Self portrait, first with flash

[pacchini]

Hi,

I just purchased 2 Nikon Sb 600 flashes to go with my D90 and this was my first my experiment to learn flash photography. I'd love to hear what people think of it.



Nikon D90 plus 2 x SB600 flash units
White umbrella for front, shot through
F10, 1/50 shutter, ISO800

[chrean]

Could you be more specific? You should ask a specific question about your capture as stated here: http://digital-photography-school.co...rum-rules.html .
Anyway it's a nice shot.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by pacchini

I'd love to hear what people think of it.

Except the background, your photo has good symmetry. Normally we try to avoid brighter spots to take away the viewer's attention from the subject's eyes in a portrait. But I think it works well here.

[pacchini]

Thanks LoveDSLR and chrean.

I was finding it hard to be specific about what I wanted critiqued here. Sorry about that. I really don't know what makes a good or bad shot using flash, I'm so new to this. I thought the shot looked pretty good, but from a completely non technical view only. I guess I'm looking for any advice to help me understand technically what I could have done better here.

I used a shoot through umbrella at the front and a bare flash from behind trying to define and create some shadow.

I should have explained this in my original post.

Thank you both for your input.

[zona5101]

I think your front lighting is good...you have some shadow in the eyes that normally would be a bad thing but in the flavor of this image it works to add a tougher mood. Your background light has too much spill meaning it is creating all the bright area between your arms and head. What you wanted (i think) is a nice strong rim light. You'd need to increase the angle so there is less light going forward or use a snoot or grit to contrl the spill. Nice job overall and have fun with those SBs

[pacchini]

Thank you so much zona5101, that's really helpful. You are right in what I was looking for in regards to the rim light. I might try the shot again and use your advice. I have no snoot right now, but I'll try the different angle for the flash as you suggest. Thanks again.