New equipment. First attempt...

[k9mom]

I received new lighting equipment for Xmas and ever since it has all been sitting in a corner still unboxed, as I've been too intimidated to use it. Friday a friend asked if I'd take some photos of her and her dog together with her foster dog, as the foster was leaving for his new home the next day. So I broke out all the pieces of equipment Friday night and fumbled about, trying to piece together everything -- light stands, multiclamps, flash heads, cybersyncs, soft box, umbrella...etc.

Here are four from the session. I know I have a LOT of room for improvement but, honestly, I was just so happy I got all the stuff assembled correctly and that the Cybersync trigger and optically-triggered flashes all synced together, according to plan. Thanks for looking and I welcome critique as long as you are gentle...it was, after all, my first time.

Equipment:
Softbox LOC, 45degree of subject (430EX II flash, full power). Silver reflector umbrella ROC, 45degree right of subject (Promaster FTD7000M flash, full power.) Backlight, no modifier (Promaster FTD7000M flash, 1/32 power)

Canon 40D
50mm f/1.8 lens
1/250
ISO 100
images #1 & #2: f/6.3
images #3 & #4: f/8.0

[bhursey]

They look great.. Looks like a nice set up you have!!

[bizsavvyphoto]

Looks good! The dogs looks really friendly.

[Samanax]

Nicely done for your first time with your new lighting setup. The light on your subjects looks good, I just don't care for the effect you're getting with the backlight in the first two shots. I think the images would have worked nicely without it.

[k9mom]

Originally Posted by Samanax

Nicely done for your first time with your new lighting setup. The light on your subjects looks good, I just don't care for the effect you're getting with the backlight in the first two shots. I think the images would have worked nicely without it.

Thanks for you feedback...yes, I agree about the "halo" effect of the backlight. I think maybe I should have used it instead as rim light or kicker (turning the light 180degrees to give highlights/outline to my models.

[k9mom]

Originally Posted by bhursey

They look great.. Looks like a nice set up you have!!

Thanks! Managed to get most everything (except the cybersyncs) for bottom dollar on either ebay or amazon.com, so was able to get most of what was on my xmas list (except the 5d Mark II...joking...if only!) Still, for an amateur setup, I think it'll give me the practice I need until I can afford proper model lights, etc.

[k9mom]

Originally Posted by bizsavvyphoto

Looks good! The dogs looks really friendly.

Thanks...the dogs are friendly, but were polar opposites, energy wise. Ted, the dog on the right, was nearly frozen from camera/flash fear, while the other, Driego (the foster dog) was wanting to bound up and down, over and under and everywhere in between (nearly knocking down the light stands.) Here's an outtake (there were MANY)...

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by k9mom

Thanks! Managed to get most everything (except the cybersyncs) for bottom dollar on either ebay or amazon.com, so was able to get most of what was on my xmas list (except the 5d Mark II...joking...if only!) Still, for an amateur setup, I think it'll give me the practice I need until I can afford proper model lights, etc.

Modeling lights? What are those? That's what your eye is. You should take a look at David Hobby's strobist seminar... The best way to tell where you light is going to land is to stand up and look down the barrel of the flash. To me it looks like you got a setup that will do everything you need for mobile professional work.

[k9mom]

Originally Posted by bhursey

Modeling lights? What are those? That's what your eye is. You should take a look at David Hobby's strobist seminar... The best way to tell where you light is going to land is to stand up and look down the barrel of the flash. To me it looks like you got a setup that will do everything you need for mobile professional work.

Thanks again...yeah, prior to actually testing out the setup, I'd been told my 430EX II and cheap FTD7000M flashes would not be powerful enough to provide sufficient light. But I was pleasantly surprised by this first attempt. Probably not enough light for larger groups, but for pets and small groups of 2 or 3, I think I can get by with this. AND, as you suggest, using the flash heads offers so much more portability than studio lights. (Thanks for the link, too, will check it out!)

[sk66]

Originally Posted by k9mom

Thanks for you feedback...yes, I agree about the "halo" effect of the backlight. I think maybe I should have used it instead as rim light or kicker (turning the light 180degrees to give highlights/outline to my models.

I agree, rimlight would work better, but overall a VERY nice job for first time out. I feel like the light from the front is just a little strong, but #3 is excellent.