First picture post - no idea what I'm doing!

[lizziejane]

I shot these a few days ago and would love some feedback on what I did wrong, and what I can do to improve. This is Heather, my 3 month old grand-niece, and it was my first real attempt using my new AB's.






c&c welcome!

Jane

[k9ofkaos]

What is it with all these folks who SAY they are newbies coming up with good high key stuff right out of the box.

In all seriousness these are pretty dang good. Congrats on getting your bees. I shoot with them and so do a lot of other folks on this board. Have some vitamin K.

[UBSeng]

Jane, the first one is adorable and the lighting looks great. How many ABs did you get and how did you use them?

Second pic is cute too, maybe a bit tight for my taste and too much top of the head, but still...

[shuttermom17]

They look good. Are these SOOC or have you done some post on them? I'm not sure that they qualify as true high key with her red out fit but you have done a great job of evenly lighting the background. Agree that the first one works better compositionally and I really like the angle to which she is propped.

Congrats on a beautiful baby and keep posting your images.

[lizziejane]

Thanks for the comments!

UBSeng - I used 3 AB's - 2 800's on the b/g and 1 400 with a shoot-thru umbrella. Started off with the umbrella to camera right but was also shooting a 3-year old, so the camera had to come off the tripod! I think photo #1, I was to the right of the umbrella.

Shuttermom - I see what you mean about too muc of the top of the head - hadn't really noticed it before, but is something I will watch out for in the future. There were dozens of pics that got trashed because her head looked enormous! Her mom loved it though, as it captured the stage she's at - tries to latch on to anything in sight! Some pp was done - converted from raw in Lightroom, adjusted wb and sharpened, minor adjustment on levels (I believe the red needed adjusting) in Elements, and ran it through Imagenomic Portraiture taken down to 50%, then sharpened the eyes.

I have a question about the wb adjustments in Lightroom though. I chose daylight which set it at 5500 plus added 10 on tint. If I'd chosen flash wb, the preset on Lightroom is to add no tint. Which is the correct selection? Or is it just personal preference?

[KellyL]

Pretty good stuff! So many animals in the pic is a little distracting, though. Otherwise. keep posting.

[harryd]

Hay looking good ! I am so glad you got up the nerve to post, you did great on the first one. Great pose and light. She is a real cutie!

There were dozens of pics that got trashed because her head looked enormous!

Check and see if you were shooting at a real wide angle, if you are that will make what is closest to lens look bigger from what I have read here.

I have a question about the wb adjustments in Lightroom though. I chose daylight which set it at 5500 plus added 10 on tint. If I'd chosen flash wb, the preset on Lightroom is to add no tint. Which is the correct selection? Or is it just personal preference?

The white balance looks good to me, I think AlienBees are 5600K if I remember right. If you have a gray card try shooting a custom white balance, I just started doing that and it is easer to get it right in the camera than doing it in post.

Glad you decided to join us, hope to see lots more from you in the near future.

[KingEnigma]

Originally Posted by k9ofkaos

What is it with all these folks who SAY they are newbies coming up with good high key stuff right out of the box.

I was thinking the same thing.

Nice first attempt.