A "Blue-Eyed" Cookie Monster — just what I needed!

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Kodiak Qc

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French Canadian living in Europe since 1989!
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A company, planning a new prospectus, sent a manager to my studio for a fresh portrait.
The guy I knew very well as I was training his son (with mine) two years prior at the game
of hockey (Canadian style!) IT ALL WENT WRONG!

Last week, Profoto em@il me that there is a new version of their ProStudio 3 software…
that I installed immediately between other tasks… forgetting completely the firmware
updates for the compatible flash heads I use.

My trust in these products is such that I set up the studio (as the coffee was cooking) waiting
for him. I turned on the MBP, Capture One and launched the server module for CapturePilot
on the iPad Air 2, the remote control unit and the D3X. Just a look on all screens to confirm
the camera, flash heads and satellite were online and we went for the coffee.

HORROR! The most reliable, constant and predictable flash did not behave correctly. I lost
precious time at trying to resolve the problem, and then I remembered… the forgotten the
firmware update. I hated me to put a bullet in my head. :banghead::banghead:

Luckily, my client called back the office explaining that sudden belly pain interfered with the
shooting and that he will take a chance the next day.

That same afternoon, I did the update for the D2's, B1's and B2's and started testing them
all… just to be very sure. And then came the blue-eyed cookie monster.

—"…Want to help me go through these tests? I asked.
— "Mama, what is this?​
— "Little stars, sweetheart, do you want to help?
— …yes, but I want the stars!​

I babysit the monster a few times a month so we're old friends already. I got my tests done,
she had her stars, and she put a smile back on my face.
1
1030pppp.jpg


2
1032pppp.jpg


3
1041pppp.jpg


4
1046pppp.jpg


5
1050pppp.jpg


6
1063pppp.jpg

​
I am not after critique really. If I post these, it is just to tell the story and show
that sweet little girl. I just set a banch in front of the stars, raised her on it and
she was doing her show as I controlled the operations of the flashes.

I got the friendly manager the next day. IT ALL WENT WELL, WITH A SMILE!

​
 
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Lovely set Daniel, very handy to have a tame model for lighting tests :)
 
Nice set, captured her expressions well. But I wonder if there is slightly banding of the light on her face? More noticable in 3,5 and 6.
 
ABTog said:
But I wonder
Click to expand...

Thanks Alistair… the setup was for testing the perfectly
working upgraded firmwares and software and not op-
timized for a portrait of sweet Alina. Nevertheless, she
loves them (and the stars!). They were just dropping a
few muffins (can't resist those!) that she helped her mo-
ther bake in the morning! Hmmmm…

Thanks for your comment!
 
Kodiak Qc said:
Thanks Alistair… the setup was for testing the perfectly
working upgraded firmwares and software and not op-
timized for a portrait of sweet Alina. Nevertheless, she
loves them (and the stars!). They were just dropping a
few muffins (can't resist those!) that she helped her mo-
ther bake in the morning! Hmmmm…

Thanks for your comment!
Click to expand...

Hmm indeed.

You have a history of posting stuff in a critique forum and then when feedback is offered instead of listening and taking it on board you make excuses or blame someone else for your errors or inexperience. Consequently I know you're not going to want to hear this but I'm going to say it anyway..

She's a cute kid and you've got nice engagement, but I think you’ve completely overworked the lighting to no good effect.

Her eyes are in shadow but the accent light is hitting the tip of her nose creating unpleasant shadows and hotspots. Having one light either side of the subject has led to cross shadows and made her face look oddly bulbous. The twinkly lights in the background haven’t worked at all; they need to be much more out of focus. If you haven't got the space to get the bokeh then you'd be better off replacing the background in post.

And this one is just personal to me – I don’t think black backgrounds suit very young children.

hth
 
juggler said:
She's a cute kid and you've got nice engagement, but I think you’ve completely overworked the lighting to no good effect.
Click to expand...

AS CLEARLY STATED:
I am not after critique really. If I post these, it is just to tell the story and show
that sweet little girl. I just set a banch in front of the stars, raised her on it and
she was doing her show as I controlled the operations of the flashes.
​
Yesterday, a member needed desperately YOUR critique but you didn't.

You have a history of not reading post correctly or entirely.
Please, just pass by in the future.
 
Kodiak Qc said:
AS CLEARLY STATED:
I am not after critique really. If I post these, it is just to tell the story and show
that sweet little girl. I just set a banch in front of the stars, raised her on it and
she was doing her show as I controlled the operations of the flashes.
​
Yesterday, a member needed desperately YOUR critique but you didn't.

You have a history of not reading post correctly or entirely.
Please, just pass by in the future.
Click to expand...

I'm flattered that you think my critique is indispensable, but I'm not on here every day. Have you got a link?
 
Mark Johnson said:
Great set. Thanks for sharing...
Click to expand...
david357 said:
Lovely set Daniel, very handy to have a tame model for lighting tests :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for her David and Mark! :)

There were 3x D2's, 2x B1's and 2x B2's lighting the
set where 2 would been far enough. The tests went
on with the usual and expected precision, constancy,
and speed.

Mistakes can happen to any of us, but such stupid
ones like forgetting the firmware was worth sharing.
 
Sir SR said:
Perhaps the photos for pleasure might be a better place?
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Yes, you're right! :cool:
A PM reminded me of the option but it was too late.

Mind you, the cookie monster is a pleasure but the
post was more about the story of my forgetting to
update the firmware… very dumb!
 
