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General => General discussion => Topic started by: TheRaven on 14 May 2013, 21:13

Title: Self Portrait
Post by: TheRaven on 14 May 2013, 21:13
Well, here it is, the first portrait to show that my home made mini studio is up and running, obviously, it's me :/

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7285/8739555948_6533c9b347_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravenphotography2012/8739555948/)
Self Portrait (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravenphotography2012/8739555948/) by Raven Photography by Jenna Goodwin (http://www.flickr.com/people/ravenphotography2012/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: DubFan on 14 May 2013, 22:40
Lighting is good, though perhaps slightly too white on the background and a tiny bit harsh on the nose and cheek bones, though that's probably down to the ring flash.
Focus on the glasses and hair is good, but the cheeks and chin look a bit soft.

Did you try any other lighting/flash set ups?
I would perhaps use a spot light to light your backdrop and then bounce your flash off either the ceiling or a big bit of white card (in lieu of a reflector or umbrella).

Might I suggest you buy an off-camera cord (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251000548668) for your flash. Then stick it up above your camera on a tripod so that if fires down a bit.

Also, take a look at some of the flash tips from Dom Bower on youtube, like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91gU93J2Q8k (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91gU93J2Q8k)

Anyway, pretty good for a first attempt.
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: justalex81 on 15 May 2013, 08:55
what settings were used for this?

edit: nevermind i got it  :embarrassed:
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: TheRaven on 15 May 2013, 14:57
Cheers! The camera cable will be ordered from eBay at the end of the month, found a pretty cheap one, 6 foot for about £8 :)
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: DubFan on 15 May 2013, 15:16
Cheers! The camera cable will be ordered from eBay at the end of the month, found a pretty cheap one, 6 foot for about £8 :)
Yeah I found one of those 6ft cords too, after I posted that link.
Umbrellas and stands are pretty cheap too.
But you can do a lot with just one flash, once you've got it off camera.
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: TheRaven on 15 May 2013, 17:25
That's the key, getting it off camera!
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: DubFan on 17 May 2013, 02:29
What you want is one of these:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FC7rHkMcvw4/UEVQs97rzuI/AAAAAAAAEBs/tYbWnPNo-kM/s400/BW-800px.jpg)

Review on Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.de/2012/09/bounce-wall-geniusinsanity-line-goes.html)

If you can make something like that in a DIY fashion, then you can just keep the flash on the camera.
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: TheRaven on 17 May 2013, 14:48
What you want is one of these:
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FC7rHkMcvw4/UEVQs97rzuI/AAAAAAAAEBs/tYbWnPNo-kM/s400/BW-800px.jpg)

Review on Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.de/2012/09/bounce-wall-geniusinsanity-line-goes.html)

If you can make something like that in a DIY fashion, then you can just keep the flash on the camera.

Is it sad that I got excited about that lol!

I reckon I could make that! Cheers :)
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: TheRaven on 17 May 2013, 15:04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG39QdI_XC0

DIY store for me tomorrow! :D
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: Jack3559 on 18 May 2013, 17:55
You could tape a piece of paper to a pop shield or something and clamp it to your tripod.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200924234254

This one has a nice long goose neck so you could position it more flexibly.

I guess it's probably more expensive than some brackets and nuts and bolts though.
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: ajmoir36 on 18 May 2013, 18:03
My Ugly Mug.. :grin:

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8558/8751239224_69156f37d9_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: T_J_G on 18 May 2013, 19:14
I may try using an old mic pop shield I've got laying around...
Title: Re: Self Portrait
Post by: DubFan on 18 May 2013, 20:15
I've got a gooseneck pop shield lying around too, but I don't think it would hold in place unless it was clipped to a tripod and that would only work if I was mounting the camera on a tripod.

Mind you, I do have a proper reflector (5 in 1 job) I could stick on a tripod/stand and aim at that.
Need to have a free evening to play around with stuff like that.