Aqua

babowc

From this spring break Cancun vacation with my girlfriend.
Any C&C welcome!

A little doctoring for exposure/distracting elements, but otherwise..
D800, 35mm 1.4G, SB900 on shoe.

more to come after my exams

version 2?
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jonh68

Think it would have been better to trigger the sb-900 off camera with the D800 flash. The colors in the background are kind of dull, maybe a few minutes before or after this was taken would have been better.

babowc

I took minimal equipment since it was a vacation.. but I purposely underexposed the background and gave exposed her with the flash.
Is it too unnatural?

jonh68

babowc wrote: »

I took minimal equipment since it was a vacation.. but I purposely underexposed the background and gave exposed her with the flash.
Is it too unnatural?

I'm saying you should have hand held the flash, holding it high to the left, and triggered it with commander mode of the D800. Or just place it somewhere on the beach. You don't need extra equipment, you had everything with you.

Underexposing the background is great, but the background itself is dull. Before or after by a few minutes would have produced better colors for that time of day. Or, panning left or right. At dusk, the colors can change quickly and they can also be different based on direction you shoot too.

babowc

Ah, I see what you mean now.

I was actually doing that with a radio trigger, because the CLS wasn't working. I found myself often 'missing' her with the flash, thus unevenly lighting her (especially with the 105 f2), so I stopped doing it.

I'll give it another go when I can utilize natural light sometime!

jonh68

babowc wrote: »

Ah, I see what you mean now.

I was actually doing that with a radio trigger, because the CLS wasn't working. I found myself often 'missing' her with the flash, thus unevenly lighting her (especially with the 105 f2), so I stopped doing it.

I'll give it another go when I can utilize natural light sometime!

I have found CLS works decently with less sunlight. Using the 35 mm and handholding the flash just slightly in front of you should trigger the flash and give proper exposure.

babowc

Hmm.. I did a quick dirty background edit in LR.
brought up the temperature, contrast and saturation.

What'd you think?

BrettDeutsch

I like the colors in v2 -- they match her dress and skintone nicely. Well done, IMO.

Bryce Wilson

V2 is a keeper for sure!

babowc

Thanks guys!

Dooginfif20

If you want a quick cool way to add depth of color to the background just duplicate the layer in PS and then make it a multiply layer. Apply a layer mask to everything you dont want and adjust the opacity to the desired level. Works like a charm!

babowc

I'm Ps-handicapped.. I have no clue how to use ps oth an the real basics.

If its any similar to LR4... I think I could try it!

Dooginfif20

Do you have PS? If so I can teach you how to do it. I would say this is one of the easiest things to do!

Qarik

mike, not to be flippant..ok..just a little flippant..congratulations you have converted your SLR to a point and shoot with on board flash! So your choice to underexpose the background and shoot direct flash at her..think about it,this is the same decision the automode on a point and shoot would make..right? Harsh, flat, direct light on subject and dark background. The only way this works is if you move the light off camera!

Also the tones in the background just look so dully and muddy.

babowc

Hm.. I know the background colors are a bit dull, but I think I lacked flash technique in these shots..

The dark/dull BG with bright subject was what I was aiming for, but I suppose the lighting could've been more directional than straight on.

Thanks for the CC!
It's welcomed anytime!