OCF practice - how's it look?

[reader0428]

I'm delving into learning OCF - this is a one-light setup, no reflector. I added 1/3 of a stop in Lightroom and adjusted the white balance, but no other PP. How does the light placement look? (no critique needed on the unbrushed hair and messy face, ha!)

Settings:
ISO 400
f 3.5, 1/60 (manual)
Flash in ETTL, -3, approx. 2-3 feet from subject, bounced into an umbrella

[hdctx]

I would raise the light level a bit so you could stop it down a bit and add a few inches to your depth of field to get her hair in focus. I like your light placement.

[Photogdude]

depends on what you mean by "light placement" it looks fine to me,catchlights ok, little loop pattern going on

but the real question is, are the shadows where you want them, if they are the placement is perfect.

don't think of it as learning OCF, think of it as learning lighting

ps, by looking at your website i thought you might have been beyond this (thats a compliment)

[reader0428]

Thanks for commenting, Dave and Marshall.

Dave, I love for children's portraits to have an element of softness, so I don't completely mind that her hair is out of focus, but it would be good to shoot it both ways.

Marshall - thanks, I think. :) Everything on my web site is shot with ambient light, but I do pay attention to lighting patterns and shadows regardless of where the light is coming from. I want to start using OCF for my newborn sessions since the ambient light in client homes is so unpredictable. (I'm also hoping it will speed up the processing, too.)

[Photogdude]

if you are photographing in clients home, i would strongly suggest a monolight, your going to miss a lot of shots waiting for that flash to recycle.

as far as processing goes, I'm not sure how a OCF is going to help. maybe explain what you mean.

[reader0428]

Thanks Marshall, I'll look into a monolight.

In my very limited experience with OCF, I've noticed that colors seem to be richer and skin tones a bit smoother and true-to-life when using flash. I've never used it with a real baby, tomorrow will be my first shot at it.

[KenJulio]

The image appears to be out of focus/blurry instead of soft, considering you were using a flash, I'd suggest you increase your shutter speed since you are controlling the light. At 1/60th of a second, you're going to get a good number of blurry shots.

I'll add, it appears you were shooting with a 50 1.4, if you want soft, shoot at 1.8, gain almost 2 stops of light, increase your shutter speed to 1/180 or 1/200th. You will have crisper with the shallow depth of field at 1.8 and crisp eyes.

Using flash will give you options, take advantage of them

[hdctx]

Kenjulio, thanks cor articulating what I was trying to say.
Even if you like a soft print, start with a Sharp image so you get to decide where it's soft.

[reader0428]

Will do, thanks guys.

Ken, I was having trouble shooting at anything lower than 2.8 because I couldn't move my light back far enough (tight shooting space) and the Ettl exposure compensation only goes down to -3. Is there another secret to shooting almost wide open while using a flash?

[KenJulio]

Now this is where my 'noob'ness comes out and I'm sure i'll be corrected. The following could be used in combination and will need to be adjusted accordingly, this is my caveat to my advice below. :)

drop your ISO from 400 to 100 or 5, you will lose 2 stops of light
Increase your shutter speed will help reduce of ambient light
Also, not relying on ettl and shooting in manual, controlling the power of the flash will help as well.

Zack Arias' One Light DVD is an excellent resource. He discusses how shutter speed affects ambient and how the aperture affects how the light on your subject to your sensor.

Higher shutter = darker background
Closed down aperture = darker subject

Dont expect to get the first shot right out of the block, there are a number of variables to achieve what you want, if youre shooting with an umbrella, you may need to diffuse it more or lower the power of the strobe.

[reader0428]

I'll check out that DVD Ken, thanks. I pretty much get the shutter speed/aperture functions in relation to the flash, but I haven't figured out manual flash yet, or how to arrive at the proper settings to use (besides just shoot, look, adjust). I was using that slow SS because I wanted more ambient light in the shot. I will pick up that DVD and keep playing! ;)

[KenJulio]

Again, if I misstate, someone will correct me... :)

More ambient, increase ISO is another option, I dont think you should have a problem at 1200 with the 5D which is another 2-3 stops, which lets you increase your shutter.

I'd be concerned about the lighting then the sharpness of your subject, if you have to sacrifice shutter speed, consider increasing your ISO to keep the same shutter speed.

[snydersnapshots]

Amanda--I'm no expert in OCF, I'm still playing with it and trying to get comfortable myself. Having said that, one excellent resource on the web is David Hobby's Strobist blog. I highly suggest going in there and checking his site out. On the right side you'll see two drop down boxes labeled "Lighting 101 Archive" and "Lighting 102 Archive". For all practical purposes, they are a complete course in lighting. They have a wealth of information and, since its free, the price is definitely right!

I look forward to seeing more of your work!

Ken

[KenJulio]

If I may add, possibly placing the light higher than your subject.

Also, did you have the light feathering your subject, that would soften the light on the subject while moving most of the light off to the background?

[Tom]

Originally Posted by reader0428

Thanks Marshall, I'll look into a monolight.

In my very limited experience with OCF, I've noticed that colors seem to be richer and skin tones a bit smoother and true-to-life when using flash. I've never used it with a real baby, tomorrow will be my first shot at it.

Depends on the light quality and the modifier, but it certainly can be.

Ken, I was having trouble shooting at anything lower than 2.8 because I couldn't move my light back far enough (tight shooting space) and the Ettl exposure compensation only goes down to -3. Is there another secret to shooting almost wide open while using a flash?

Shoot the flash manually, instead of in ETTL.

how to arrive at the proper settings to use (besides just shoot, look, adjust).

Shoot look and adjust until you get used to it. You will start to just remember what power of light to use. Find your happy settings (maybe something like 1/160th 5.6 ISO 320 and start at 1/4th power. Go up and down on power until you get what you want. Remember the distance the light was from the subject. Then always set it up at that distance and power and you are set. If you back it up, crank the power or ISO. If you get it closer, drop the power or ISO. You will get a feel for it just like you did with shooting the camera in Manual.

I was using that slow SS because I wanted more ambient light in the shot.

I generally try to control ambient with the ISO and keep my shutter speed fast enough for the lens.


Good job!