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Archive 2018 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

cliphe
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

Congratulations to cliphe for winning Feature Thread of the Week with 3 votes - View Previous Winners

What do you think of the quality of light? To dark, do I need more fill?

Jun 13, 2018 at 05:32 AM

pjbuehner
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

I like the light and colors a lot. The light gives a nice catch light in the eyes. I also light the shape of the light on the face. It is obvious that you were very intentional in the lighting and pose angle.
It does appear on my monitor that you have a slight front focus issue. Her eyes seem just a bit soft compared to other spots in the image.
Nice work!

Jun 13, 2018 at 05:45 AM

blackfeather1
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

gorgeous.

Jun 13, 2018 at 07:23 AM

mitchel674
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

I'd prefer a bit more fill with a well-placed reflector.

Jun 13, 2018 at 07:58 AM

story_teller
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

I would agree that the lighting ratio on the 1st image is a bit dark to fit the mood, pose, expression, etc. You also came very close to chopping off the finger on her hand. The second is much better and very acceptable, but as previously mentioned, the eyes look a bit soft.

Everything else is very well executed!

Jun 13, 2018 at 08:23 AM

cliphe
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

Thanks for the advice! The lighting should fit the expression, gotta remember that. I need to look and see if I have a better focused image!

Jun 13, 2018 at 08:35 AM

friscoron
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

I'm going to disagree with those who say it's too dark. I think it's immaculate. But the thing is, you can ask 100 photographers that question, and get 100 different answers. You can also ask 100 non-photographers that question, and get 100 more different responses.

You have to decide what works for you, what your style and brand is, what your lighting is. Otherwise, today you're going to adjust your lighting the way a couple photographers tell you, then tomorrow a couple more will tell you differently and you adjust again, and so on and so on, and pretty soon you don't think for yourself, you only think about what others would say about your lighting.

The most boring thing in the world is trying to do things the way everyone else is doing it. I'm not saying you should not get feedback or listen to others, but I am saying you need to decide how the overall scheme of lighting works in your images. And trust me, your personal style and brand will change over time, as it should.

I will say, tho, that you need to do something about the wrinkles in the backdrop. That really caught my attention. So I'd look at the girl, then go straight to the backdrop. That's not good.

But the mages sure are good. Great job! Keep sharing.

Ron

Jun 13, 2018 at 01:36 PM

JBPhotog
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

For me the exposure of her face vs her leg in #1 is way too much, Zone 7-8 vs 2-3.

Either do some work in post to bring up the tone of her leg or crop it out. Fixing it in camera would have meant a reflector to pump some light back into the leg area or have her put on some slacks or jeans to cover the skin. Human perception of skin tone is ingrained in our brains and when it is this far apart it looks odd.

#2 has the same issues but to a lesser extent and easily fixed in post. Maybe next time have her to use less makeup or at least blend it to her natural skin tone.

Jun 13, 2018 at 02:24 PM

friscoron
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

FWIW, I completely agree with JB on the face vs leg thing. Esp since you have that highlight running along the top of her leg. That highlight looks like a lighting mistake to me. You were going for a natural window look, so it would need to look natural for that.

Jun 13, 2018 at 02:56 PM

LPfromNJ
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

Beautiful images and some good CC given here. My question is, how did you export the files to post that large? I can't seem to figure out how to do that and have them as crisp as you have yours. Thanks.

Jun 15, 2018 at 09:36 PM

cliphe
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

Thanks for the kind words. I save them on photoshop at a level 4

Jun 15, 2018 at 10:29 PM

Peter Figen
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

The shots and the light are quite beautiful. If I were doing it, I'd have pulled the light a hair closer to the camera. It feels like the left side of her face (camera right) is a bit too hot compared to the shadow side. It's not a huge deal, but it's the small kind of detail that moves something from very good to great. Maybe it's just lightening up that side of her face a small amount.

In terms of the person asking about the size and quality, you just dupe your hi-res and sample it down to whatever pixel dimension you want. I didn't download these and check, but they feel like about 1500 pixels tall. The best way to do that is using Image Size and make sure the the Automatic Interpolation is turned off and you use standard Bicubic. You do NOT want to use Bicubic Sharper as it applies global and uncontrollable sharpening and Bicubic Automatic you have no control whatsoever about what type of interpolation is being use. After downsampling, dupe the background layer and apply a small amount of USM to the duped layer - maybe 100, .3-.4, 0, then mask off that layer and brush that sharpening in only where you want and need it, but do it in multiple strokes at a reduced opacity to give you better control over the final effect. The level of jpeg compression has nothing at all to do with this. It only affects final file size and whether there are visible artifacts or not. I would normally be a little higher - maybe level 6-8 for most web jpegs, but it depends on the subject matter and the purpose.

Jun 16, 2018 at 03:09 AM

cliphe
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

Thanks Peter for the lesson in sizing! I like your way better because in my way the next photo I save I have to remember to change the setting!
Thanks JB for the critique on the different skin tones. This was my 1st time to use this 8x8, I draped a black piece of fabric over the bottom 2 feet and raised the frame about 2 feet off the ground. I was trying to mimic a window that did not go from the floor up. Definitely something to keep in mind.

Jun 16, 2018 at 08:06 AM

cliphe
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

The wrinkles are killing me! I have tried pulling it tight, I bought a sprayer to spray water on it, my goal today it to wash it (I put it up right out of the package)

Thanks for the kind words

friscoron wrote:
I'm going to disagree with those who say it's too dark. I think it's immaculate. But the thing is, you can ask 100 photographers that question, and get 100 different answers. You can also ask 100 non-photographers that question, and get 100 more different responses.

You have to decide what works for you, what your style and brand is, what your lighting is. Otherwise, today you're going to adjust your lighting the way a couple photographers tell you, then tomorrow a couple more will tell you differently and you adjust again, and so on and so on, and pretty soon...Show more →

Jun 16, 2018 at 08:07 AM

Big Appa
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

I'll tell ya one thing, I'd have loved to seen a head and shoulders with the same light with hair and face posed as in number two..great color, wonderful model.

Ed

Jun 16, 2018 at 01:55 PM

Steve Wylie
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

I’ve been meaning to try this approach for a long time. I have the diffuser. What was your light source and what was your placement of the diffuser in relation to your subject?

Jun 23, 2018 at 10:25 PM

cliphe
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Trying out an 8x8 diffuser for window light

It was about 4 feet from her, slightly angled on the front edge towards the camera, I had a black cloth on the bottom 4th of the screen. For the light I just had a Rovelight 600B with a colt 45 pointed towards the screen (about 4 feet away)
Hope that helps

Jun 23, 2018 at 11:22 PM


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