Figurine, how is my composing & lighting?

[1ns4nity]

Hi Guys! My first post Just started shooting with a new 450D....so far I think this is my best shot. Want to hear what you guys think.

I've been finding it difficult to get good lighting and composing on my portraits though

Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

X-Resolution: 240 dpi
Y-Resolution: 240 dpi
Date and Time: 2008:06:26 20:22:10
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Date and Time (Original): 2008:06:15 10:16:52
Date and Time (Digitized): 2008:06:15 10:16:52
Shutter Speed: 4321928/1000000
Maximum Lens Aperture: 5/1
Metering Mode: Pattern
Sub-Second Time (Original): 73
Sub-Second Time (Digitized): 73
Focal Plane X-Resolution: 4865.604 dpi
Focal Plane Y-Resolution: 4876.712 dpi

[clockdoc]

Hi and welcome to DPS. Since you are shooting into the shadow side of the image, you probably could have used a bit of fill light from a reflector placed close to the subject but just out of camera range. You may also be getting some lens flare which is cutting down on the contrast and crispness of the shot. Note the spill light falling on the clown's nose. Did you plan it this way? With a human subject, it could be more distracting to have the tip of one's nose illuminated this way. Lastly, I'd go for a less busy background so that I am not tempted to look beyond the subject too quickly or easily.
I'll be happy to try and help with your portrait efforts. Keep shooting!

[1ns4nity]

thanks for all those pointers. With regards to the lighting, i was trying to have only 1 side of the clowns face illuminated with the other in a darker shadow to show contrast. Any idea how i could achieve that?

About the lens flare, how does it come about? Because the light source was behind the subject? Is there any way to avoid it without changing my shooting angle?

Thanks again!

[clockdoc]

First, the light source (overcast sky of light from a northerly direction) is very large, which creates a "wrap around" form of lighting. If you wanted more contrasty lighting you need a smaller light source such as a desk lamp. Even the sun is considered to be a small light source when it is not obscured or diffused by clouds. Then you need to reposition your subject to achieve the shadows you are looking for.

Lens flare occurs when the light source falls on part of the glass of the lens. Do you use a sunshade? If not you can also use a card or your hand to block stray light. In this case I don't think it is flare as much as it is having a very bright backlight which is creating a high contrast range. To balance this you would need to use more fill light through bounce cards or supplemental light like flash.