...Karin: simple portraits with two off-camera flashes... ;-)) M@H

[Max@Home]

Hi all,

Three from a fairly recent shoot:







...just to show you what can be achieved with a piece of simple black fleece, two off-camera flashes (580ex +420ex) and the ST-E2 commander:

the make-shift lazy-Friday-afternoon-in-the-office setup:



580ex (+CP-E3) on the left side, shooting through a white umbrella as a 'softbox', 420ex on the right shooting in a silver reflecting umbrella.

This setup works pretty decent for the intended purpose: I shoot the headshots to be used on our 'Who-is-Who' addressbook on our company's Intranet:

These final images need to be supplied as ~90px by ~120px, and should not be larger than 12Kb, so something like this (actual size):



...the reason for shooting them: we used to scan and use the 'passport/IDcard-images' every employee has to submit while getting employed, but the new stricter rules for these images (plain background, straight-facing the camera, at least one ear visible, and most important: NO SMILE ) made our 'Who-is-Who' book look like the 'most wanted by the FBI' posters...

...and so I am slowly becoming the 'company's photographer'

...and another hobby/passion turned into 'regular work' (the first one was 'computers' etc, and how I became an ICT-professional )

Constructive C&C on the images is most appreciated.

Thanks for your attention, kindest regards,

Max@Home

[Song4themoon]

nice headshots.. I'd whiten her teeth a bit though

[Max@Home]

Hi S4TM,

Thanks for the comment, I agree, but I discussed whitening her teeth with Karin, and she declined, she wanted to look 'natural'.

Only thing I was 'allowed' to do is camouflage some 'temporary zits' and some white spots she has on her teeth - but only a little

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[Padre]

These are very natural and look to me like they were shot with film, and not to forget a pretty lady with a delightful expression. Thanks for showing how you did this. A good post.

[Mark McCall]

I LOVE seein' stuff like this.

Newbies are often overwhelmed at what they 'think' they have to buy, but you really can create a stunning portrait with little equipment.
Kudos Max.

[jfrancho]

I have the EXACT same getup, and it works great for this. It's nice if you want to travel light, but still be ready for anything. Nice results.

[Mark McCall]

'bout the only thing I'd do different is to give the portrait more ratio, and short light the subject. Other than that....great results from a simple set up.

[Max@Home]

Hi Mark McCall,

Thanks for your kind replies.

I normally use a 'portrait ratio' (2wx3h or 3wx4H), but her boyfriend likes what he calls the 'Hasselblad' look, so as per request I deliberately cropped these images square for her.

As I showed in the original post, the final requested output is *really* small (90px by 120 px), and if I short light the subjects the shadowed part makes the faces 'too dark' and 'almost unrecognizeable', which kind of defeats their purpose

But I agree it would make her image prettier

Thanks for your remarks, they are much appreciated.

Kindest regards,

Max@Home

[Mark McCall]

Aplogies Max.
I was referring to the light ratio, not the aspect ratio.

Still...this is encouraging to others who are faced with buying a daunting amount of equipment when starting out.

[dc2]

This is encouraging for those of us who don't have much space to shoot in a room.
Good job Max.
I would like to see the effect of just using one light.

[Max@Home]

OK, have flashgun, will travel

...more examples:

...indoor



single 420ex flash used off camera with white shoot-through umbrella as 'softbox', 580ex masters only.



...with the GaryFong Lightsphere II IDS on the 580ex

or outdoor

420ex mounted on-camera, with Omnibounce, for fill & highlights



...hope this says something, *my* examples, *my* €0.02 worth...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[dc2]

Thanks Max
I have been thinking of doing a single light set up up for my tiny room space.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

Aplogies Max.
I was referring to the light ratio, not the aspect ratio.

....no apologies needed, *my* mistake, as it was strange for *me* to have 'square-one's'

what would you have changed, light-ratio-wise, where would you have placed more accent, left or right?

Again, thanks for your time,

Kindest regards,

Max@Home

[Mark McCall]

I'd place the main light on the side the subject's nose is pointed. (have the subject point her nose into the main light).
This would automatically give you short lighting.

[Shortie]

Cool captures

And it is great to see that your talent is being used by your company

[jfrancho]

Originally Posted by Mark McCall

I'd place the main light on the side the subject's nose is pointed. (have the subject point her nose into the main light).
This would automatically give you short lighting.

Pardon my ignorance, but is this a subjective decision based on the subject's facial structure, or just a general recomendation? I would have tried the opposite, or long lighting first.

[Mark McCall]

Short lighting thins the face, while broad lighting expands the face.
Short lighting works best for most subjects. (All women want to look thinner).

I wouldn't use broad lighting unless I was shooting a very, very thin subject.

It's not subjective, but a generally accepted rule of portriature.

Here's a graphic I created for another website.

[jfrancho]

Gotcha, I had the terms reversed.