Testing the 430 EX II

[NikTyler]

Took some pictures of my girlfriend tonight in a very low light setting. I wanted to see if I could replicate the softbox effect with a single flash. These are some samples with me just moving the flash around. These were manual settings on the flash and not ETTL. Rip them up!

http://marylandphotoinc.com/flashtest/c2.jpg



Thanks guys.

160 ISO
1/200
f/8
5D MkII
24-70 f/2.8 L

[tingeliM]

I'm not a huge fan of harsh light in portraits. I would've used something to diffuse the light. I'm not sure what you mean by a softbox effect, but harsh light doesn't really match with my idea of it.

The second one is my favorite out of these. The shadows aren't as distracting as in the other two, although the little dot of light on her right cheek is. Her skin looks great in this one!
The first one would be very nice if it wasn't for the shadow created by her nose and the weird darkness on the camera left. Seems somehow unbalanced to me.
The shadow of her chin is distracting in the last one and I'd like a little catchlight in her eye(s).

She's really beautiful and I think a diffusor would solve most of the problems I have with these photos.
Just my 2 cents. ^^ I'm no expert and I've been learning one light set-ups (and portrait lighting in general) myself too, so the topic is interesting to me =)

[NikTyler]

Thanks for the response Tingel. I agree completely with your critique. I had a Sto-Fen diffuser on the flash for the whole shoot. When I put the big 6' collapsible defuiser up it was almost like it was sucking up too much light - even with cranking up the flash.

I think what would have helped a little is if I put a reflector up her bottom left to send some of the light back onto her left cheek.

Love this forum - Thanks for the input!

[autofocus]

You may want to try Neil van Niekerk's black foamie thing on your flash which you can use while bouncing your flash off an adjacent wall or wall/ceiling combination. In doing so, there will be no direct flash on your subject, and in essence you are creating a large soft light source from your current small and harsh light source. This is more apt to emulate a softbox effect

http://neilvn.com/tangents/2009/11/2...-foamie-thing/

[NikTyler]

Thanks Auto - That thing looks crazy!

I've had one of these in my amazon cart for awhile

Amazon.com: HonlPhoto 8" Regular Speed Snoot for most On-Camera Shoe-Mount Strobes: Kellards

Maybe I'll pull the trigger on it.

This was really just a test to see what kind of result I could get with a very rudimentary setup. Normally I use softboxes and back lighting and don;t shoot in my basement. I'm by trade an architectural photographer and don't really have much experience with a flash.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by NikTyler

Thanks Auto - That thing looks crazy!

I've had one of these in my amazon cart for awhile

Amazon.com: HonlPhoto 8" Regular Speed Snoot for most On-Camera Shoe-Mount Strobes: Kellards

Maybe I'll pull the trigger on it.

This was really just a test to see what kind of result I could get with a very rudimentary setup. Normally I use softboxes and back lighting and don;t shoot in my basement. I'm by trade an architectural photographer and don't really have much experience with a flash.

Hell, I made my own out of some flexible black foam, rubber band held on for quick adjustments or removal, and it works like a charm..costs $0 What you are seeing there on Amazon is a little different, and may, or may not work quite the same way.

[johnnycombermere]

Just a little detail, but she seems to have a few stray hairs across her cheek. Some people might not notice, but I think it's still vaguely distracting.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by NikTyler

... When I put the big 6' collapsible defuiser up it was almost like it was sucking up too much light - even with cranking up the flash.

When using a big light modifier with a shoe mount flash (and many times with studio lights) you need to get that modifier in close - real close as in barely out of the frame. That helps with power efficiency but even better, creates a larger light source resulting in a light that wraps more and produces softer shadows...

[ccting]

430 II looks great..

1) I like her clothes (tone-color harmoy)
2) i like the background (tone/color harmony), wow without shadow??
3) i like the composition (well-planned for me)
4) I like the mouth (great emotion)
5) I like the muscles near the mouth..(emotion)
6) I like the one light source (Only with 1 speedlight??!!)
7) I like the hair light
8) I like her stretched neck.. (long)
9) I like her eyes (emotion)

well, look very great for me.. may be some people find the harsh shadow near the nose is distracting, but in this context, I find it great with one speedlight without modifier..I don't know what happen if you take it under the sun, will it looks much better? What if i put the light source further away, will that decrease the shadow region on the nose ?? or turn the head to light source a bit.. Need Zona / autofocus /etc explain...