrote:
Well, to be honest, I'm viewing it on my laptop. Something just looks weird about it... But then again, I don't even like my stuff on my laptop.

Can't describe what I "think" I see about the image...

Edited on Jul 05, 2009 at 02:26 PM · View previous versions

Jul 05, 2009 at 11:57 AM

pilles
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p.1 #13 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

You only needed to sharpen just a little. Mainly the eyes. Oh, and crop off that empty right side. It just shows ignorance. If that displeases you look it up in the dictionary, because it shouldn't

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:29 PM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #14 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

pilles wrote:
You only needed to sharpen just a little. Mainly the eyes. Oh, and crop off that empty right side. It just shows ignorance. If that displeases you look it up in the dictionary, because it shouldn't

pilles, are you suggesting - by cropping right side - I center the subject? I always thought that was a little boring.

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:36 PM

liamh
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p.1 #15 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Looks good for a first go. I like the crop too.

I'd suggest raising the key two-to-three feet and if you don't like the catchlights then either change your modifier or modify it with black flags and charlie bars etc.

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:37 PM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #16 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

liamh wrote:
Looks good for a first go. I like the crop too.

I'd suggest raising the key two-to-three feet and if you don't like the catchlights then either change your modifier or modify it with black flags and charlie bars etc.

Thanx Liam. Always good advice.

I think I need a new "studio" though. The 60" umbrella was already smacking the ceiling!

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:47 PM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #17 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Also, FWIW, color pic was with 24-70 @70, b/w; 70-200 @ 190

Jul 05, 2009 at 12:48 PM

Pfiltz
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p.1 #18 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Ok, it may be starting to make some sense... Why shoot with studio at 70th of a second. Modeling lights, ambient, etc... start to come into the picture at those speeds.

Shoot it again at 200th or 250th, and see what comes out of it.. 70th is way too slow if there is any ambient around.

Jul 05, 2009 at 01:53 PM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #19 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Sorry, my fault.

Exposure 1:

1/250 sec
f/2.8
ISO 200

w/ D700 & 24-70mm Lens @ 70mm

Exposure 2:

1/250 sec
f/2.8
ISO 200

w/D700 & 70-200 Lens @ 190mm

Jul 05, 2009 at 02:23 PM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #20 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Jul 05, 2009 at 02:25 PM

ESC in KC
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p.1 #21 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

Yep - OOF was what I thought at first glance. Also agree it could use a little more shadow for definition.

Jul 05, 2009 at 02:34 PM

anotherview
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p.1 #22 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

pawlowski6132: Some photographers swear by the soft-focus look; otherwise, you may wish to try an aperture of f/5.6 or smaller for capturing more image detail. Reviews of most lenses indicate that at the largest aperture, the lens shows the least sharpness.

In addition, you may wish to try a fast prime lens of 100mm or thereabouts for better results.

Although you didn't say, it looks like you may use auto mode camera settings.

Instead, try setting your camera to Manual mode. Set the custom flash function to 1/200 sec fixed in Aperture Priority mode. Set the aperture to f/5.6, the shutter speed to 1/30 sec, and the ISO to 100. The default first curtain sync will work in the studio. The flash fires at the beginning of the exposure, at a speed of about 1/1000 sec, thereby freezing the subject. The remainder of the exposure uses the ambient light.

You can easily vary the amount of ambient light captured by raising the shutter speed at any given aperture.

And of course you can vary the flash power for the exposure result you want.

Jul 05, 2009 at 06:17 PM

pilles
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p.1 #23 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

pawlowski6132 wrote:
pilles wrote:
You only needed to sharpen just a little. Mainly the eyes. Oh, and crop off that empty right side. It just shows ignorance. If that displeases you look it up in the dictionary, because it shouldn't

pilles, are you suggesting - by cropping right side - I center the subject? I always thought that was a little boring.

Which is boring? Centered or off side? One is brainless and the other is standard. I can't imagine why you think the standards that have stood for centuries are boring. Perhaps to small minds, I suppose.

Jul 05, 2009 at 06:20 PM

andypep
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p.1 #24 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

For a first go, looks pretty good. Now it's just practice, practice, andore practice!

Jul 05, 2009 at 08:45 PM

pawlowski6132
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p.1 #25 · Finally Got me some Studio Lights

pilles wrote:
pawlowski6132 wrote:
pilles wrote:
You only needed to sharpen just a little. Mainly the eyes. Oh, and crop off that empty right side. It just shows ignorance. If that displeases you look it up in the dictionary, because it shouldn't

pilles, are you suggesting - by cropping right side - I center the subject? I always thought that was a little boring.

Which is boring? Centered or off side? One is brainless and the other is standard. I can't imagine why you think the standards that have stood for centuries are boring. Perhaps to small minds, I suppose.

You just answered your own question, they're boring because they've been done for centuries the same way.

Jul 06, 2009 at 01:50 AM


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