Studio Portrait - First Attempt

[Rossi42080]

This was my first attempt using a studio environment, with one light. I think it came out pretty darn good. I was wondering if there was anything that you think I could have done better. The lighting? The composition?



Camera: Nikon D60
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/16.0
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Auto, Fired, Return not detected

[SusanH1970]

Do you have a reflector you can use for fill? The light is quite bright camera right but camera left is way too dark. If you move your light to be 45 degrees to the subject and use a reflector on the opposite side, the light will be more even, but you'll still get some subtle shadowing, therefore not making it flat.

I'm wondering why you used such a small aperture and slow shutter speed, too, and why your flash fired if you were using a strobe.

[Rossi42080]

Originally Posted by SusanH1970

Do you have a reflector you can use for fill? The light is quite bright camera right but camera left is way too dark. If you move your light to be 45 degrees to the subject and use a reflector on the opposite side, the light will be more even, but you'll still get some subtle shadowing, therefore not making it flat.

I'm wondering why you used such a small aperture and slow shutter speed, too, and why your flash fired if you were using a strobe.

I was using a reflector, but I think it simply wasn't held the best angle to reflect the light.

As for the aperture and the shutter speed, I thought that was appropriate. 1/60th is fast enough when you're working with an adult, no? If it was a child I'd make it faster. I was using a light meter and f16 was recommended. Are you thinking the DOF and focus isn't it's best?
Oh and for the flash/strobe, my D60 does not have the plug for the strobe and I didn't have a wizard or anything. So I had to use the on-camera flash to trigger that strobe.

[Benji]

Originally Posted by Rossi42080

I was using a reflector, but I think it simply wasn't held the best angle to reflect the light.

As for the aperture and the shutter speed, I thought that was appropriate. 1/60th is fast enough when you're working with an adult, no? If it was a child I'd make it faster. I was using a light meter and f16 was recommended. Are you thinking the DOF and focus isn't it's best?
Oh and for the flash/strobe, my D60 does not have the plug for the strobe and I didn't have a wizard or anything. So I had to use the on-camera flash to trigger that strobe.

Assuming the room you are shooting in is lit with normal light bulbs and there isn't any direct sunshine streaming through a large window, the shutter speed is mostly inconsequential because the flash becomes your shutter speed especially at ISO 100. I usually use a shutter speed of 1/100 in my camera room. Now if you want to pick up some ambient light in the room a slower shutter speed can be used, but at f/16 it will need to be a long one!

The shot is actually pretty good.

Benji

[Rossi42080]

Originally Posted by Benji

Assuming the room you are shooting in is lit with normal light bulbs and there isn't any direct sunshine streaming through a large window, the shutter speed is mostly inconsequential because the flash becomes your shutter speed especially at ISO 100. I usually use a shutter speed of 1/100 in my camera room. Now if you want to pick up some ambient light in the room a slower shutter speed can be used, but at f/16 it will need to be a long one!

The shot is actually pretty good.

Benji

Thanks Benji.