Off camera flash - attempt 2

[BobC]

Second try at this. Move to about 4 ft from backdrop. Tryed putting more light on my face. Still seems just bit dark. Flash is camera left about 2ft from subject and 45 degrees down, bounce in umbrella. Second flash is behind subjet on the background with a purple gel, thought it made the background darker. Improvement suggestions. I think i may still be dark. Always looks good on the camera

[Daytonj6]

Alright, so your background especially is better.
From my screen I can not see any thing but black, that is good.

However, you say it is a bit dark. What are your camera settings
Shutter:
Aperture:
ISO:
?

Post that and well see how we can increase the luminance levels

Dayton

P.S. this shot does look better, I think the absence of your wife means to took more shots to get to this one haha

[BobC]

EXIF Data
Camera: Nikon D50
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

Absence of wife means she was not home. Babysitting the grandkids.

[natek313]

I don't think the exposure is too dark at all. It looks pretty good to me.

The only thing I might suggest is putting a reflector to the right of the subject to bounce some light back onto the right side of the subject (relative to the viewer). Oh, and I would clone out the wrinkles in the background as well as that little piece of something in the top-left corner.

Nice work.

[Benji]

Agree about a reflector at camera right. A hair light would also brighten up the hair (or hat!) In order to get the gel on the background to register on the sensor (and thereby show up on the image) the background exposure needs to be the same as your fill light. Using a reflector as a fill means the background light needs to be about two stops less than the main light. With your main at f/8 the background should be about f/4 or so. This reading cannot be taken directly behind the subjects because the subject's body obstructs that portion of the background. It must be taken where it shows in the image (around the shoulders usually.)

Benji

[BobC]

Nate, i didn't even notice that thing on the upper left. Its the end of the umbrella. Thanks for pointing that out. Yes i will iron the backdrop (or get my wife to do it).
I don't have a reflector yet. Maybe i could use a white ceiling tile for now?

Benji, unfortunately right now I only have the two lights. Only one umbrella a stand. Hopefully after Christmas i'll be able to come up with the money for more but right now I have to work with what I have. So i can go main light with the umbrella and then fill with on camera speedlite. On this i used my SB600 on its stand sitting on the floor behind the subject (me) and fired with a cactus. The other is a speedlite in the umbrella set on optical slave. Should i forget about using the SB600 behind me and put in on a table or something along side the camera and use it as fill?

[Benji]

Originally Posted by BobC

Should i forget about using the SB600 behind me and put in on a table or something along side the camera and use it as fill?

I would use it on camera but diffused to the maximum and set powerwise at two stops under the main light.

Benji

[natek313]

Originally Posted by BobC

Nate, i didn't even notice that thing on the upper left. Its the end of the umbrella. Thanks for pointing that out. Yes i will iron the backdrop (or get my wife to do it).
I don't have a reflector yet. Maybe i could use a white ceiling tile for now?

Yeah, the white ceiling tile would work. Or, if you have some around the house, just use white poster board. Also, I've heard of people using the reflectors you put in your car windshield; they're silver and will bounce back more light than a white one.

[daddyoproductions]

+1 on reflector (get foam core from the dollar store