Haydon

Hello again all... working in my studio Week #II... Was looking for a more dramatic look and this is what I came up with. Tried working a more balanced hair illumination with debatable results. I tried switching the lights around hoping to get short lighting but never managed to get the results. From my research, it indicates short lighting tends to narrow the face and generally more flattering for women whereas my image last week was considered closer to broad lighting which many claim to enamor men.

Can't nail a shot in a sort duration if my life depended on it. Even with a modelling mode in both my 600EX-RT's I'm starting to think my duration won't be really shortened for a while without a continuous modelling mode. I can see Einsteins coming soon :) Please constructively give me some advice. I'm open, green and wide eyed looking for another perspective.

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Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

Shot looks ok but the model looks unreal.

Haydon

Maybe because she's a mannequin :) Mind expanding on okay...that doesn't really tell me anything.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Trying to be a resource for you here...
First and foremost excellent skin tone exposure... nice soft gradual gradation across the forehead...

That said if you are seeking a short lighting scenario possibly moving the key around enough to kill the spill across the nose...
It's oft said "watch your nose shadow"... it's a most important guide for short; paramount and Rembrandt etc. illumination...
However working with speedlights is a challenge... Once you have Einsteins and set there modeling lights to "Track" with the strobes' power setting then precise fine tuning of illumination becomes far more practical...

Rather than attempting to explain how to setup a short light scenario here is an "extreme" example where key and kicker placement is pretty obvious... Note the nose shadow...

Hope this helps Haydon...
Or is at least food for thought...
Thank you for sharing...

Bridal Narrative

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Haydon

Thanks Thomas, for your concise analogy. I tried using a soft box but I couldn't find the spot where the bridge of the nose was the defining line. All the light did was spill over and feather no matter what placement I used. Did I need a grid on the soft box? This bridal image is a perfect example of short lighting and it is superb as usual. My hat is off to you sir.

Many thanks.....

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"Did I need a grid on the soft box?" Haydon that would likely make the task easier to achieve... albeit another solution would be to walk the softbox back away from the talent thereby making it more a point source with less wrap... but without tracking modeling lights and a dark studio speedlights make compositional illumination elements rather arduous to create...

btw, the key in the example was a gridded strip softbox...

And thanks for the kind words however the bride deserves all the credit...

Chuckwal Loc: Boynton Beach Florida

Very Cool on the DL

aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM

The shadow off the side of the nose is very unusual. It doesn't seem possible that the main light could have done that. Is is possible the hairlight is hitting the face? If so, I think I'd move it further back so that none of the face is illuminated by it -- leave that for the main and fill lights. That may be why you are getting unexpected results. Perhaps try taking a shot with and without the hairlight to see if there is spillage.

Having a modeling light is really a big plus, and perhaps the biggest disadvantage to using speedlights rather than a strobe with the modeling light built in. It may be a hastle, but maybe you could replace the speedlight with a bright flashlight in the while you are setting up the lighting positions, the put the speedlight back when everything is positioned. You are using a shoot-through umbrella, right? Perhaps one of these:

https://www.adorama.com/fplclslp.html

to help the setup the lighting, or heck, just wrap a velcro strap to attach a flashlight to your umbrella shaft. Since the main/key light is the one producing the visible shadow, it'd be worth it to find a way to have a modeling light on that one in particular.

Haydon

Some really great advice here and thank you for that. It's quite possible I was getting additional spill because of the hair-light. Maybe with all the re-positioning; including the mannequin I hadn't noticed just as such. I still need to learn how to set each light individually and test instead of doing a final assembly and then making a total judgment.

BTW- That's a great idea with the velcro strap and the flashlight. Never would have thought of that.

I really don't want to spend anything more for now on my speed-light setup. After next week I will likely be in a position to buy my Einsteins. I do realize that better equipment only makes things easier but doesn't promise great results. That's a learned attribute. I learned that a long time ago when I moved from a crop camera to a full frame.

Once again I appreciate your advice making it easier to grown. Both you and others have made this journey a little easier with your great advice. Thank you.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

Hi Haydon! Would you mind saying where you got that mannequin? It looks like it could be very helpful.

Thanks man!

Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA

I love this. Superb sharpness on the eyes with great color, depth, and modeling.