first portrait, struggling with lighting

[qtox91]

im very new to photography and have a veeeeeeery low budget for it and so far for lights i have 2 work lights like these (Regent® Portable Work Light with Step Switch (PQS45S) - Portable Worklight - Ace Hardware) and these are the kind of shots im getting now.



i was wondering how well i lit this and any tips to make it better. thank you



Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 21 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Manual

[Benji]

Personally I would never use these lights around clients as they get real hot (as I'm sure you already know) and they are dangerous because they can explode under the right conditions.

Lighting. The only natural light source is the sun and the sun is never below us. It is ALWAYS above us, so when an image of someone is posted where the light comes from below him or her our brains tell us something isn't right.

Lens. Using a wide angle lens up close on a portrait make the subject's nose look HUGE as it did here. Few people want their noses to look any larger than what they really are. Most want it to look smaller.

Benji

[cphoniball]

Benji raises some good points, assuming you were aiming for a "traditional" portrait. I'm not sure that you were, though, as far as the lens choice is concerned. If you didn't want this exaggerated perspective a longer focal length would have been better.

Benji is right about the lighting though - since it's coming from below it looks unnatural. You're also using hard light from the side (a small light source) which produces a hard shadow, especially noticeable since you're wearing glasses. To get rid of such distinct shadows you need to soften up the light source somehow, either be reflecting or shining the light through a larger surface (be careful as your lights are so hot). When you light portraits try to make sure you get light in the eyes as well - your right eye here is in the dark. to get rid of the reflections in the glasses you can either angle the lights so they don't directly reflect from the glasses into the lens, or you can tilt your glasses so they reflect out of the lens (if that made sense).

[sdstone00]

If you're looking for inexpensive set ups with the lights you have utilize a white sheet in between the subject and the lights. This will soften the lights and make them a bit more pleasing. As Benji said, these get very hot very quickly. Dont set the sheet near the lights. You can also use white poster board (maybe $1-$2 at your local store) to help bounce light into dark areas.

[qtox91]

Originally Posted by Benji

Lens. Using a wide angle lens up close on a portrait make the subject's nose look HUGE as it did here. Few people want their noses to look any larger than what they really are. Most want it to look smaller.

Benji

it wasnt a wide lens, it was just a kit

[Benji]

Originally Posted by qtox91

it wasnt a wide lens, it was just a kit

Oh, the exif you posted above says it was a 21mm lens. I believe that a 21mm lens on a DSLR is a wide angle lens.

Benji