Point & Shot Camera Family Portrait

[ccting]

Equipment:
a) Kodak EasyShare CX7530 with built-in Flash, non-adjustable Aperture & Shutter speed, ISO 400, 1.7 MP. built-in Flash blocked with tissue.

b)1 handheld YN560 with Optical sensor on.

lighting: Handheld YN560 fired on nearby wall

No post production ..

100_2116.JPG
My mum in-law, and 2 nephews.., and a secret lady..

Question:
a) What do you think about the lighting?
b) The light was blocked for the old lady, how can I reposition them?
c) Anything you would like to comment?

Note: I can't pose my wife's face as I don't have the permission, so I have her face cut ;D

[EmyB]

It looks as though the light was too harsh coming from the right, your wife's face looks a little over-shiny (from what I can see) but I think the real problem with this photo is the background. It's too cluttered and very distracting.

I am only just getting into flash myself but I think bouncing the flash perhaps backwards up off the ceiling would have been softer, more balanced and worked better.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by EmyB

It looks as though the light was too harsh coming from the right, your wife's face looks a little over-shiny (from what I can see) but I think the real problem with this photo is the background. It's too cluttered and very distracting.

I am only just getting into flash myself but I think bouncing the flash perhaps backwards up off the ceiling would have been softer, more balanced and worked better.

It looks as though the light was too harsh coming from the right

Yes, I bounced the light from the wall on the near right, @maximum head zoom and Full power. The problem is if I lower the power level, the people on the left might underexposed. If I bounce the light to my back, then i may get flat image. If I bounce the light to the wall then to ceiling, I might get underexposed image as I have used the maximum power level and zoom head. Only my wife's lips over-shinny, the rest is ok.. (the part that i have cut is ok). What I am thinking is have I done a mistake of having maximum head zoom (105m) in this case?

I think the real problem with this photo is the background. It's too cluttered and very distracting.

Yes, I totally agree with you, but, I have no choice of selecting background as I couldn't direct them where to sit. And, I have no control of the very old model point and shot camera, in term of aperture & shutter speed.

I am only just getting into flash myself but I think bouncing the flash perhaps backwards up off the ceiling would have been softer, more balanced and worked better

My back is covered with black curtain and far away from me, I will get underexposed image if i do that.

The biggest problem I found in this pic is, the light fall on my mother in-law has been blocked by my nephew. How could I rearrange them without changing the position of my light source?



And,, another problem is, is the position of my nephew on the left. Should he been lowered a bit?

Note: only 1YN560 is available without other props..., as I was traveling far...

[EmyB]

I think that shadow on her face is a very unimportant issue. It's very soft, and she has a similar pattern on the other side of her face. I would be more concerned about the harsh light on your wife.

Your ceiling is black?

P.S. You should turn off your date stamp.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by EmyB

I would be more concerned about the harsh light on your wife.

, I believe to eliminate the harsh light, i need to decrease the angle from 90 to 45 degree towards center so everyone get balance lights.. but I afraid that will cause flat effects..

Ah!!!!!!!! use gobo to intro fall-off for my wife~!!!!!!!

Your ceiling is black?

Well, no.. but very low ceiling.

P.S. You should turn off your date stamp.

I can't control the camera, it is an very old model point and shot camera bought in 2003.. Very few options to control the camera.. the only thing i can control is ISO, from 80, 100, 200, 400 and 800. The rest.. i can't control. Same for the date.

[tsy72001]

Try googling a Manuel. My son had one of those cameras and he turned off the date stamp.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by tsy72001

Try googling a Manuel. My son had one of those cameras and he turned off the date stamp.

Oh really, thanks...