Help Im a newbie!

[stephanie lyn]

Im just learning how to shoot on manual. and i also just got lighting equip for xmas. its not perfect, but i feel im on the right path. Im using this photo bc this is the one im more satisfied with out of the bunch i took. how can i get more vibrant, clearer photos? Ive been playing around with the settings and i just cant quite get it right..



Camera Olympus E-420
Exposure 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 70 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash On, Did not fire

[zona5101]

need - more - light.
A bit under exposed and you need a bit of fill light in the lower cheek/chin - some of that shadow can be mitigated by moving the light (or the subject). Cute kid, cute pose overall just a bit dark with some shadows that could be lightened up...

[stephanie lyn]

thank you! im still working on my lighting, they arent very bright, they are bright but i dont think they are bright enough...though with out the umbrellas they are so white!

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by stephanie lyn

thank you! im still working on my lighting, they arent very bright, they are bright but i dont think they are bright enough...though with out the umbrellas they are so white!

Stephanie, what exactly are you using for light(s) and modifiers? Sometimes it's difficult to get the lights right when the subject is laying on the floor..especially if the lights are on stands. Cute shot though

[stephanie lyn]

the lights are CFL 85w 5500k bulbs. my parents ordered the studio kit from online for me for christmas so i honestly dont know much about it...but when my son is sitting up, to me it looks like someone is holding a lamp without a shade right next to him, ive tried moving the lights out further but then my camera goes crazy and the focus wont work...

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by stephanie lyn

the lights are CFL 85w 5500k bulbs. my parents ordered the studio kit from online for me for christmas so i honestly dont know much about it...but when my son is sitting up, to me it looks like someone is holding a lamp without a shade right next to him, ive tried moving the lights out further but then my camera goes crazy and the focus wont work...

what about modifiers..? umbrellas? The larger and closer the light, the softer the effect. One of our lights is a Nikon speedlight, SB800 which we use as fill through a small softbox, usually mounted on a stand. Our main light, also mounted on a stand is an AB800 through a larger softbox. When we're shooting kids laying on the floor I actually take the smaller light off the stand and hand hold it down closer to the ground. BTW, the wife is taking the shot, so I'm not trying to do both holding the light while shooting at the same time.

[zona5101]

concur with Vince's light placement suggestion...also do not be afraid to put that light with the umbrella like 2" from your son - i mean so close you might have to crop out part of the umbrella in the final photograph. You'd be surprised how close lights and reflectors are to the subject - we just don't see it in the final shot. So don't be afraid to get that light in tight.

[stephanie lyn]

i just have the two lights on the stands and two white umbrellas that attach to the stands. now what exactly is speedlight? is that the same thing as my external flash that i attach to the top of my camera?

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by stephanie lyn

i just have the two lights on the stands and two white umbrellas that attach to the stands. now what exactly is speedlight? is that the same thing as my external flash that i attach to the top of my camera?

Yes, it is, and it can be very useful off camera with a small modifier attached

[stephanie lyn]

ok, so heres a new rough draft. i moved my lights in closer, i probably couldve moved them in more but i was afraid my son would knock them down hes a very active 3 yr old lol! i did tweak it a little with lightroom but not as much as i did with the first couple batches i shot. my next project is to get my iso down to 200 bc zoomed in, 400 looks grainy. if i used my speedlight attached to my camera would it be too much fill even if i pointed it up? A "photographer" i know, has an index card taped on her speedlight...she said it helps bounce the light off of it so it doesnt wash the subjects face out...i thought it looked tacky but does it work? she didnt show me any of work after she did it. Now when you said use the speedlight off the camera with a modifier attached..is a modifier a softbox? Would i put my speedlight on a stand? Sorry if i am asking too many questions lol, this is all new to me, im happy i survived shooting out of auto mode lol!

Exif Data

Camera Olympus E-420
Exposure 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 29 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash On, Did not fire