I need help with outdoor lighting!

[AndrewPDX]

I found an absolutely gorgeous location for some fall/winter portraits. However, I've never really invested in any decent lighting equipment. It's pretty obvious from this shot (with the 4000 ISO, 1/50s, 1.4 f, etc) that some good lighting would let me get a less grainy picture with better focus if I lit the scene. So, what do you recommend I do differently / purchase so I can really take advantage of this scene? I'm open to anything from a simple off-camera flash to a full-on studio set. Thanks!

Oh, feel free to critique anything else in the shot if you want.



D5000
50mm f/1.4 @ 1.4
1/50s
ISO 4000
No Flash
0 EV

[TMorris]

I would try to bounce some flash off of the concrete. Were you using a tripod? I would have to in this low lighting. The 4000 ISO is likely why it's so grainy.

[MrJones]

I love it the way it is (take the noise part out).
I'm actually not quite sure a flash would have helped.. I actually think it would hurt this beautiful photo.
all you need is a better camera, one which can handle high ISO better but that's a big investment.
another thing you can try is taking the photo while the camera is posted on a tripod, that way you could use lower shutter speed and lower ISO respectively.
btw, you can try and brighten the left side of her face a bit to give it a more "even" look. not a must though.
again, this is a wonderful photo which I'm sure she'll love!

[MrJones]

Originally Posted by TMorris

I would try to bounce some flash off of the concrete. Were you using a tripod? I would have to in this low lighting. The 4000 ISO is likely why it's so grainy.

I think bouncing the flash of the floor will give him a very bad lightning as the light would be coming from below creating shadows on her face.
I must admit that I've never tried it before, but it makes sense that that is what will happen.

[zona5101]

A couple of additional ideas. First, easiest and cheapest...use a reflector. There is a lot of light coming from the light sets on the trees. We can see the camera right side of her face is lit with this light, use a reflector to direct even more to the subject. Second would be to add off camera flash with a difuser such as an umbrella or softbox. Probably want to warm the strobe a bit with a 1/4 or 1/2 cto gel so there is little discernable difference between the color temp of strobe supplied light and the existing light from the trees.

[TMorris]

Yes, I think Mr. Jones is right about creating too many shadows on the face, looking at it more. It's really not badly lit. The low key light is romantic and flattering.

I sometimes use a white sheet on the ground in front of the subject or have someone hold it on one side or the other, depending on where my primary light source light is coming from. My primary light source is generally the sun. I suppose I need to upgrade from my handy dandy sheet to a proper reflector.

[dlambert]

I learned a ton about lighting from strobist (and I've got plenty more to learn, too!). If you dig a bit there are some pretty good "fundamentals" posts, and many of them are even linked into a a sort of mini-lighting course.