Trouble with lighting..

[SwissJon]

I had my first shoot with a model last week, and acted like a complete novice..

First time I've worked with a model, first time I've had the flash off the camera, no softbox, the flash only worked in front of the camera because I had no radio sender.. I had a reflector but had a bit of trouble getting it right.. And I think I had the flash to close.

So I ended up with some very strong shadows and strong reflections from her skin. Some of that I cleaned up in Photoshop and ended up with photos like the one below. Can you please comment on the lighting and post processing? This photo is uncropped.. Shall I leave it?



Exif:
Camera Sony A55V
Lens DT 16-80 Zeiss
Focal Length 50mm
Flash fired Wireless mode
Exposure 1/80 f/5.0
ISO 100
Post Processed in PS spot healing tool on poor skin and scar on top lip, adjusted exposure, added gaussian blur at 40% opacity on large skin area to soften skin. Oh yeah.. Duh.. Turned it black and white!

[SwissJon]

No critique? I didn't think it was that perfect myself to be honest, but if you lot are so insistant, I'll quit my job and take up professional photography immediately!

[lpscl]

Have you tried:
Convert to grayscale
Choose duotones
Create 2 additional shades of gray (will be tritone}
Adjust levels (especially hair)
Save As

[dvtldav]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

No critique? I didn't think it was that perfect myself to be honest, but if you lot are so insistant, I'll quit my job and take up professional photography immediately!

Since I am a newb and don't feel that I know enough to really critique I will offer a suggestion. I have seen a lot of your critiques and feel that they are pretty much spot on, so can you look at this picture as if I or someone else had submitted it and asked for a critique. I know that is hard but if you can do it, it will help.
I am a woodworker and am my own worst critic. I look at a project I have built and find 4 or 5 things that are wrong but other people think it is fantastic, but the next time I build a project I don't make make those same mistakes.
Just my 2 cents.

Dave

[Sistereinstein]

Morning Jon - I agree with your self critique and to be honest this is not a keeper. A model would not want to add this to her portfolio. Do you have any other shots or was this the best out of that session?

[zona5101]

The light falls off a bit too quickly for me ( maybe that is the look you were going for?) and a bit of a specular highlight on the cheek. The B&W conversion looks ok, it has a nice smooth gray although a more contrasty conversion might give it a bit more life.

If you get another shot at it, you might try bouncing your light into the reflector to make a nice big light source...or bouncing into the wall/ceiling and using the reflector for fill.

[SusanH1970]

Agreed with sistereinstein and Bruce (zona), but I'm not wild about the conversion. It's a bit too grey and muddy for me. He gave some good tips for next time.

[SwissJon]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your helpful comments. Remembering it's my first shoot with a model, I'm not expecting my photo to be brilliant, so your critiques are most welcome.

First, the place I chose was awful.. High ceilings and distant walls made bouncing anything off anything impossible, except my brain.. To be honest with you, this is one of the better ones.. of the 50 odd photos I took, half of them had the eyes out of focus because I was too busy worrying about where to put the flash, and she moved between shots.

To address the comments regarding critiquing myself.. I spent all weekend doing this as I went through each one carefully. My problem is really lack of ecperience with flash and close human subjects.. I'm really a landscape photographer at heart, but I'd like to have another challenge, since I find that a bit lonely. So I've done the best I can before asking your input.. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you've got different eyes to me, what works for me may not for you, maybe I concentrated too hard on one aspect to the complete ommision of another.

Below is the original of this photo plus one other from this set I didn't put straight in the bin. I tried bouncing the flash off the reflector, but it was a real juggle getting everything in the right places.. I needed a 3rd person to hold things for me.. Her boyfriend was there, but he was lazing around fiddling with his phone and smoking and no use at all.

I've ordered a softbox, and a radio collar for my flash so I can place it where I want it, not where .. I'll invest in a 2nd flash too, to try to keep the lighting a little balanced, and pull the flash back somewhat and try using a tripod and bounce umbrella maybe..

Thanks lpscl I'll have a go at that conversion method.

Any further comments would be most welcomed, taken on board and inwardly digested for next time.. Below is the original colour and another effort.

[cristen]

hi, SwissJon... i am just a newbie and know very little actually, so might find my thoughts rambling and inconsequential...

i just noticed from the posts that they dealt more with the technical aspect of the shoot. what about the artistic side? what emotion is the model trying to convey?

[zona5101]

Another handy too is a disc holder...it fits on a light stand and holds your reflector at any angle you want. It will be a real valuable tool if you end up doing shoots where you don't have an human light stand. I am certain you could make a DIY version with a bit of noodling...
MultiDisc Kit: 32 inch