Model shoot 2

[marcus]

Just 3 more from my model shoot last weekend. As before, any feedback good or bad is welcomed. I have taken on board all the comments from my previous post:
http://www.d70users.net/viewtopic.php?t=9412&highlight=

Luckily she is absolutely wrapped in the results (phew! ) so far. I promise not to bore anyone who is not interested in this kind of stuff anymore! And yes the shadows on the face are a bit harsh in the first & third ones....too much flash?

[Antsl]

Hi Marcus ...

I had a look at the earlier work and although I did not comment first time around I think I should mention two pointers that should lift your game.

First... stop putting the horizon through the models head... get lower and put the horizon below her shoulders or shoot from above (second option only).

Second thing... stop using fill flash ... its not a good look and you'll never see pros doing it (unless they're desperate to get the shot and get to lunch). If you shoot earlier in the morning or late in the afternoon you will have better light to work with and you will not need the flash.

Next time!

[shakey]

FWIW I think the strands of hair around the nose in the 1st and the mouth in the 3rd are distracting. The 2nd shot is gorgeous but I think it would be better to reduce the bags/shadows under the eyes (and maybe reduce the size of the snoz....I was going to add "if I was going to be picky" but I wont).

Scott Kelby's book "The Photoshop CS2 book for digital photographers" has some simple techniques for this stuff and these would be great photos to practise on.

And the flash....got a diffuser? My SB800 has the diffuser permanently attached.

Anyway she looks like a great model with a great smile (and lovely teeth)...and I'm sure the series is better than I could do.

shakey

[marcus]

Thanks Antsl,

This info is the stuff I need We had to shoot at a time that suited (which unfortunately was'nt early morning or late arvo) but I get where your coming from. I'm certainly no pro but I have seen items about this type of photography where plp swear by fill flash?

Ahhh the art of photograpy, a constant learnig curve.

Thanks for your critique and info.

Please feel free to PM me with any more input, I'm willing to learn!

[kipper]

Ants while I agree with your points on the horizon, I'm not overly sure on the points though regarding flash. Wasn't there a post recently about Nikon SB-800 CLS with a presentation by some known photographer (name has slipped my mind) where he seemed to produce some quite natural lit shots.

[leek]

It would be difficult to take bad pictures of that girl, but well done Marcus...

[marcus]

Thanks shakey....It's on board. Really windy day and the hair was a problem (a constant problem!). I'll be packing the diffuser next time.
Love to do some snoz reduction but there is a limit!

[kipper]

Marcus, while I'm no expert try and think out how you want your backgrounds to look in the shot. Personally I find them a bit busy and distracting (not sure if this is already mentioned). While I'm no expert on this sort of photography I know you should plan out your backgrounds, and think where the lighting will be at various stages of the day. So remember this when going on a shoot as it might mean early morning or late afternoon (dusk) shoots. You might want to reduce your flash output so it only fills and doesn't produce overly flashed shots. Invest in a reflector aswell and get your wife to hold it while you're shooting.

Anyway like I said I'm no expert, so ignore everything I've said. Something that might be handy for some of the budding model photographers is to take a look at some fo the old swimsuit illustrated calendars and video shows if they can find them. Might get ideas for shooting models and locations. You also get to see some of the behind stuff so you can see what sort of setups they use.

[marcus]

Thanks Kipper I hear you. This is all good, keep it coming........I'll disect it later.

[Antsl]

Ants while I agree with your points on the horizon, I'm not overly sure on the points though regarding flash. Wasn't there a post recently about Nikon SB-800 CLS with a presentation by some known photographer (name has slipped my mind) where he seemed to produce some quite natural lit shots.

There is flash and then there is fill flash. Fill flash for recreational photographers invariably means leaving the flash on the camera and using it to fill in the shadows .... it is invariably obvious in the image though and so most good photographers avoid it unless there is no other option.

I tend to use flash a lot in the field although I usually get it away from the camera. Sometimes it will be a couple of metres to my left, sometimes it might be 20 metres away, getting triggered by a radio slave. When I use flash it is not used to "fill" it is usually used as a main light altough given that it is off the camera it becomes hard to tell.

The trick to good lighting is to make it appear that the image is not being lit by the photographer ... its a little like being a magician ... the trick is not to let the audience see where the rabbit came from! Its all an illusion.

[kipper]

Yep, Ants spot on. I was going to say if I didn't say it already. Use the flash off camera so it doesn't give the straight from camera look to it.

[wendellt]

Marcus

Nice set of images, I like the first one the most she looks natural in mid movement the hair in the wind does it for me.
as a suggestion use more differential focus to give isolate the model from the background.


hi Anthony

thats a fantastic image, very sophistiated, i checked out your website and wow, my hat goes off to you you have a real artistic eye for composition and capturing the moment, i am really impressed, we could learn allot from someone like you.

[marcus]

wendellt,

Yeah that was mentioned to me in my first post and I do agree.

Luckily this was for a friend and they are happy with the results
but after posting here I knew it was an issue.

ps....I'm not gonna mention it to them

[Matt. K]

Marcus
Nice work Mate! Just a couple of comments that may help...the fill flash is fine, but knock a half a stop or so out of it. Try minus 0.7 or even minus 1 next time for a more natural look. And the previous post about horizons going through the head is worth considering. Thanks for posting.