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jims pictures

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Posts posted by jims pictures

    Great Shoot only good due to batteries...

    in Lighting Equipment

    Posted

    <p>Hello All:</p>

    <p> I an amateur doing some decent portrait with a few of soft-boxes, and three Canon 580EX II's. My problem is the battery delay in the 580's. Today I used both freshly charged rechargeables and also fresh noncharge batteries. I connected two softboxes and used a Canon ST-E2 Transmitter on the camera.<br>

    The problem was that over a period of time one flash unit wouldn't fire while the other did The poor model would have a great pose I'd shoot and only one flash would fire, I'd try again and sometime it would fire and sometimes it didn't. <br>

    I hated the unpredictability of the thing. I couldn't concentrate on whether the lighting was good or not, all I could do is pray that it would work. When it did things were great. When not I was left hanging. It's hard to appear professional when this happened. Out of 300 shots a good third were a loss.<br>

    I've invested in one Alien Bee, which should be coming this week. But there must be a way I can use my flashes w/out the above problem happening all the time. Any advise appreciated. Thanks very much.<br>

    Jim C.</p>

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    Westcott 5 Foot Octabank with a Canon EXII Flash

    in Lighting Equipment

    Posted

    <p>Thanks very much for your detailed answer. I'm not a pro at all, and have just gotten into portrait photography. I have three 580EX II's bought over a period of time. Up to now all the other ways of lighting are unfamiliar to me and over my head. But, that was true with the lights I use untill I had read a couple of books on Canon flashes.<br>

    I'd really like to 'step up' into the full lighting 'thing'. But up to know I didn't know where to begin. Your answer is a real help. I'll do a search right now on your sugesstion. Is there anything else important I need to know about this form of lighting? Thanks again.</p>

    Westcott 5 Foot Octabank with a Canon EXII Flash

    in Lighting Equipment

    Posted

    <p>Hi All:<br>

    I'd love to give this softbox a try but two salesmen were dubious it would give sufficient light using only one flash. (I'd be photographing portraits in my living room.) Also there might be a problem with triggering the flash using the Canon IR system. I just can't do radio triggers: the cost of them alone is as much as the octabox.<br>

    Any experience/comments or sugestions? Thanks for your advise.<br>

    Jim C.</p>

    <p> </p>

    Lazy Eye

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    <p> Hello: I've enclosed an cropped image of a young lady model's eyes. Her full portrait is very attractive except for the slight eye droop. I'd like to fix it but as I'm new to retouching (but do have PS5 and a Wacom...all the bells and whistles..) I'm not sure<em> where</em> to retouch. I assume I'd use liquify, but the more I look at the eyes the more I'm not sure exactly<em> where</em> to 'liquify. Should I push up the lid a bit? Or make the pupil larger. I don't think I can copy the other eye as the light is different.<br>

    Any advise appreciated. Tanks for your time.<br>

    Jim C.</p>

     

    Lazy Eye Correction

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    <p> Hello: I've enclosed an cropped image of a young lady model's eyes. Her full portrait is very attractive except for the slight eye droop. I'd like to fix it but as I'm new to retouching (but do have PS5 and a Wacom...all the bells and whistles..) I'm not sure<em> where</em> to retouch. I assume I'd use liquify, but the more I look at the eyes the more I'm not sure exactly where to 'liquify. Should I push up the lid a bit? Or make the pupil larger. I don't think I can copy the other eye as the light is different.<br>

    Any advise appreciated. Tanks for your time.<br>

    Jim C.</p>

    Seperate Light Meter Necessary?

    in Beginner Questions

    Posted

    <p>Hello All:<br>

    I'm sure this had been asked before but I want to explain my situation. I use a Canon 5D Mark II w/ 3 580 EX II flashes. I'm learning portrait work. I use the camera in manual mode: usually f5.6, and use the flash's ETTL metering to get a proper exposure. I then dial up or down the flash or camera setting. I'll change the softbox's position also to get a good effect. I shoot in RAW and then use CS5.<br>

    I'm having SO much fun photographing people! (I put an ad in Craigslist for models.) I'm learning more each shoot. I have some nice soft boxes and reflectors. Down the road I'd like to start charging for $. But I know I'm not ready yet.<br>