Jayst84 said:
Yeah, looks like wrong forum to me.
Click to expand...
This was established and recognized.
Anyone else wants to tap on the nail?
Jayst84 said:
This was a test that the new firmware worked with the software and the lights, right?
Click to expand...
Yes, Profoto Studio 3 is including now
the D2 that joined the TTL family. So
now, everything is working together,
perfectly.
Jayst84 said:
Not a lighting test for your client the next day.
Click to expand...
No, not really! :ROFLMAO:
Usually, corporate portraits do not inclu-
de "stars", have not necessarily a black
BG, and do not require 7 heads. The
clients setup was already in place and
approved when I realized the dumb
omission
 
Thanks for sharing this interesting post Daniel, and the images of a natural little model. Number 4 for me is favourite.:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:. Do I hear some Mexican barking in the vicinity:rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
You should have kept testing... don't think you fully resolved your issues.
 
sunnyside_up said:
You should have kept testing... don't think you fully resolved your issues.
Click to expand...

What do you mean?
What do you think the issue was?
Why do you think it was not resolved?
How would you have resolved it?

Never mind, please do not answer the questions,
just read the OP.

…/
 
Is it not always useful to get crit ....even if not asked for..... If it can help improve photos? There's some very odd reactions around these parts..... Perhaps because Spring has sprung and testosterone levels are high LOL!!

Personally I'd be grateful that people took their time to provide me with feedback, not get my knickers in a twist and appear snotty :)
 
sunnyside_up said:
I think something was causing some miscommunication somewhere to cause the images to be under exposed.
Click to expand...

I see from your avatar you are POTY (joint). I would very much like to see examples of your Studio portraits but cannot find any. Would it be possible for you to provide a link please.:)
 
Graham W said:
Kodiak. I appear to be alone in understanding the intention behind your original post. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the solidarity, Graham!

Some, that are not concerned with studio flashes maybe, left a
comment on the cookie monster… appreciating the child as she
is and ignoring the rest of the post. Since they have little to do
with that kind of heavy gear, they don't care about the popping
seven flash heads and looked at the charming model.

Those who are familiar with studio gear were the ones I wanted
to share my uncomfortable experience. Once the problem solved,
a full testing was required and it was important to me that all the
heads responded the right way at the right time… cause I had an
other chance to shoot the manager the next day.

Instead of an arid post on goofing and flash tech and since I was
granted the visit of the little girl, her mother, and the muffins (and
since I keep the muffins for myself), I decided to post these pictu-
res..

Maybe my sharing intentions were too simple for some Mexicans
(as Charles rightfully called them) and prompt their undesired criti-
sues as if they would need to prove something.

Thanks again Graham!
 
@Kodiak Qc - I have to say that as a person you have piqued my interest ........ Your responses on this thread appear to be quite interesting ......... I say that as someone who no longer picks up a camera, doesn't post for crit and so has no axe to grind in any respect at all..... your responses on this thread are ............... strange to me.
 
swag72 said:
your responses on this thread are… strange to me.
Click to expand...

Sara, I understand you, I think.

As much as you "have no axe to grind in any respect at all", after
40 years in the trade growing up four kids with it, I am not here to
prove anything but to share knowledge and experience in return
for inspiration.

I would never post real shootings here but I post mainly in the bird
and wildlife sections as in these I just started +/- two years ago…
some kind of beginner again close to retirement!

I do not wish to interact with given members and wouldn't visit their
threads. I'm only begging for the same politeness.

… which, of course, does not apply to you Madame. :cool:
 
Again. I think this is just posted in the wrong forum. If it's about the lighting gear.......post it in the lighting section. If it's just for sharing with no critique wanted, then this is not the appropriate place, more the photos for pleasure section.

In this subsection people tend to post pictures and people comment with critique. Hence if you post here you can't be surprised if you get critique.
 
juggler said:
Feel free to hit the ignore button. I wouldn't have been so thorough in my critique if you (a) didn't so regularly profess to be an expert, (b) hadn't already got form for deflecting critique when honestly and generously offered and (c) sometimes give poor advice.
Click to expand...


This forum is for the critique of work not the worker. From this quote and other posts it would appear that you have a thing about Daniel, and you are actually trolling which is not good for the forum. Bye Bye . Ignore button pressed
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Don't understand why you couldn't find any? :thinking:
A simple search brings up loads........and she is very good :)
https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/search/3584447/
Click to expand...

sadly, searches are "live" and you can't copy the URL, it won't work...

however, if @charlychuckchuck wishes to see some of Bethy's work then the easiest way would be to go via her profile page, click the "postings" tab, then at the bottom of the page select "Find all threads by...." which will pull up all the threads she's created. And there's LOADS of them (like, 7 pages worth!) - and from what I've seen, they are damned good!
 

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TheBigYin said:
sadly, searches are "live" and you can't copy the URL, it won't work...

however, if @charlychuckchuck wishes to see some of Bethy's work then the easiest way would be to go via her profile page, click the "postings" tab, then at the bottom of the page select "Find all threads by...." which will pull up all the threads she's created. And there's LOADS of them (like, 7 pages worth!) - and from what I've seen, they are damned good!
Click to expand...
They are very good indeed.
I did the same as you, and copied the link, and it works for me :thinking:
Does that mean it will stop working? Or is it only working for me as its in my cookies?
 
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Sir SR said:
Again. I think this is just posted in the wrong forum.
Click to expand...

This was established and recognized.
How come you're still chewing on that?
 
•

I don't want any quarrel with you Shareed but
  1. you made your point in post 11
  2. I recognize it in post 12
  3. I said in post #1
    — "I am not after critique really. If I post these, it is just to tell the story…
 
Kodiak Qc said:
•

I don't want any quarrel with you ShaHeed but
  1. you made your point in post 11
  2. I recognize it in post 12
  3. I said in post #1
    — "I am not after critique really. If I post these, it is just to tell the story…
Click to expand...

No quarrel, but the point I was trying to make is that you could perhaps ask the mods to move it to a more appropriate forum and then all confusion is avoided?
 
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