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Another image, taken this morning, didn't get to use Ants' translucent light diffuser, haven't got one yet! The first one is as is, the second, same shot but applied PS soft focus filter, not overdone this time (hopefully!)

Max

These are much better than the previous ones. You may want to take note that the whites are over blown.

regards,

Arthur

Great shot Max! This is a great improvement on the previous ones. Her eyes really stand out in the pp'd image. A very cute little girl too! The whites are a little bit distracting as Arthur says.

Thanks Arthur, yes, I know the whites are blown but hey, I had fun. I'm new to this portrait bit, I'm used to landscapes and surf shots only, but will try and improve these portraits.

I find it is just experimenting with each lighting situation, I definitely need to soften the light thru diffusing, but that will be next week's lesson.

There is so much to learn....thankfully there's such a friendly non- judgmental forum as this!

Max

Marvin wrote:Great shot Max! This is a great improvement on the previous ones. Her eyes really stand out in the pp'd image. A very cute little girl too! The whites are a little bit distracting as Arthur says.

Actually Marv, had to mask then brush them back in in PS, using black/white foreground alternately.

Max

ozimax wrote:Thanks Arthur, yes, I know the whites are blown but hey, I had fun. I'm new to this portrait bit, I'm used to landscapes and surf shots only, but will try and improve these portraits.

I find it is just experimenting with each lighting situation, I definitely need to soften the light thru diffusing, but that will be next week's lesson.

There is so much to learn....thankfully there's such a friendly non- judgmental forum as this!

Max

Hi Max,

You can dial - 0.3 to -0.7 EV for less flash output. Capture in raw so that you have more control over white balance and exposure.

regards,

Arthur

Much much better.......... but a vertical crop would be even better.......

cheers
bp

And here's another one. hopefully not with blown white jumper this time, must remember not to suggest white clothing for kids' portraits

Max

Hi Max,

Nice and sharp. Still too much flash. Bring down the exposure and you will see better results immediately.

Please try again.

regards,

Arthur

Will keep trying Arthur, tried downing exposure (-3 then -7), upping shutter speed, also turned studio flashes down to 1/4 power, still couldn't quite get it right, might have something to do with ambient light coming in the side window at different levels???

Max

Don't like RAW Arthur, my little iBook just can't handle it, well it can, but it takes ages to process and I'm too impatient to wait 1 min to open each file!

Max

ozimax wrote:Will keep trying Arthur, tried downing exposure (-3 then -7), upping shutter speed, also turned studio flashes down to 1/4 power, still couldn't quite get it right, might have something to do with ambient light coming in the side window at different levels???

Max

You should try one thing at a time. Don't change shutter speed - 1/125 is good enough. Since your studio flash is down to 1/4 power. You can try 1/8. If still does not help, use a smaller aperture - f8, 11 or 16. The ambient light is not affecting the overall exposure. Watch the shadows under the eyes and socket.

regards,

Arthur

Definite improvements Max The second girl reminds me of Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory for some reason.

I agree that it's still a bit bright. Maybe try blocking out the windows and you'll be able to get a more predictable result.

Keep us updated

ozi hows this bit of selective colour correction in PS

ozimax wrote:Will keep trying Arthur, tried downing exposure (-3 then -7), upping shutter speed, also turned studio flashes down to 1/4 power, still couldn't quite get it right, might have something to do with ambient light coming in the side window at different levels???

Max

Max ...Changing shutter speed using electronic flash will NOT change your exposure........so move your main flash futher away from your subject, and a little to one side to give a bit more modeling shoot on a high shutter speed say 500th as you camera will not pick up any other light ie window light, try stopping down if you are shooting on f8 try f11 and f16 stay with raw and when the raw processer comes up click on 8bits not 16bits and your ibook will cope better........Also by moving the main light source back and away it will soften your shadows.....

cheers
...bp

great shot........ the look says it all

ozimax
Your image of the single girl is almost a materpiece! The only thing that holds it back is the direction of her gaze. Please...do it again and ask her to look directly into the lens. Ask her to look for her own reflection in the the magic mirror. If you can duplicate this image with her looking into the lens that it will ring out above all others. Eye contact is so important in a portrait and only exceptional images work without it.
Bloody good camera work anyway.

To capture an image of someone posing for a camera is easy ......... to capture someone being themselves is PRICELESS...... expressions and looks are always the best.......

cheers
...bp

try shooting with highlights mode selected-
as others have said shutter speed doesn't affect flash lighting unless you want surrounding light to play a factor, like tung hair lights.
use your aperture or diffuse you lighting futher reduce blown features

Matt. K wrote:ozimax
Your image of the single girl is almost a materpiece! The only thing that holds it back is the direction of her gaze. Please...do it again and ask her to look directly into the lens.Bloody good camera work anyway.

I have heaps more of yesterday's shoot, many of which has her looking at the lens, thanks anyway Matt, will post one of these when I get time. Max

Gettin there i see Max, i am having puter problems at moment and trying to sort out.
Have fun mate.

BBJ wrote:Gettin there i see Max, i am having puter problems at moment and trying to sort out.
Have fun mate.

John, buy a mac, no more problems!

Max

jethro wrote:ozi hows this bit of selective colour correction in PS

Thanks Jethro, how actually did you do this in PS?

Max

Hi Max, yeh right. The problem is a new 200 gig Western Digital drive, i am trying to back up stuff so i can rip it out.

G'day John,

My brother in law got himself one of those little external drive type thingos, I think it is a laptop HDD placed into a casing with USB out and power supply etc. He backs up his HD every day, only takes a short time, (mind you his retail software/hardware package just cost him $30K+ so I suppose it's worth backing up).

I think the little backups cost around $200, might be a good idea sometime to completely back up my 30gb HD?

Max

Max, i have all of this stuf backed up as it is on dvds etc... but when you have like 80+gig of mp3s that are all backed up on cd's but i am trying to save the hours of work loading them all back on, so i am transferring them back to other drive, all takes time though but still faster then getting all the cds and reloading. Just means my server is going be down for awhile thats all. The main drive is ok and just the new drive is playing up so better be safe than sorry.

Drive is only 3 weeks old, i know i hate WD drives, people used to bag seagate drives but is the only drive i havent had a problem with.

Ok i need a new keyboard as well, a lot of the letters are missing as it is a black 1. These things are sent to test us, but under warranty so i will just send it back.
Good time to catch up on some movies, just gonna watch Herbie Reloaded and maybe Batman Begins. LOL

Good 'ol Herby the luv barg, I think my kids will enjoy that one (is that the new one?) Man, it's slow here at work today, thankfully will close up in 45 mins and head home via rels who have Foxtel so I can watch my beloved South Sydney team get beaten again!

Cheers mate,

Max

Yes mate it is the new one, not sure if it is out yet in oz but yeh well i got lots of new stuff, just been too busy on here to watch them all, well good luck watching your tea and at work. Must be good to be at work and get on net as well.