Shot in a 90 degree attic. Toned and softened in PS. This was more of a training shoot for me, to see how to use my Metz Strobe for fill on location shots.
Thanks Arthur for the tip. Kinda funny, I actually had a 42" gold/silver reflector with me. We were on the east side of the attic, in the late afternoon. I didn't even try the reflector. Go figure!
Phillip, I agree with what the others have said. You might try getting something like a Sto-Fen Omnibounce to soften the light coming from your Metz. The elbow coming at you should really be moved back a bit more in my humble opinion. I would also like to see more contrast in this image...it is a little flat which is what you will get if you take a color image and go straight to greyscale. For this shot, I would have used a reflector to bounce the natural light from the window instead of the flash. Ciao!
Hi Joe. I wish I could have moved the strobe off. I think even if I had that sync cord, I wouldn't have any way of positioning it. This is why I brought one of my studio strobes and power pack with stands.
I found it difficult to keep the strobe light from overpowering the ambient light as you mentioned. When I cut back on it, the shadows in her face wouldn't light up enough causing a racoon look under her eyes.
I really want to try it again with the remote flash units I need to order. I really can't pull off the shot I want with this Metz, as it stands now. I tried to bounce light from the ceiling, but that didn't help very much.
Very nice setting and what a beautiful model. The fill, to my thinking, is a bit hot. I would have preferred less fill to allow the room's natural light to give some of its character. Also, the fill being on camera casts a shadow behind and to the right of the model. To remedy this, get a SC-17 cord to move the strobe off camera, then you can use reflectors etc. If I were ?ultra? critical, I would say this isn't up to your usual stellar high standards we have grown so envious of.
Hello Vincent. I forget the model of this Metz light I have, however; the strobe actually left of the lens, when the camera is mounted to the bracket.
I took one umbrella and power pack with me, but there were no outlets for power :( I'm in the process of ordering remote control strobes for such things like this and weddings, so I don't have to wag my power pack with me. It's HEAVY :)
When shooting portrait mode, the strobe is actually underneath the camera. I'm not sure how I could have manipulated the strobe to create the shadowing effects I would have like to seen as well.
I set the strobe for 1 fstop below ambient light from that window. I was approx. 15 feet away from her. With regard to the toning, I converted to greyscale, then jumped into Dutone.
I agree the softness, may be a bit hard. I like the print with the current tone, and softness though. This was a very good training shoot for me. It was very warm and muggy in that attic.
Thanks for the info and tips. How would you have used this type of "on camera" flash to highlight areas from an angle, to create the shadows? Is is possible?
I feel a little more sharper image would have helped.
The flash seems to have been used head-on...it reflects back on her skin and fills up all the shadowy contours that would have otherwise enhanced the picture. Try reflecting the flash onto her at an angle.
You've got a good model and her dress & pose suits this pic well.
BTW if you used PS to convert this pic directly from RGB to greyscale then try using the Channels method for better results.
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