first off camera flash

[BobC]

Looking for improvement to my first attempt at off camea flash. A couple things i've noted already which you may agree with.
Be sure to clean the hats before the photos. Got these out of storage and after i took the pics realized the dust on them.
A little dark on the left side, especially the first photo.
You can see the remote in my hand. Use the timer.
Any others appreciated

[Daytonj6]

This is a great shot for you two


But to make it more appealing in my opinion is crop out the negative space on the right side or left. thus giving you a better composition. this is my opinion and you dont have to do so. just consider it, because to me it looks too centered.

The eyes are great, level and not centered.

I know that the rules are to be broken, but not until they are understood.

So. lets see what others say about this holiday shot


Dayton

[sybren]

I like the idea, but the photo is too dark for my taste. I would also restrict the light a bit more to your faces, for example by using a gobo.

[BobC]

Sybren - Just got the light yesterday so appreciate the response. I have to use the optical slave to fire the strobe at this point. I had my umbrella (bounce) set at about 45degrees and at about a height of 5 ft, 5 ft from us, set at 1/2 power. My SB600 on camera at 1/4 power bouncing off a white ceiling. Should i use the umbrella as a shoot thru? Should I move the umbella in closer or increase power?
When you say use a gobo can you explain what that is and how to use it.

Dayton I have not croped this but i understand what you are saying and a good point. Since the left side is darker i would think cropping that out would be best. What do you think. Will keep this in mind next time i'm framing

[Daytonj6]

Originally Posted by BobC

Sybren - Just got the light yesterday so appreciate the response. I have to use the optical slave to fire the strobe at this point. I had my umbrella (bounce) set at about 45degrees and at about a height of 5 ft, 5 ft from us, set at 1/2 power. My SB600 on camera at 1/4 power bouncing off a white ceiling. Should i use the umbrella as a shoot thru? Should I move the umbella in closer or increase power?
When you say use a gobo can you explain what that is and how to use it.

Dayton I have not croped this but i understand what you are saying and a good point. Since the left side is darker i would think cropping that out would be best. What do you think. Will keep this in mind next time i'm framing

I know you have not, but that is up to you Sir.
My taste, because this is already a dark shot said by the other poster, try cropping the right off. Or go with what you think and cut the left to cancel out that darkness, which also looks like cat whiskers.

So for this, you are using a Tripod set up facing you,
An External flash unit (SB600 speedlite) mounted on-top of your camera (shooting upwards) bouncing off the celling.
And an off camera strobe facing away from you, hitting a bounce-umbrella?



From here...
Try experimenting.
Set up everything the way you had it.
Set off the shutter/flashe(s)
look,
Then try nothing but bringing the flash down a foot and in a foot.
Then another foot each (so its about 3 feet form you, and 3 feet up. 2 feet form original position)
Then again. see how close you can get it with our feelin uncomfortable.
then take a picture with the lens cap on. Making it easier to review your shots.

Because from here, your going ot set up everything the same from the start. and increase the power in increments.

If this produces undesirable results. try playing with the camera settings. Also, try a shoot through umbrella. (if you have one). keeps things soft, and you keep a lo of light because its not bouncing on off and around things

I Googled GOBO, and it looks like its a (forgive me I forgot the term)
block. Goes on the external-flash and blocks the light from going on the backgound.
like a barn door.
i just cant remember the term.

[sybren]

Originally Posted by BobC

I had my umbrella (bounce) set at about 45degrees and at about a height of 5 ft, 5 ft from us, set at 1/2 power.

Usually you want to move the umbrella as far in as possible. That's why I use a shoot-through umbrella - it can be moved in closer without impaling my model on the centre rod. The result is more power as well as softer light.

My SB600 on camera at 1/4 power bouncing off a white ceiling.

I would aim that one straight at you two. First set up the umbrella (turn off the SB600) to get a decent fill light. Then turn on the SB600, add some gobos ("gobo" is short for "go-between", and refers to anything between a light source and something else. I use pieces of cardboard stuck to my flash head with a rubber band or velcro) to restrict the light. Blasting everything with light isn't interesting, but lighting up specific areas such as your faces generally is.

Originally Posted by Daytonj6

I Googled GOBO, and it looks like its a (forgive me I forgot the term) block. Goes on the external-flash and blocks the light from going on the backgound.
like a barn door. i just cant remember the term.

The term is "gobo". Or "flag", "block", "thing in between" or even "your hand" or "his huge belly"

[BobC]

Thanks for the responses. I can remove the black cover on my umbrella and use it as a shoot thru. Will try that and then move it in closer to the subject as suggested.

Another question, this was shot at my home with blue gray backdrop. My daughter wants me to take one of her infront of their fireplace. In that case I would think i want the background light and would bounce off the umbrella. Also her walls are a creamy yellow off white tan kind of color. I thought i might try a half blue gel on the strobes just to counter the yellow. Do you think this would be a good idea.

[sybren]

I don't think the blue gel is a good idea. With an umbrella you won't be able to block the blue and it'll spill onto you making you look rather unhealthy. A better idea would be to let the background be lit by the ambient light and balance it with the strobes.

If you still don't like the colour of your walls, set your camera's whitebalance to tungsten and see how the walls come out then. If that colour is better, put a CTO gel on your strobes to counter the effect, such that everything lit by the strobes looks as if it was lit by white light. However, I think a warmer toned background is quite appropriate to a christmas photo

[BobC]

Sybren - thanks i will keep that in mind on the gels. Really have no idea how to use those, still trying to work on the lighing placement.


Dayton what did you mean by shoot with the lens cap on to make it easier to review my shot. How do you shoot with the lens cap on. I was teathered to my laptop so i could see the shot from where i was on the floor. Had several with my feet sticking out or my right hand sticking out so the laptop gave me the abiltity to see that and correct it.

[Daytonj6]

It was just an idea.
When shooting a series of pictures to find the best shot, it might be helpful to have a black image (lens cap) to act as a divider from the shots where your moving your light to the shots where your increasing power.

It's up to you