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.

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...

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.

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

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?

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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...

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?

Here's the original with NOTHING done.

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 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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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

Maybe #1 is just a bit OOF?