A night with some Alien bee's

[Jake]

I thought I would post these in this section of the form even tho' it's only a night in the life.
So, I got 2 alien bees b800's and know very little about them. I have seen Scott use them and a few other people but have never messed with them or any other lights before. Well, I do have my 550ex flash but that does not count. I do not have a light meter yet but I should very shortly so tonight I was just chimping it.

I have no backdrop yet so I just used a table cloth.
My model in none other them my little buddy Ethan!!


Unfortunately he has the attention span of a 2 and a half year old.








So that did not last long at all. What am I to do? and what's going on behind me?


Needing a model.........


But some unfortunate fool came to my front door at the wrong time.
My brother:


Workin' it for the camera.






Connor gets home from church and I'm sure he will model for me....




"Are we done yet?"



OK, I have some learning to do, but I think it will be fun....that's all for now.

[srwatters]

Nice Jake! That looks like fun.

Try to vary your shooting position if you can so that your subjects aren't always looking straight into the camera. Oblique poses. If you can get one ear to just disappear from your view it will make a more flattering portrait. Try to balance it so you can still see white on both sides of the iris in their eyes. I try to ask the subject to keep their chin between my camera position and the key light, which is at about 45-60 degrees from center either left or right.

I know you're in limited space, but if you can move your subject a little bit further from the BG, you notice it much less. Shooting at f/5.6 or f/8 you need about 5' minimum to toss it out of focus. Even a sheet with wrinkles will flatten out nicely like that.

Have fun!

[AjP]

nice pics Jake, I like first series.. don't like middle series and last series is great as well :) j/k

you have tooo much fun with your kids and ABs

[xseption]

great shots of the kids

[Detonate]

Hey! I have that same couch in my game room!

So when you were doing these, did you just put the camera on a timer? Use a remote? Anything?

Also, for posing, did you just guess at the composition, since obviously you can't be behind the camera and in front of it at the same time....

I'd like to practice more with my lights, but without being able to see what I'm shooting before I shoot is a huge hassle!!!!

What I've been thinking about doing is sending the video out from my tripod mounted camera to the TV, and then setting up a full length mirror as close to the camera as possible. Maybe underneath or to the side.

This way I could observe shadows and pose in the mirror before taking the picture. And then when I do snap the trigger (with a remote), the picture would display on my TV. Meaning I could review the shot instantly without having to get off my lazy rear end...

As usual, I'm probably just over thinking everything.

[Jake]

@Scott: Thanks for the tips! I am going to setup in the garage this weekend with some seamless paper and really give the light a work out. Where is a good place local to by seamless paper at?


@Ashot: Thanks, I don't like the middle series either

@xseption: Thanks!

@Jim: That couch is great, I would have one in every room if I could

I was using the timer on the camera for the shots with me in them. It was a pain in the @$$ to get them framed right, I had no room to move the camera or lights. I shoud have more room this weekend when I setup in the garage.
I love the idea of outputting to a TV to view and not have to move.

[srwatters]

I buy mine at Light Tec. About $35 for a 9' wide (108").

[Gordon]

I borrowed a b800 & b1600 from a friend. My main problem was that both of those were far, far too powerful to use in an appartment :)

I think I need 400's

[Jennifer]

Originally Posted by Detonate

OMG I cannot stop LAUGHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is SOOOOOOO cute.

[bethanne]

These are fun!!!! :)

[Citex]

I like these photos.

[exposedmedia]

Originally Posted by Gordon

I borrowed a b800 & b1600 from a friend. My main problem was that both of those were far, far too powerful to use in an appartment :)

I think I need 400's

not to hijack the thread but I shoot in an apartment and the 800's are fine. my space was very small. I can see where the 1600 would probably be too powerful. Nice kids pics though.

[Jenny Z]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

So that did not last long at all. What am I to do? and what's going on behind me?

This is such an awesome picture

[guitarbug]

I swear Jake, you dont really have a brother! You just like to dress like an evil twin, lol... I cant believe it took 2 years of this thread being open for this to be dicovered!

[Jake]

Holy crap! This is an old thread!

Thanks Jennifer!

And Chris....Shhhhhh.....I can get away with so much using this "brother" scam...