Lighting Problems --- Flowers

[bookloveraz]

I'm not really sure if this is posted in the right section or not.... If it's not please let me know! I don't want to break any rules.

I really like the background on this picture, but the flower is too dark. Any tips on how to lighten up the flower without messing with the background? Any other critique is welcome too.

EXIF:
Camera: Canon
Model: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
ISO: n/a
Exposure: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: 3.1
Focal Length: 58mm
Flash Used: No

I'm pretty sure this was taken in sports mode (don't ask why...).

[oldwolf]

SOOC you'd have to use your flash or a reflector to throw some light on the flowers. In post you'd have to use two layers, one for the background(to keep it the same way) and one for the flowers(to lighten them up).

[bookloveraz]

Originally Posted by oldwolf

SOOC you'd have to use your flash or a reflector to throw some light on the flowers. In post you'd have to use two layers, one for the background(to keep it the same way) and one for the flowers(to lighten them up).

Thanks for your help. One more question though. This was taken in the shade, so there wasn't much light to reflect on the flower. How would you do that?

[KJPino]

You could try using your pop-up flash but making your shutter speed longer and your apperature smaller - this will let your flash 'highlight' the flower initially but then allow the shutter to stay open longer via the smaller aperature to still get the rest of the image captured - kind of experiment with the flash and various lower ISO, Shutter and smaller aperature and you'll quickly see some ways to play with it...

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by bookloveraz

Thanks for your help. One more question though. This was taken in the shade, so there wasn't much light to reflect on the flower. How would you do that?

The light doesn't always have to be right next to you. Get a big enough reflector then have someone stand in the sun and bounce the light in to the shade. If you have a tripod and no one to help with the reflector then set the self timer on the camera and you stand in the sun with the reflector.

If you have a flash on your camera then put something in front of it like a tissue to soften the light a bit and tinker to see how much flash you need to expose the scene the way you want to present it.

Not sure what program you're using so I'll have to be general with the post work. Open up the original image; the one where you like the background. Now duplicate that image/layer. Apply levels or curves to the top layer so you get the flower exposed correctly. Now you can either erase everything but the flower on the top layer or apply a mask and paint it so the flower is the only thing showing.

[bookloveraz]

Originally Posted by KJPino

You could try using your pop-up flash but making your shutter speed longer and your apperature smaller - this will let your flash 'highlight' the flower initially but then allow the shutter to stay open longer via the smaller aperature to still get the rest of the image captured - kind of experiment with the flash and various lower ISO, Shutter and smaller aperature and you'll quickly see some ways to play with it...

By smaller apperature do you mean a smaller number, or a larger number? I am basically just beginning and get confused easily...

Originally Posted by oldwolf

The light doesn't always have to be right next to you. Get a big enough reflector then have someone stand in the sun and bounce the light in to the shade. If you have a tripod and no one to help with the reflector then set the self timer on the camera and you stand in the sun with the reflector.

If you have a flash on your camera then put something in front of it like a tissue to soften the light a bit and tinker to see how much flash you need to expose the scene the way you want to present it.

Not sure what program you're using so I'll have to be general with the post work. Open up the original image; the one where you like the background. Now duplicate that image/layer. Apply levels or curves to the top layer so you get the flower exposed correctly. Now you can either erase everything but the flower on the top layer or apply a mask and paint it so the flower is the only thing showing.

Any suggestions on a reflector that's not official? Could I use a gigantic piece of white paper? I'm only 13 and don't have the money to buy a bunch of equipment. Hopefully someday. Same with the tripod... Would a mono-pod help?

I actually don't use one specific program... I have Jasc Paint Shop Pro, but it's not the current version. I also have Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. Yes, I know it's really old.... Also, I recently discovered Photostudio 5.5 that came with my camera. That's been fun to play around with. Would you advise brightening the flowers and the leaves, or just the flower? I guess I'll have to experiment a bit. Thanks so much for your help!

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by bookloveraz

By smaller apperature do you mean a smaller number, or a larger number? I am basically just beginning and get confused easily...



Any suggestions on a reflector that's not official? Could I use a gigantic piece of white paper? I'm only 13 and don't have the money to buy a bunch of equipment. Hopefully someday. Same with the tripod... Would a mono-pod help?

I actually don't use one specific program... I have Jasc Paint Shop Pro, but it's not the current version. I also have Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0. Yes, I know it's really old.... Also, I recently discovered Photostudio 5.5 that came with my camera. That's been fun to play around with. Would you advise brightening the flowers and the leaves, or just the flower? I guess I'll have to experiment a bit. Thanks so much for your help!

Smaller aperture would mean a larger f/stop number.

Nothing wrong with Paint Shop Pro. I use Paint Shop Pro X2 as well as Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom 3. I'd have to say I use the Paint Shop Pro more than I do the CS4 though.

A monopod wouldn't work because your camera would just fall over if you tried to have it free standing unless you propped it up against a tree.

A large enough white piece of paper would do in a pinch. I wouldn't invest in a reflector until you figure out what type of photography you want to get in to. It would be bad if you bought one that's too small or too large for your purposes.

Lightening up the leaves is personal preference. I think I would just because we rarely see a spotlight on just the flowers.

Just remember that it's the photographer and not the camera that sees the picture. The camera is just a tool so you can have all the expensive equipment out there but unless you have an eye for it, you still won't take good pictures. Learn to use the tools you have and don't give up. The best way to get better is to just do it and remember what you did wrong or didn't like.

[bookloveraz]

Originally Posted by oldwolf

Smaller aperture would mean a larger f/stop number.

Nothing wrong with Paint Shop Pro. I use Paint Shop Pro X2 as well as Photoshop CS4 and Lightroom 3. I'd have to say I use the Paint Shop Pro more than I do the CS4 though.

A monopod wouldn't work because your camera would just fall over if you tried to have it free standing unless you propped it up against a tree.

A large enough white piece of paper would do in a pinch. I wouldn't invest in a reflector until you figure out what type of photography you want to get in to. It would be bad if you bought one that's too small or too large for your purposes.

Lightening up the leaves is personal preference. I think I would just because we rarely see a spotlight on just the flowers.

Just remember that it's the photographer and not the camera that sees the picture. The camera is just a tool so you can have all the expensive equipment out there but unless you have an eye for it, you still won't take good pictures. Learn to use the tools you have and don't give up. The best way to get better is to just do it and remember what you did wrong or didn't like.

I miss understood about the tripod. I thought you meant using a tripod to steady the camera, not so I could hold the reflector. That makes sense now. :-)

Thanks so much (again) for your help. It's been very encouraging.

[AdrenoJunkie]

As far as reflectors go you can use a car shade. Walmart has em for about $4.