Studio Portrait - Wind in her hair

[kayzar]

Hi Everyone.

This is from a shoot I did a little while ago of a friend, and for this image I wanted to get the whole, hair blowing back look. Unfortunately, I did not have a fan, so I had someone wave my reflector at the precise moment I took the shot. I didn't quite get the look I was seeking, but I am quite pleased with the result. That said, it feels like something is missing. It seems to lack oomph, and I was hoping someone here would be able to help me.




There are two lights:
one umbrella camera right, slightly in front of the subject
one umbrella camera left, slightly behind the subject



Exif data:
Camera: Canon EOS 450D
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 100

[BigFuzzy]

Hi there,
There are two things that I think would have made this a bit more striking for me.

First is that the flash that is camera-right is too bright (at least on this monitor) and I think the 2nd flash should be placed a bit more behind her to hit with with some rim-light goodness to help separate her from the background more because as it is she blends into it which is something I'm not a fan of.

Otherwise, it's close.

[ryan_s]

IMO... the lighting on the right is too strong...
yup.. lack of "bounce" or wind on the hair...
and the cropping seems a bit off to me.. her bangs seems to be tied in and being pulled-up

[Yellow Dog]

I would echo what they said and add that IMO her arm should be bent a little. I think it being straight up and down is a bit distracting. Or have her turn a little bit more either one way or the other so her arm isn't in the center of the picture.

[dannyrich]

I would say the light on camera right is slightly too hot and ad the other Fuzzy said it would benefit from more of a rim light, perhaps not softened through the brolly.

[kayzar]

Wow Thanks for the feedback guys.

Do you have any tips for working out lighting in the field without a lightmeter? I can understand what you mean about the key on the right being to hot, but is there someway I can determine this on the spot?

[dannyrich]

Originally Posted by kayzar

Wow Thanks for the feedback guys.

Do you have any tips for working out lighting in the field without a lightmeter? I can understand what you mean about the key on the right being to hot, but is there someway I can determine this on the spot?

You should have a camera setting that flashes on the display to show blown parts of an image.

[Frank Wang]

Originally Posted by kayzar

Wow Thanks for the feedback guys.

Do you have any tips for working out lighting in the field without a lightmeter? I can understand what you mean about the key on the right being to hot, but is there someway I can determine this on the spot?

You can get a light meter that will meter a flash. Sekonic L-308 is a good basic one. However these days, your LCD screen is probably just as useful.

[kayzar]

Originally Posted by dannyrich

You should have a camera setting that flashes on the display to show blown parts of an image.

I have the Highlight alert turned on, but it didn't register here...