C&C please - Attempting to balance flash and sunlit skies

[todd_a]

I decided I needed some practice shooting outdoors with a bare flash for windy conditions against a bright sky with the sun out.

I think I should have backed off the flash a bit more or something.

C&C? Any ideas on what I could have done to get rid of the facial light reflection?



Thanks
Todd

[todd_a]

I found a method of toning it down in photoshop, but would like to get it right in the camera if possible...

[Daniel W.]

I'm not a big fan of the hard shadows, maybe a problem solve-able by taking the flash off camera, which would be a big help in changing the overall look of the light. (And a slight composition note, maybe move her to the left/her right, that tree stuff growing out of her head is bothering me)

[The Philos]

Have the model pat down her face lightly and soften the light with a modifier - I know you said it was windy, but and thing could work (tape some parchment/wax paper over the flash gun).

[todd_a]

Originally Posted by Daniel W.

I'm not a big fan of the hard shadows, maybe a problem solve-able by taking the flash off camera, which would be a big help in changing the overall look of the light. (And a slight composition note, maybe move her to the left/her right, that tree stuff growing out of her head is bothering me)

Thanks!

Well the flash was actually to camera-right on a stand.

I should have moved her further to the left but there was a swimming pool there. I could have moved to the right a little to eliminate the trees. I was concentrating on getting the light balanced and all that and getting the nice blue sky in there, and I totally was not thinking about the distraction of the branches.

Thanks though, I do need to remember to pay more attention to that also.

[todd_a]

Originally Posted by ThePhilosopher

Have the model pat down her face lightly and soften the light with a modifier - I know you said it was windy, but and thing could work (tape some parchment/wax paper over the flash gun).

I was thinking that using a shoot-through umbrella would have helped knock down the reflections some, but with the wind, I didn't think it would stay in place and might end up in the swimming pool next to us.

Good thought on the wax paper! I will try that out in the future and see how it changes things.

Thanks!

[The Philos]

When it's windy out I use tent stakes and bungee cords (when on grass) to strap down lightstands with all sorts of modifiers. The only thing I've never tried with wind without an assistant is my 84" umbrella.

[twoeyesopen]

Underexpose the bg a bit more. 1.5 stops or so
Get the flash really close to the subject. REALLY REALLY close.
The small Lumiquest things are cheap and help soften the light somewhat and they are not big and bulky
You can also lighen the shadows in PP. Duplicate layer, change blend mode to Screen, add a mask. Use the brush to allow the lighter shadow areas in the Screen layer to show through.
Overpowering bright sun and not having harsh shadows wthout boatloads of powerful modified lights or scrims is very difficult to do.

[The Philos]

I wouldn't say very difficult to do, difficult to do well would be better. I can plop any of my strobes outside with a reflector and overpower the sun; will it look good?

[Skutty2Shots]

I like the bungie cords and stakes Idea for the wind, what I use is some ankle jogging weights strapped to the legs of my light stand. Works on concrete. I never liked having to pay for photog sandbags and dirt.

[todd_a]

Originally Posted by Skutty2Shots

I like the bungie cords and stakes Idea for the wind, what I use is some ankle jogging weights strapped to the legs of my light stand. Works on concrete. I never liked having to pay for photog sandbags and dirt.

Good idea... I have some of these and I don't use them. I'll have to move them to my photography stuff stack!
Thanks!!!!