Crique please -- 2 flash setup

[swampler]

I talked my daughter into letting me take a couple of shots. Playing with a 2 flash setup. I used a Nikon SB-22 camera left, about level with head (should be higher?), activated with a light sensor to detect the on camera flash, and a Canon 430EX on camera at FEC -1. Camera settings at ISO 100, f/4.5, and 1/125.

Looking to get better, so honest opinions, please. Just be gentle!



Thanks for looking.

[jfrancho]

Kicker is hotter than the main. I would reverse the ratios and see what that looks like.

[TimAndrea]

very harsh lighting. i would move the light more to the front and a little higher. i dont think that the on camera flash is doing anything

[swampler]

Thanks for the comments so far.

Without the on camera flash, the subject's left side is completely dark, so the on camera is adding fill. I suspected the side flash was too low, but wanted additional opinion as I'm new at multiple flash setups. Looking at the shadows on her face, I think you're right about bringing the flash more in front of her as well.

[Creation Stream Studios]

if they are flash with no model light this is what I would do. Point the flash at the wall or a ceiling (think 45 degree angle here) get both lights filling in the shadows on your daughter. Then adj shutter/ap to accommodate the new set up and try again.

[Unkl Buck]

Originally Posted by swampler

I talked my daughter into letting me take a couple of shots. Playing with a 2 flash setup. I used a Nikon SB-22 camera left, about level with head (should be higher?), activated with a light sensor to detect the on camera flash, and a Canon 430EX on camera at FEC -1. Camera settings at ISO 100, f/4.5, and 1/125.

Looking to get better, so honest opinions, please. Just be gentle!

Thanks for looking.

As Jfranco said, the off camera flash is overpowering the flash on camera. Swap ratios AND move the off camera flash further back. It's too much to the side. You don't want to see any light spill on the side of the nose.

The other problem with using on camera flash is the pin point spot of light in the pupils. That is a dead giveaway that an on camera flash was used.

Was that gentle enough?

[jfrancho]

The other problem with using on camera flash is the pin point spot of light in the pupils. That is a dead giveaway that an on camera flash was used.

Huge point here. Like swampler, I'm using speedlights to light my portraits. I have a 580 on the camera a a IR master, and two 430s as IR slaves. I use a bracket to get the on camera flash up and over to the side. I generally bounce this into a reflector for fill, instead of pointing directly at the subject. The easiest for you would be to bounce it into a large piece of white foam core, just to the right or left of the camera. This does a lot to increase and diffuse the light from the flash. Even so, sometimes there is light from the bare head that creates this central catch light, you can see it in this one (Big Al On A Stool). In the past, I'll take a small piece of black foam core, and rubber band it to the front side of the flash head, as in the opposite of a bounce card.

[Unkl Buck]

Jfranco,
in the image that you posted of "Big Al on a stool," I would like to see even just a bit more direction of light from the main, for my taste. I want people to SEE that there is a direction of light from one side or the other with a kicker. This will make your images stand out from everyone else. Guaranteed.

[swampler]

Thanks for all the comments...very constructive. Have some things to try out now.

[jfrancho]

So, do you mean a harder quality light for the main, or move the kicker back a bit, and the main to the right a bit for separation. Or both? Anyway, you should post that in my thread.