gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

Hello everyone, hope your days have been wonderful. My wife is doing better and we were out taking some pictures again :)

The first picture is my question, I have been using a speed flash at a 45 degree angle for some fill lighting, but I keep getting the reflection of the flash in our eyes. I have been using a home made diffuser so the light is not so hard. Also we are alone and do not have any reflectors to just reflect the flash towards us, and since I am outside its hard to do a bounce directly from the flash. Any suggestions or ideas. I know I could touch this up more but the eyes was my main question.
canon 70d f4.5 / 1/100s / ISO 125 / 55-250@79mm with on camera speedflash

My second photo was more to see if someone would notice where I took the picture and see if this is where they were talking about :)
canon 70d f7.1 / 1/160s / ISO 100 / 18-55@32mm

It was nice getting out and taking pictures with the wife again :)

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amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The reflection of the flash in your eyes is a GOOD THING... it's called a "catch light" and is something that most photographers strive for.

Eyes without catch lights look "dead".

Study professionally shot images of people in ads.... you'll almost always see catch lights.

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

hmm, i have never heard that, thank you, I will do some research and see what else I can find about this.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Take a look at fashion photography, you can tell what type of light they used and which direction it was coming from.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

All true would only add if you can set the catch light from the side just "catching" the edge of the pupil that is usually better versus head on that often shows up as a "halo" effect like in your ligher eyes.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

It seems like your speedlight was pretty much coming from the same angle as the camera....was it? You said 45 degree angle but it looks straight on.

Also, what modifier did you use? It looks like a bare speedlight.

One principle for good light: Bigger and closer is better than farther and smaller.


So your speedlight should be in a large umbrella or softbox or something and it should be very close to you...18" or so. There are a few reliable lighting patterns: light on the side of the face closest to the camera, light on the opposite side, light from above, light from both above and below.

Can you show your set up?

CO

UHH members are correct. It's desirable to have catch lights in the eyes. It's best is if they are in the 2 o'clock or 10 o'clock position. If going for the old film noir look, the catch lights can be low in the eyes.

For reflected light get a swivel umbrella bracket and umbrella. If you get an umbrella try to get one that has a pebbled sliver interior. The silver interior will reflect about one extra stop of light over a white interior. The pebbled finish disperses the light around the inside of the umbrella better. I use a PocketWizard Mini-TT1 on the camera and put the speedlight on a PocketWizard Flex-TT5.

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Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

If I can clarify and add a few things here. First the reflection in the eyes or called the catch light is very desireable because it is supposed to mimic the sunlight catching your eyes it’s what gives the eyes depth and sparkle. If you look at most professional headshots or portraits you may notices the eyes look beautiful. If you look closely you will see it is the “catch light”.
Your light looks a little harsh in the photos if you are using it for fill light turn down the strength of your Flash for a softer more natural look. Most flashes also have a plastic diffuser built in that you slide out of the top of the flash. It’s a little piece of textured plastic. It is not great but better than nothing. You can also buy some inexpensive modifiers that go right on the flash that will help soften and diffuse the light. For me the one that works the best is the Flash disk, it looks foolish but it works well. F stoppers sells theirs for $49. But Meking sells the exact same one for $15. If you google flash disk you will find them as well as videos on how to use them. Or experiment with a piece of parchment paper taped over the flash. I am assuming you are using your flash on the hot shoe. The poster who mentions softboxes and modifiers and getting the flash closer is talking about using it off camera which I am guessing looking at your photos you are not doing.
You can google using on camera flash or using on camera Speedlight and there will be tons of resources to help you also. Good luck.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

That's some harsh light there CO. The diffuser was waaaayyy too far away for it's size.

CO

I know the light was a little harsh with that one. I posted it to show catch lights. It was actually a 22" beauty dish with diffuser sock on a P.C.B. strobe. It was about five feet away.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Well, now that you mention it, did you notice that the catchlights are in the center of her eyes?

This isn't a perfect example but they are better anyway, more towards the correct position (and the shadows are not harsh at all.) This is a self portrait so don't dis on the subject! :)

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CO

Yes I did. This is not a perfect photo. The 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock positions are best.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Ok, got it.

CO

Those catchlights are window lights. If you like rectangular catchlights go for it. I think round catchlights are more desirable.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Those are actually a softbox with a grid attached but yes...they type of catchlights are a personal choice.