Understanding the Good, Bad and Ugly of Specular Highlights
Oct 7, 2013 20:01:51 #
Those of you who are portrait photographers, I'd be grateful for your analysis of these two images both overall and specifically on creating desirable specular highlights. The first is taken with primarily natural light, supplemented with a reflector. The second is taken a little later when the light was fading, thus supplemented with a shoot-through umbrella and a reflector. Thank you in advance!
Elliot's specular highlights are of me and my camera
The shoot-through umbrella is the specular highlight.
Oct 7, 2013 21:02:40 #
kerfree wrote:
Those of you who are portrait photographers, I'd be grateful for your analysis of these two images both overall and specifically on creating desirable specular highlights. The first is taken with primarily natural light, supplemented with a reflector. The second is taken a little later when the light was fading, thus supplemented with a shoot-through umbrella and a reflector. Thank you in advance!
Hi Kerry
I'm inclined to like the umbrella and reflector shot a bit better. My eye says it is sharper. There is, to me, more pop.
I would be inclined to move the reflector back a little to give that side a touch more shadow, a little bit like the ratio in the first shot -- but not quite as much. You might use the histogram in PP to determine what looks best to you.
It's a baby and therefore pretty delicate.
The question about catch lights is going to require thought as well.
But, I don't think anyone should rain on your parade. You are off to a really good start.
Pierre
Oct 8, 2013 07:34:56 #
I'm no expert, and I like both of these, but favor the second shot. It appears the better of the two, better skin tones. Can't help with catch lights, since I just use natural light, and either use the reflected windows or paint them in myself. Nice job on both of them!
Oct 8, 2013 09:31:37 #
PierreH wrote:
Hi Kerry br I'm inclined to like the umbrella and... (show quote)
Pierre, thank you. I'll look forward to my next photo opp with Elliot to play with the umbrella positioning and lighting as you suggest.
In both shots, the eyes could have been sharper. I was using spot focus on his eye, but his little head kept bobbing... Would you suggest increasing the depth of field or using area focus for sharper eyes? I'd love to get this right, he is a BIF - it will take some practice! :)
Grateful for you input - thanks Pierre!
Oct 8, 2013 09:37:45 #
Treepusher wrote:
I'm no expert, and I like both of these, but favor the second shot. It appears the better of the two, better skin tones. Can't help with catch lights, since I just use natural light, and either use the reflected windows or paint them in myself. Nice job on both of them!
Thank you! I think your cat eyes make you an absolute expert, Randy! This posting started in the Analysis section... but more than analysis, I guess I just need practice... or a model that will hold still for me long enough to zero in on the eyes! I appreciate your thoughts on these - thanks! :)
Oct 8, 2013 10:02:04 #
Oct 8, 2013 10:26:38 #
No. 2 is a very sharp picture but would have been even better with all the head.The light coming from the lest in No.1 spoils it for me.
Oct 8, 2013 11:50:30 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Kerry, he is sooooo cute!!
Awww - thank you Linda :) :)
Oct 8, 2013 11:54:31 #
viscountdriver wrote:
No. 2 is a very sharp picture but would have been even better with all the head.The light coming from the lest in No.1 spoils it for me.
Thank you Viscountdriver for taking the time to allow me to see these images through your expert eyes! I will re-crop the first and learn from the second :) Many thanks!
Oct 8, 2013 11:55:33 #
kerfree wrote:
Pierre, thank you. I'll look forward to my next photo opp with Elliot to play with the umbrella positioning and lighting as you suggest.
In both shots, the eyes could have been sharper. I was using spot focus on his eye, but his little head kept bobbing... Would you suggest increasing the depth of field or using area focus for sharper eyes? I'd love to get this right, he is a BIF - it will take some practice! :)
Grateful for you input - thanks Pierre!
In both shots, the eyes could have been sharper. I was using spot focus on his eye, but his little head kept bobbing... Would you suggest increasing the depth of field or using area focus for sharper eyes? I'd love to get this right, he is a BIF - it will take some practice! :)
Grateful for you input - thanks Pierre!
Mind you Kerry, getting a moving target like this little tyke is very difficult in the best of circumstances in terms of getting the eyes sharp.
Perhaps, you were already these but, if not, try f9, f10 or f11 to give yourself every edge in what appears sharp.
What you really need is some ole guy like me who has craggy features, a beard and will sit still for a second or two. LOL. :)
Pierre
Oct 8, 2013 12:41:41 #
kerfree wrote:
Awww - thank you Linda :) :)
Of course you knew that already :thumbup:
Oct 8, 2013 17:02:31 #
Hi Kerry, he's gorgeous, both photos are good. I do mostly people photos and these to me are the hardest to shoot, so you did a good job. The focus is off just a tiny bit, when you say you used spot focus on the eye are you talking about metering. My camera has little red dots and I only use one dot and I focus on the closest eye. I usually shoot close to wide open to blur the back ground but in your case I am not sure what the background is but if it stays a solid color you could go to a much smaller aperture and get better dof.
One thing I know you are going to get plenty of practice with this cute little guy.
Michael :D :D :thumbup: :thumbup:
One thing I know you are going to get plenty of practice with this cute little guy.
Michael :D :D :thumbup: :thumbup:
Oct 8, 2013 20:13:18 #
Hi kerfree,
Both shots are of a cute little subject and as someone who shoots babies a lot, I would try to do something a little different either in what the subject is wearing or the backdrop. If you want your subject to pop a little more, I wouldn't go with a similar color outfit, they kind of get lost with the background. I would also have the little wiggle worms entire head in the shot, move back a little further, you can always crop for a close up.
I always have a little something for the baby to hold, whether it's a rattle or a stuffie, they seem to sit a little better, especially if you use clicking sounds, you will get the cutest little expressions.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Both shots are of a cute little subject and as someone who shoots babies a lot, I would try to do something a little different either in what the subject is wearing or the backdrop. If you want your subject to pop a little more, I wouldn't go with a similar color outfit, they kind of get lost with the background. I would also have the little wiggle worms entire head in the shot, move back a little further, you can always crop for a close up.
I always have a little something for the baby to hold, whether it's a rattle or a stuffie, they seem to sit a little better, especially if you use clicking sounds, you will get the cutest little expressions.
kerfree wrote:
Those of you who are portrait photographers, I'd be grateful for your analysis of these two images both overall and specifically on creating desirable specular highlights. The first is taken with primarily natural light, supplemented with a reflector. The second is taken a little later when the light was fading, thus supplemented with a shoot-through umbrella and a reflector. Thank you in advance!
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Oct 9, 2013 14:42:04 #
PierreH wrote:
Mind you Kerry, getting a moving target like this little tyke is very difficult in the best of circumstances in terms of getting the eyes sharp.
Perhaps, you were already these but, if not, try f9, f10 or f11 to give yourself every edge in what appears sharp.
What you really need is some ole guy like me who has craggy features, a beard and will sit still for a second or two. LOL. :)
Pierre
Perhaps, you were already these but, if not, try f9, f10 or f11 to give yourself every edge in what appears sharp.
What you really need is some ole guy like me who has craggy features, a beard and will sit still for a second or two. LOL. :)
Pierre
Yup, you are right!!! :thumbup: :thumbup:
Oct 9, 2013 14:43:22 #
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