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More OCF portrait Questions

Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
edited August 12, 2010 in Technique
Hi,

I am having another go at OCF. I have 2 off camera flash guns, both old, and will not work in sync with the camera. I have optical trigger devices on each, and the on-camera flash triggers them. I have fashioned a "deflector" for the built-in flash, so the light does not go forward, but rather, out to where the two off-camera flashes are. I have the camera set to "second shutter" and 1/200 speed (it's either that, or auto) and I shot at 1/100th sec.

But i have problems...

1. In this one, the set-up is as I said above...but one flash doesn't seem to be powerful enough, so I get the shadow behind - do you think it's the position, or somthing else?

4867069176_b2c9c47ff0_z.jpg

2. In this one, I turned off the main flash (camera left) and had on-camera flash and smaller OCF just below and right of the subject. This looks better to me, but I expected it to be worse using the built-in flash head on!

4867086326_01fafb8eb1_z.jpg

Anyone explain where I went wrong (as I surely did!)

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    JayClark79JayClark79 Registered Users Posts: 253 Major grins
    edited August 6, 2010
    Well the main cause for the hard shadow is the distance of the doll and the background.

    The 2nd picture isnt better, there is no depth to the face, and there is still a hardcore shadow...> The first picture atleast shows some shadowing on the one side of the head.

    My Site http://www.jayclarkphotography.com

    Canon Rebel T1i | Canon 50mm 1.8 | Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 | Canon 75-300mm EF f 4.5 III | Opteka Grip | Canon 580exII | 2 Vivitar 383 Flash's and a home studio setup.
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    Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited August 6, 2010
    is there any type of light modifier here or just straight flash??
    "Genuine Fractals was, is and will always be the best solution for enlarging digital photos." ....Vincent Versace ... ... COPYRIGHT YOUR WORK ONLINE ... ... My Website

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    QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited August 10, 2010
    it appears your OCF is naked..if you are going for nice soft light you need to stick that flash behind an umbrella or in a soft box. The whole idea is that the light source must be large wrt to the subject to get soft shadowless lighting.
    D700, D600
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    Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2010
    Qarik wrote: »
    it appears your OCF is naked..if you are going for nice soft light you need to stick that flash behind an umbrella or in a soft box. The whole idea is that the light source must be large wrt to the subject to get soft shadowless lighting.

    Yes, you are correct. Soft Boxes or umberellas are my next project! :D
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    pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,698 moderator
    edited August 11, 2010
    Until then, turn your OCF around, and bounce it off a nice white wall. You may be surprised by how much nicer it looks when enlarged and softened by bouncing!

    Do not be afraid to raise your ISO a bit when doing this. If you do not under expose, ISO 400 will look just fine, and make your flash much more " powerful"
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
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    Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2010
    pathfinder wrote: »
    Until then, turn your OCF around, and bounce it off a nice white wall. You may be surprised by how much nicer it looks when enlarged and softened by bouncing!

    Do not be afraid to raise your ISO a bit when doing this. If you do not under expose, ISO 400 will look just fine, and make your flash much more " powerful"

    Good idea...in fact, just stage right on these pics are two quite large ex-kitchen units which have the kids craft stuff in them. A 7ft by 5ft white screen, in effect!

    I just saved some polystyrene rounds from the pizza packaging from dinner - can set those up as mini reflectors, too. Think I need to pinch the wife's clothes pegs!
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    Bend The LightBend The Light Registered Users Posts: 1,887 Major grins
    edited August 12, 2010
    I hope you guys don't mind taking a look at this little lot...I set up again using the scary doll. I set up the shot and TOOK NOTES when I changed anything! So I can say what I did. Could you comment on these, and confirm my judgement on some of the problems?

    Here is the set up. You'll see from the photo taken with the wife's camera what I have to contend with - the clutter in our house is immense! Anyway...

    4886449978_85d5ab1933_z.jpg
    4885847549_86d716d548_z.jpg

    Camera at 1/100, f5. Doll set much further forward from curtains, camera further back (lose shadows on background?)
    1. No reflectors, OCF camera right reflecting off cupboards to right. On-camera flash full power. OCF behind left of doll angled to hair.
    2. Lights as in 1, but Flash Exposure Compensation set to -2.
    4885833643_c2450d4264.jpg4886439242_e4ec1ce5cd.jpg

    3. OCF camera right angled up (bounce off white cupboard AND ceiling). Reflectors in place, one above head at rear andgled down, one at camera left (4 foot away)
    4. Left reflector moved to 2 foot from doll, camera left.
    4886440208_8d5332c05f.jpg4886441448_c3c203a02c.jpg

    5. OCF camera right didn't fire?
    4885837531_016da72721.jpg

    6, 7, 8. f16, both flashes fire, but gets darker? Recycling not complete?
    4886442852_3458cb239d.jpg4885839009_bd95f03de9.jpg4885840475_d6367a8b1b.jpg

    9. f10, both flashes fire.
    4885841351_5644bdc097.jpg

    10. f5, both fire.
    4886446930_e09d062034.jpg

    So, I set out with harsh light, then harsh light on the right of the doll's face. Managed to soften that, but did have problems on the way. I know which one I think is the better of these. I will wait to see what you all think first.

    Thanks

    Craig
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