2 things. Move the softbox closer and up slightly so it's at 45 degrees or thereabouts. 2nd move the fill nearer to camera axis.
The exposure isn't bad but there's nothing to stop you adding 1-2 thirds extra to get that punch you want,
Superb Rob!
I've had a go at this myself but struggled with the 4' background to get much of a subject in, only playing with big ted not a real baby. Is your background 4' or wider? Also what focal lengh and setting are you using? If I could get anywhere near the quality of your photo's I would be over the moon
Rob, these are great. I like the box of cheerios in the setup pic, bribery perhaps?
Thanks!
My background is 4' I shoot with a 70-200 and just about manage. Its not easy though.
Keep at it, my photos aren't particularly amazing
Thanks Jim,
I've had my grand daughter round today and had another go, I'm still not happy. I have moved to light round a bit but if I up the power of the main and fill light respective I find that the image is washed out and pale even though the histogram is showing it's slightly under exposed. I have also noticed that the histogram on the camera is showing a slightly higher eposure than when I put it into Lightroom
This is am image SOOC
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And the set up
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Been I while since I've posted in here!
'Bella the Baker:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob_mank/8500287661/
Bella The Baker by rob_mank, on Flickr
The set up:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rob_mank/8508108410/
The baker - Set up! by rob_mank, on Flickr
120cm Octa Camera right, metered at f8. Bareflash bounced off the wall left metered at f4 as fill.
Seems an awful big setup for photographing a little cardboard box. You can buy a product tent off ebay for a twenty quid.
so.. would pretty much any flash and external wireless trigger do to light up the bg as in these?... I have got a jessops own nikon flash (although not TTL) and a bog standard £10 flash gun from very early on...
(something simular to this - but the head can hangle up to the ceiling etc...)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Miranda-ZF-3-flashgun-/261175932233?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item3ccf4c7549
Would a remote trigger kit such as this one be suitable for flashguns?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30m-Radio-Wireless-Flash-Trigger-PT-04-f-Canon-Nikon-Pentax-Camera-Speedlight-3R-/120837724722?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D5950048969157106910%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D220954674092%26
Ive also seen this: for less than £40 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/220954674092?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Would somebody suggest this is a waste of money? - or could it be a starting point?
Buy cheap, to learn, or buy expensive for a decent kit...?
My aim is to get some experience taking family shots etc / kids.. using kit which can be built upon over time... Im guessing gaining a remote trigger would be one of my first steps (having two crappy flash guns already... - and buying flash guns next? = or?)
I wouldn't bother with that lighting gear.
To start with 3 flashguns and a reflector will do you well.
Buy some yongnuo triggers, the cheaper RF-602's are very well regarded.
Your jessops nikon flash will be fine as will your cheap £10 one. It doesn't matter if they are not TTL as you won't be using it.
If you have a plain wall in your house then use that as a background, if not then a cheap eBay backdrop will do for now.
Light the background with anything between 0 and 2 lights leaving at least one for the subject.
If you have two on the background then you will need the reflector to act as a 4th light in some cases to add fill to the shadow side.
Konig light stands are also well regarded for their cheap costs. You'll want some modifiers, and umbrellas are the cheapest but they spill light all around the room. You can combat this by covering the open side of the umbrella or preferably buying a softbox instead, I learnt so much more once I had a softbox, you have so much more control.
Cheap gear will get you started but just don't buy the cheap studio light kits on eBay. You'll soon be spending money replacing them.
Google Strobist.com. You'll find a wealth of very useful information about kit and techniques. It's a really useful resource.
Haven't got around to the wall set up again yet but I have had my grandson round for a shoot with the hi-lite and I'm not happy with my results.
I didn't put the train on so put a piece of skirting board so it made it look like a white wall lol. anyway on with my problem...
I slightly underexposed the hi-lite with the intention of using the exposure brush in Lightroom which worked very well so I didn't get spill from the hi-lite on the subject, I used a 120cm Octabox for a main light and a reflective umberella for fill. I tried with just the Octabox to begin with but the left hand side of Jake was always in shadow and I'm after the hi-key look (but with contrasty images)
I feel my images are low in contrast, without the punch I'm after.
I used a light meter and set my main light to f11, 100 iso, 125sec and had my fill at f7ish.
The images look slightly underexposed to me but at the same time washed out so I don't feel I can throw anymore light at them. Is thishow raw images should look and is it a matter of PP or I am what am I doing wrong
Any help very much appreciated thanks
Jake
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Same image, tight crop
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The set up.
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Excellent shots, even more so for the first time using it!
here is the results of my first try with the hilite! I love it....and I was able to fold it up on the first try...
I folded mine first try on the first time I used it and then the second time took me about 45 minutes.
It was only from reading up a bit that I found it is a lot easier if you stand at a certain corner.
thanks very much!
I'm going to try and see how gelling works this week, and see how full length shots do also...I have a window of 30 days to return this for a 6 x 7 so I want to make sure that this size does it for me.
For the record...putting down white tile board and ramping it up to the lastolite seam did a great job...VERY LITTLE clean up in PS....
Here is the result:
Hmmm...well...that's easily rectified...better that than no shadowThe shadow is too dark for me. Nice exposure on the dog though
The shadow is too dark for me. Nice exposure on the dog though
Background light is too hot, it's bleaching the dog's outline, especially noticeable around the head.
Background light is too hot, it's bleaching the dog's outline, especially noticeable around the head.
I think you're right there.
Regards the floor, I like a feint shadow. Anything more just stands out. A large shadow like that is just too much.
just noticing this thread, Great ideas for a home set up. I must try and get my own set up. Is it expensive???