TFCD with kit lens

[flamerobo]

Just did a series of shots on ultra low budget. haha 400D with kit lens, reflector and 580EX MKII on camera. The shots are pretty soft and some may have slight hand shake because i had to hold at 1/4 ISO 800 for some shots to get ambient light and prevent excessive noise. Also because of the narrow aperture, little bokeh! Hope it turns out okay!

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[flamerobo]

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[Rashkae]

Your problem is not with the kit lens, but the poor control of the flash bounce. Best example are pics 1 and 2, where the model's legs disappear, making her a disembodied ghost.

 

[flamerobo]

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[pegasus1010]

Ditto Rashkae's comments on the legs.

Since you got reflector, try reflecting some lights to the legs.
You may have to make use of street lamps to do the reflecting.

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

its not the system that matters...

its your composition, model handling, lighting techniques that's the issue...

 

[flamerobo]

Your problem is not with the kit lens, but the poor control of the flash bounce. Best example are pics 1 and 2, where the model's legs disappear, making her a disembodied ghost.

hey thank you for your comment. i know the bounce is poor but i have a very tight angle =/ i wanted light to come from the top but my reflector seem to be too small i think, since the light on the head is alrdy the highest point of the lighting, i cant seem to be able to pull enough light to the legs. any suggestions on how to do it?

 

[flamerobo]

Ditto Rashkae's comments on the legs.

Since you got reflector, try reflecting some lights to the legs.
You may have to make use of street lamps to do the reflecting.

i only had 1 reflector, so it was a choice of reflecting my flash for the effect or the street lamps =/ because my reflector was at 45 degrees from the top, very little street light is reflected

 

[pegasus1010]

i only had 1 reflector, so it was a choice of reflecting my flash for the effect or the street lamps =/ because my reflector was at 45 degrees from the top, very little street light is reflected

Try using your reflector to bounce light from your flash to model's leg. This will takes a few tries to get the desired lighting effect.

Else try invest in another slave flash for additional lighting, since you already own the 580exii, which can act as the master.

 

[flamerobo]

its not the system that matters...

its your composition, model handling, lighting techniques that's the issue...

yeah i know tht what do u think about my composition, model handling and lighting technique in this case?

 

[hycool]

I dont quite believe in Flash. I used to, then I realize it is still too unnatural and too difficult to control. A flash seems to work best at events etc, but if there is a model to stand and pose for you, it is better to use a strobe.

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

yeah i know tht what do u think about my composition, model handling and lighting technique in this case?

a hell lot to brush up from...

just a simple note...

you either invest in more lights if you shoot in that indoor environment or you try to use a tripod and hope your model don't do too much movement.

next look at your model... to be blunt, your model doesn't really look good in straight, top down, bottom up... only side view... but happen so this is a TFCD or a makeover paid by client, then of course, you can't control. so you have to find the best angle... try to look at different angle and find her best angle and shoot...

for other notes, please take a look at the dressing next time... doesn't really match, and her posture and her poses are very manly... she is more suitable for a power suit kinda look than a lady like look, esp her pic with the ladder... totally spoils it...

 

[hycool]

By the way, is this Bangkok?

 

[m3lv1nh0]

Another thing I notice is the makeup. On my monitor, it seems like her cheeks is much fairer than the rest of her face esp her forehead and mouth area. Might wanna take note of that next time.

 

[flamerobo]

a hell lot to brush up from...

just a simple note...

you either invest in more lights if you shoot in that indoor environment or you try to use a tripod and hope your model don't do too much movement.

next look at your model... to be blunt, your model doesn't really look good in straight, top down, bottom up... only side view... but happen so this is a TFCD or a makeover paid by client, then of course, you can't control. so you have to find the best angle... try to look at different angle and find her best angle and shoot...

for other notes, please take a look at the dressing next time... doesn't really match, and her posture and her poses are very manly... she is more suitable for a power suit kinda look than a lady like look, esp her pic with the ladder... totally spoils it...

i will definitely invest in lights when money comes! hahaha prob after i get into NS and get some ka chings yeahh i agree tht she has only a certain shooting angle and her poses are quite manly but i didnt really take notice untill i reviewed the photographs. will try harder next time

 

[flamerobo]

By the way, is this Bangkok?

Yeahh bangkok indeed its a nice place for shoot actually. hahaha there are so many areas tht are abandoned and not protected, unlike singapore! haha

 

[flamerobo]

Another thing I notice is the makeup. On my monitor, it seems like her cheeks is much fairer than the rest of her face esp her forehead and mouth area. Might wanna take note of that next time.

hmm can it be the lighting's fault? because when i look at the make up in person, i thought it was quite even =/

 

[hycool]

Yeahh bangkok indeed its a nice place for shoot actually. hahaha there are so many areas tht are abandoned and not protected, unlike singapore! haha

haha, from the bridge, seems like its somewhere near dindaeng, suthisan area.

My suggestion is if you are doing more of these TFs, invest in a strobe it works wonders especially in abandoned buildings if you use it well.

 

[Deadpoet]

No need to tell us you were using a kit lens.

Shooting at night is tricky, kit lens or not.

 

[flamerobo]

i dont really know the road name. haha i am staying at manhattan, 5mins walk to platinum there. yeahh i will definitely get a strobe in the near future