    Is it necessary to buy a meter? How will it make me a better photographer? I'm looking at this one, a Sekonic L-358. I don't want to buy something that will just sit in the bag. How differently would I shoot if I used an outside meter vs what I'm doing now? Isn't the camera meter enough? <br>

    Thanks very much for reading this question. I very much appreciate your time. You can see what I have so far here: <strong>http://jimconklin.smugmug.com/</strong><br>

    Jim Conklin<br>

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    Where to find models?

    in Beginner Questions

    Posted

    <p>I've found craiglist the best way. Post it in the <em>TV/Film/Video </em>section. I got so many responses I had to take down the listing! If it's not a friend, you either have to pay them or give them pictures. $25/hour brings the most responses. Act professional and polite and be aware that both of you are strangers to each other. (i.e. Woman may wish to have their friend come with them.)<br>

    Jim C</p>

    My 1st Portrait Session... Shadows..HELP!.

    in Portraits & Fashion

    Posted

    <p>Thanks all very much for your help. (Also thanks for the tip about the book. I ordered it today.)<br>

    I think my main problem is that I placed my softbox <strong><em>too close</em></strong> to the model. (less then a foot). I glanced at some demo videos on youtube and saw the box two to three feet away. Any info on this appreciated. Thanks for your time.<br>

    Jim C.</p>

    My 1st Portrait Session... Shadows..HELP!.

    in Portraits & Fashion

    Posted

    <p>Hi: Thanks for your response. I took what the camera meter and flash told me via ETTL cord connected to a 580EXII in the Softbox. There was very little ambient light, my studio is my very small living room with few windows.<br>

    Feathering is putting the softbox up against the subject so that some of the light goes across her face, correct? Thanhks again.<br>

    Jim C.</p>

    <p> </p>

    My 1st Portrait Session... Shadows..HELP!.

    in Portraits & Fashion

    Posted

    <p>I used a Medium sized softbox right up against her with a medium reflector, and a 580 EX II. (Canon 5D Mark II, 100mm , f5.6 1/200.) To me the lighting seems harsh on one side and not enough on the other. I was SO nervous w/ it all, I just kept snapping away, and went blank on how to position the model. Never changed the f stop or shutter speed. (It was like my first music gig: sweat pouring off me.)<br /> It was fun however and I SO much want to do things better. (Having bought every book on the subject.) I have another model (a guy) coming over next week. <br /> Would the experienced here give me some tips or sugesstions? To me this is more diffucult then candid photography. Thanks very much.<br /> Jim C.</p>

    <p> </p>

    Wireless: Two 580's and a ST-E2 : Group A and C?

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    <p>Hello: I'm new to wireless so please excuse this fractuated explanation. For a portrait I'd like to use one 580 EXII for the main light, (with a reflector as fill light) and the other 580 EX II as the hair light. (In a small softbox.)<br>

    For the setup:do I have to use Group B if I use Group A ,or can I use Group A and C? <strong>I'm trying to figure out the best way to lower the intensity of the hair light</strong>. If I use Group B hair light I need to use the ratio button on the ST-E2, correct? But If I'm allowed to use Group A and C, I'd use C as the hair light and use FEC to lower the intensity, correct? Which is the preferred way? <br>

    Also, <strong>I do </strong>have a 30' ETTL chord, so I could toss the ST-E2. How would I set up the hair light in that way?<br>

    I've read the manual a number of times and I think I could pull this off. But I'd though I'd come to the experts here first. If this has benn answered before, could you please direct me? Thanks for your time.<br>

    Jim C.</p>

    gels and photoshop

    in Beginner Questions

    Posted

    <p>Hey, I don't mind layers, really! I've learned SO SO much since the time two years ago I asked a friend: "<strong>What's a megabyte in relationship to a camera and how do you process it?" </strong>(!!) I hadn't touched a camera since my OM-2 loaded with Kodachrome. I read a lot of books and asked a lot of questions in these forums. Now I'm pretty familiar w/ CS5 and starting into indoor portraiture! Thanks to everyone for the help!<br>

    Jim C</p>

    <p> </p>

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