Two strip boxes?

anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
edited December 26, 2013 in People
As key lights. :dunno

DSC_6973-Edit-X3.jpg
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  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited December 24, 2013
    Very creative, Alex. I may have to try this myself. That being said, I'm totally not digging the extreme shallow DOF you've been using on the last few shots you've posted. Sure, you nailed the focus on the eyes. But her bangs, nose and eyebrows are out of focus. In my world, eyebrows should be *sharp*, like the eyes. Ditto for the bangs. This looks weird to me. How are you getting such shallow DOF with strobes anyway? ND filter?
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited December 24, 2013
    kdog wrote: »
    Very creative, Alex. I may have to try this myself. That being said, I'm totally not digging the extreme shallow DOF you've been using on the last few shots you've posted. Sure, you nailed the focus on the eyes. But her bangs, nose and eyebrows are out of focus. In my world, eyebrows should be *sharp*, like the eyes. Ditto for the bangs. This looks weird to me. How are you getting such shallow DOF with strobes anyway? ND filter?

    HAHA... I'm just goofing around with the DOF. Not sold on it either. Besides the fact that I have to take like 4-5 frames to make sure I get the eyes tack sharp, the lens isn't as sharp this wide open.

    I'm using AB400 with gridded strip lights so thats how I'm shooting so shallow. As is, I have the strobes turned almost all the way down.

    You're right though... I typically shoot at f/8 to f/11 for this stuff and I prefer it too. Again, just messing around with different techniques.

    I'm gonna play around more with this setup. I had the strips a few inches apart, just enough to shoot between. I'm gonna try moving them apart to see what gives. I do dig the catchlights but I suspect some won't.
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  • divamumdivamum Registered Users Posts: 9,021 Major grins
    edited December 24, 2013
    Tres fashion thumb.gif

    I've used something similar before to create a faux window/window catchlight -worked well. I like strips; must get some better ones than my home-made soda-carton version - at last, you can get umbrella mount ones for speedlights!
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  • michaelglennmichaelglenn Registered Users Posts: 442 Major grins
    edited December 24, 2013
    I'm a sucker for the shallow DOF. I love it to be honest. Great job on the lighting too.
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  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited December 24, 2013
    anonymouscuban wrote: »
    HAHA... I'm just goofing around with the DOF. Not sold on it either.
    Oh phew. I was worried you'd be mortally insulted. It's great you're experimenting, so I don't have to. :giggle

    I really like these catchlights for something different. Almost like cat eyes.
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited December 24, 2013
    Kdog... you not liking my photo was not offensive. You thinking I would get offended I did find offensive!!! Laughing.gif I'm just kidding. Not offended at all brother.

    Don't get me wrong, I like shallow DOF but I do believe that there are limits and with this one, I took it a little too far. I was at f/2.8 and shooting pretty close to her. Just down to f/4 would have made a huge, positive difference.

    Definitely digging this light the more I look at it. Whats funny is my first thought when I uploaded them to the puter was "UGH!".
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited December 24, 2013
    BTW, can you guys tell the eyelashes are fake? I did them in PS. Another experiment. :D
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  • divamumdivamum Registered Users Posts: 9,021 Major grins
    edited December 24, 2013
    I did wonder about the lashes. Not because they're not good fakes, but because hers don'st usually look like that :D (I probably wouldn't have noticed it on somebody I either didn't know in person or hadn't seen lots of other photos )
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  • Jeremy_22Jeremy_22 Registered Users Posts: 220 Major grins
    edited December 25, 2013
    Looks like your stripboxes are a little close together. We've done this a bunch, using them side-by-side and top-bottom. Have also used 2 stripboxes on top at an angle forming a wide V above and then an eyeliter below. And of course, 4 stripboxes to form a light square in front.
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited December 25, 2013
    dsm... gonna try some of those other setups.
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited December 25, 2013
    Another go with the two strips. This time, I positioned then like an upside-down V. The top of the strips were in front of her and the wrapped towards her. (If that makes sense)

    Oh... and f/4.5.

    DSC_7039-Edit-Edit-X3.jpg
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  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited December 26, 2013
    Oh man, that DOF is sooooo much better. Gorgeous portrait. Funny catchlight, like a Chinese hat. :D
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  • Jeremy_22Jeremy_22 Registered Users Posts: 220 Major grins
    edited December 26, 2013
    A far more pleasing result. You can get great results from the vertical setup you tried - just need better positioning.
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  • anonymouscubananonymouscuban Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 4,586 Major grins
    edited December 26, 2013
    Same setup just a different pose/shot. Gonna fool around with placement today again. Will post results for those interested.

    DSC_7062-Edit-X3.jpg
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