Question and post follow up (Page 2): Great looking model.

BebuLamar

rpavich wrote:

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! :)

Great looking model.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

BebuLamar wrote:

Great looking model.

:)

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

I remember back in the late 60's early 70's a debate about having one or two catch lights.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

gator81 wrote:

Hello everyone, hope your days have been wonderful... (show quote)

As noted catch light is just fine! That said, both of these photos appear to be shot on a cloudy day so I'm not sure why you felt you even needed a flash for fill. When the sun is high etc, one gets shadows on the face and fill is a good solution if you can't find a tree for shade. Even the second shot with some trivial editing and the slight shadow around your eyes can be edited out.

I took some liberties with the second shot simply to show some small LR editing. You can also make a diffuser with a plastic bottle if you don't want to buy one. https://improvephotography.com/3417/how-to-make-a-simple-flash-diffuser-for-free/

Good to see you both back out!!!

(Download)

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

rpavich wrote:

It seems like your speedlight was pretty much comi... (show quote)

The flash was on camera, it was a canon 430exII speedlight. i had the tilt of the flash pointed up from camera at 45 degrees with the plastic drop that comes with the flash and a home made diffuser to soften the light more. It was cloudy around 7:30 pm est. and was about 10 feet from us using the longer lens for a tighter shot thinking that being a little further away I would still get good light fill and no flash in the eyes still allowing for sharpness of the photo.
this was just the two of us so I was shooting from a tripod where the camera was about a little above eye level of my wife. I was also using an app on my android phone to trigger the shot.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

CO wrote:

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

Agree, round like the sun is normal preference - rectangular reminds me of catching distracting overhead fluorescent lights plus often whitens up the inner eye corner, similarly to the other poster's photo.

BTW, although the lighting on your model was a little strong, the catch did hit the 10 o'clock position of her pupils. Regardless, I quit reading the rest of your post when I got to her.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

gator81 wrote:

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

A little late replying - sometimes we are all so focused here we miss the most important part of the post - but screw catch lights, whether the flash should be at 45 or 43 degrees, etc. just SO glad your wife is doing well and you two can get out and shoot again. I hope to always remember the times & places with my wife, doubt if I remember whether the photo was taken at f8 or f11, etc.

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

Stardust wrote:

Agree, round like the sun is normal preference - r... (show quote)

thanks for the insight. I have been looking at amazon as they have a diffuser set one is square and one is 5 sided for less then 20$ for the set. I am trying to save money as they are not to much and see how that do also :)

and I will tell her you said that it may give her confidence to let me take more pictures of her :) Here is a pose of her goofing :)
canon 70D f4.5 / 1/160s / ISO 100 / 55-250@70mm

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sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

gator81 wrote:

Hello everyone, hope your days have been wonderful... (show quote)

When folks start asking the questions you're asking I generally point them toward the Lighting 101: Introduction. It's a great primer covering off camera flash.

CO

gator81 wrote:

thanks for the insight. I have been looking at amazon as they have a diffuser set one is square and one is 5 sided for less then 20$ for the set. I am trying to save money as they are not to much and see how that do also :)

and I will tell her you said that it may give her confidence to let me take more pictures of her :) Here is a pose of her goofing :)
canon 70D f4.5 / 1/160s / ISO 100 / 55-250@70mm

You might also take a look at the Vello Octa softbox for portable flash. They come in 8" and 12" sizes. I have the 8" one. It has a silver interior to help reflect more light. There's an additional diffuser panel inside if you want to double the amount of diffusion.

copladocus

Hi Gator. I recognized the skyline and bridge. I am right across the river from you in Louisville.
Best,
Tom

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

sloscheider wrote:

When folks start asking the questions you're asking I generally point them toward the Lighting 101: Introduction. It's a great primer covering off camera flash.

thank you for the link, I am reading up on it now

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

CO wrote:

You might also take a look at the Vello Octa softbox for portable flash. They come in 8" and 12" sizes. I have the 8" one. It has a silver interior to help reflect more light. There's an additional diffuser panel inside if you want to double the amount of diffusion.

I was looking at this one at amazon https://www.amazon.com/UPGRADED-Diffuser-Speedlight-Universal-Collapsible/dp/B07BVZ67CC/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1531761318&sr=8-19&keywords=diffusers+for+camera+flash and then I did a search for the vello octa softbox and seen the same one and a few others around the same price. Is this kinda what your talking about or would it be a different one?

gator81 Loc: Jeffersonville Indiana

copladocus wrote:

Hi Gator. I recognized the skyline and bridge. I am right across the river from you in Louisville.
Best,
Tom

thanks Tom, I thought that might be what you had mentioned :) I even met another young photographer there when I was taking pictures :)

CO

gator81 wrote:

I was looking at this one at amazon https://www.amazon.com/UPGRADED-Diffuser-Speedlight-Universal-Collapsible/dp/B07BVZ67CC/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1531761318&sr=8-19&keywords=diffusers+for+camera+flash and then I did a search for the vello octa softbox and seen the same one and a few others around the same price. Is this kinda what your talking about or would it be a different one?

That one looks a lot like the Vello Octa Softbox. It's probably just as good. The Vello has a soft rubber strip where it goes around the flash. That gives it traction to keep it from slipping off the flash head. It also has a secondary diffuser panel that can be stretched across the inside for double diffusion.

The set that you found looks like a good deal. You might want to get that one.