Aya Stam

[ChrisAdval]

Aya Stam 01 by Chris Adval, on Flickr [EXIF]


Camera Body: Canon EOS REBEL T2i
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash: YES
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Manual
Lens: EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Lighting Notes: I tried using separation and took the advice as mentioned in my last critique post and attempted to make it hotter but since it was a portable strob and not a studio light. So I tried the studio strob light I have as the separation but my studio strob light's manufacture didnt manufacture any snoots, so I attempted to make one of my own... out of paper... So that obviously didn't work so I decided to not go with any separation light and use a different technique which was only use umbrellas (I have yet ever done in my studio work). I used a shoot through ad the hair/back light in some of the shots and an umbrella top right of the frame most of the shots. As mentioned in some of critiques on my lighting (or I heard/watched a video on youtube) to have the lighting coming from a higher source than the model to give it more natural and realistic shadows to the model.

Post Processing Notes: just cleaned up some imperfections on the skin, mostly on the face, and cleaned out some distracting strings of hair that I could remove without causing more work. Colors enhanced to high contrast levels primarily.

Looking for overall critique and possibly any suggestions in separation lighting, I know at my next shoot I may have to move out of the ISO 100 in order to use my portable flash's snoot at a medium level and get the hotter/stronger light source for separation as of now on ISO 100 and at full power its not hot enough for f/8 sadly and I won't shoot under f/8 due to too much softness on the model, f/8 or higher is the magic number right now for my studio work in model photography.

[zona5101]

cute model.
i think you are under exposed.
I think that is also preventing you from getting a nice catchlight in the eye.
You have an almost perfect Rembrandt triangle on the shadow side.
Your choice whether to bring up the fill side. I kinda like the mystery of the more pronounced contrast.

[Rentham]

Very pretty model. From her other photos it seems like she has beautiful eyes, which makes it a shame that her eyes are going completely dead here. Her top is a little busy for me, and I really don't understand the Santa hat. A cute holiday photo is fine, but when combined with the moody lighting and deep shadows it just don't work for me.

I really like her expression, but I think her pose is making her look a little blocky and giving the illusion that her arms are a bit heavy. Having her create some space between her arms and body would help that I think. Another option would be to turn her body a bit more in relation to the camera.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by Rentham

Very pretty model. From her other photos it seems like she has beautiful eyes, which makes it a shame that her eyes are going completely dead here. Her top is a little busy for me, and I really don't understand the Santa hat. A cute holiday photo is fine, but when combined with the moody lighting and deep shadows it just don't work for me.

I really like her expression, but I think her pose is making her look a little blocky and giving the illusion that her arms are a bit heavy. Having her create some space between her arms and body would help that I think. Another option would be to turn her body a bit more in relation to the camera.

I totally forgot to brighten up her eyes, will do that in post... as for brightening the photo overall I had that idea at first but I got nasty looking blown highlights so I had to lower it, I could play with the dodge/burn tool in photoshop but I'm not too great with that technique yet I may play with it though down the road. Thanks for the great input guys!

[Niresangwa]

How close are your lights? Particularly the key...

TBH, I can't notice any rim-lighting here, and barely any fill, so yes, it looks very under exposed.

If I'd had to guess the lighting for this, I would have said only 1 at low power, from camera right, or a window or something even.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by ChrisAdval

I totally forgot to brighten up her eyes, will do that in post... as for brightening the photo overall I had that idea at first but I got nasty looking blown highlights so I had to lower it, I could play with the dodge/burn tool in photoshop but I'm not too great with that technique yet I may play with it though down the road. Thanks for the great input guys!

light position and exposure solve this in camera. better approach than post.

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

How close are your lights? Particularly the key...

TBH, I can't notice any rim-lighting here, and barely any fill, so yes, it looks very under exposed.

If I'd had to guess the lighting for this, I would have said only 1 at low power, from camera right, or a window or something even.

Aya Stam - BTS by Chris Adval, on Flickr

untouched in post

I'm going to play with the brightness on my lcd on the back of my camera and see if that would solve any if the issues.

[ChrisAdval]

updated the photo, let me know what you guys think

[zona5101]

Your light on camera left, the BG light, must not have fired or you have it reallllly low. Note the gray gradation on the BG - the main light side is brighter and you have no hair /rim on that side of the model. Also I'd switch umbrellas use the shoot through for the main and the bounce for the BG. You'll be able to control the light on that side and avoid flair better with a light you can feather. Also putting the shoot through up front will make it easier to get nice big catchlights...

[Rentham]

Originally Posted by ChrisAdval

I totally forgot to brighten up her eyes, will do that in post

That might be very difficult to do without making them look fake. Since so much of that area is in shadow it doesn't make visual sense to have her eyes bright and lit.

I think your main light is too high and pointing down at too steep of an angle. Try lowering it and have it point down at about a 45 degree angle.