ok I'll try to explain this simply...most important forget the speedlights and work with the esprints...if you e me I will return strobe diagram that will solve some of the problems....Use the soft box, umbrellas are to contrasty...buy another softbox but get a multidome like the photoflex since you got a small get a med large or large so you can change the inserts and the outside masks...next reflector purchase should be 42 inchers in gold or soft gold again by photoflex.....
the most important thing you can learn is the soft box or reflector is effective in this fashion...2/3 the length of the shortest side of the reflector or box is the minimum effective distance it should be from your subject... so if your softbox has a short side of 6 ft it is only effective at 4 feet or closer to the subject; farther away becomes point source and loses the effect....if your reflector is 3 ft round than its best effective range is 2 feet or closer to your subject.... film calibration is not hard; actually really easy....you can do tons of great portrait or fashion with two strobes and reflectors; its all about placement....again E me and I can send you info that is very effective and than we can get you into live and see it work....
Yes you will see flare or ghosting inthe viewfinder usually as a greyish film intruding on your subject or background...
Artie, Thank you for your insights and suggestions, now that you mention the right side fill I can see that would be an improvement. Also, the vertical, nice idea. I hope to train my eye to see these things.
My equipment: 2 Bowen Esprit II 500ws, 1 24"x24" softbox came with the set so only has white interior, 1 30" umbrella, 1 32" 5 sided reflector disk, 1 42"x78" white translucent panel. 2 550ex speedlights from Canon. Various tripods/stands.
On this shot, the light was approx 48" away from Mark, and approx 60" in height (Mark was kneeling) set at an angle to his nose. The 42" panel was camera left and roughly 36" away, the 32" silver sided disk was back left and in direct line with the softbox, but angled so as to reflect back down on Mark roughly 60" high. Not sure what the light was set on but it read 125 F11, so that is what I shot.
Sounds as if I will need to pick up another panel for additional fill light. My wife will love it!
all agreeded on hand placement but you can also raise your camera perspective to lessin its impact....dont pull your lights back to lessen light; turn them down....Are these hot lights or strobes and please inform of the type of accessories used IE. umbrella, multi soft box...etc... The distance the light is from the subject is critical to the correct lighting set up...shine is due most likely to the type of reflector on light and fill used...yes men should wear makeup as well and you should provide the service...if you cant afford a makeup artist (which you rebill anyway) get a student or someone in the trade looking for experience and do a TFP... you also ned a fill tohis right camera left to pull him of the background and get a soft fil to the torso to rid the floating head look althought there isnt much torso here to worry about... A tight top crop like this will work in a vertical but not in this format but that can be recropped... in order to advise on this setup it is necessary to know the type of setup to help you correct the errors.... The obvious is the hotish camera right and the need for more fill to his right and behind him
Thank you guys...and I agree with both in relation to the hand placement it is way to dominate, thank you for the idea of using the one further from the camera to reduce its size, makes perfect sense.
Detlef, you are correct his left side is hot, I will either need to lower the light output or move it back?? Not sure which.
The other thing I noticed with Mark, was that his skin was very shinny almost to a glare with the lights. He is my brother, so I was able to talk him into some of Linda's makeup, but he did not care for it that much. When shooting men, is it common to use makeup? And if so, am I to provide it?
Hi Dan. I'm new to studio photography myself. I agree with Detlef about the hand. I would have liked to see all of his head in this shot. Crop is too tight up top, for me that is.
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{K:1792} 9/14/2001