Smoking Dragoon

[oriolhdz]

Hi all:
Well after some comments and critiques I received about lightening, one tip it was many times mentioned was the use of a mirror to reflect some light and had the function as a fill light. So I had nothing to do and tried to accomplish what I learned from all of you. I took this little dragoon in which you put incense inside this stomach and placed over a carpet (Black one) that also had the function of background. On the left side I placed my all around lamp and in the right side I placed a mirror. My purpose was to reflect the light at the right side of the dragoon and help the smoke being seen. That was all the light used as I took the shot in my room with the lights off. So here is the photo I got. It's straight from camera with only a saturation layer in which I desaturated the colors a little bit.


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oriolhdz/2233708527/" title="Smoking dragoon by Oriol Hernandez Farre, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2233708527_3c71407e99.jpg" width="284" height="500" alt="Smoking dragoon" /></a>


EXIF data:
Exposure: 1/60
Aperture: f/5
Focal Length: 38 mm
Iso: 800
Metering Mode: Center Weighted Average


I took like 60 photos so I have many angles of the dragoon and many close ups. My particular questions are about lightening, but feel free (I'll be very happy) for any other suggestions. Here are my doubts/questions.

1.- Is the light used for the photo adequate?
2.- Did you think/feel the mirror did a good job?
3.- Should I have placed the mirror in another point or another direction?
4.- Did I made a good choice turning off my room lights?
5.- Should I had used the build in flash?

Thanks for your comments!

[Saralonde]

I think the light is adequate, but there are a few bright highlights, perhaps caused by the mirror.
I've never tried a mirror for reflected light, so I'm not sure if placing it in another area would help. When I want to reflect light in a DIY way, I use a piece of white posterboard, a car window reflector (the silvery kind that keeps the sun out) or a piece of foil over a piece of cardboard.
Usually I try a few different shots to see where the reflector placement works the best.
Not sure what kind of room lights you have or where they are, but it looks like turning them off was a good idea.
Built in flashes sometimes give off hot spot reflections. You could try it with a diffuser in front to soften it. Using a lightbox may help give more even light, too.

[sideeffects]

I am by no means any kind of expert, however, I really like this shot. The lighting used seems to really give it a sence of depth. With an on camera flash I don't think you would have accomplished the same look. I just wish all the smoke was as illuminated as the bottom portion. I really like the shot man good job :D

[oriolhdz]

Thanks for your comments.

Saralonde:
I should have tried what you said about the diffuser on the flash or the car window reflector. I had one in my car but I totally forgot it. Will try in my next shot if possible. Thanks for your comments!

sideeffects:
I'm glad you liked the photo. I noticed what you said about the smoke. I definitely need to buy another lamp as the one I have is kind of broken and it's pretty hard to make it stay at some high point. The mirror was a little one (The only one I have) and was used as fill light and with the intention to light up the smoke. Maybe a bigger mirror would done it better or the car reflector mention by Saralonde.