kelly_buechlein1

<p>thanks everyone for responses. Many of you said learn light and that is what I am trying to do by actually taking pictures. I do have Neil's off camera book, but I learn by doing. I just learned not to place anyone up against a wall unless I have more lights and know how to position them. So, I will practice until I get it right.. I have been shooting natural for over a year and want to add lighting and continue learning all aspects instead of just staying where I am at. I have spent countless hours reading, watching, but without an untrained eye to guide me I will have to slowly figure it out on my own picture by picture. It gets to be overwhelming because I do get many different opinions (some say use meter some say dont, some say use off camera flash some say not enought....) I actually had the picture printed as a test sample from a lab and it's not that bad? Meaning I highly doubt the client would even realize that's its technically wrong. The lower half is a little dark, so I need to lighten, but if they do want to purchase it I am not totally sunk.<br>

Would love to have a mentor, but honestly no one where I live is doing anything with off camera lights. Everyone is a natural light photographer. Back to reading and trying again.</p>

 

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<p>I might add that the grouping of people is just a little awkward, but that is another story, of course.)</p>

 

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<p>The client did not want the typical posing meaning everyone standing on top of each other and wanted something different. However, I did the norm shots, but opted to try this which I like.</p>

<p>I used my flash off camera. About 6 ft angled down off to my left but close to center. There are shadows on legs. When are shadows not acceptable?</p>

<p>Thanks. I am reading Off Camera Flash Neil Van Niekerk and have watched most of the strobist videos, etc. I understand reflective vs incident. I have been doing spot metering for about a year and actually understand that concept and do everything manual and raw. I am trying to introduce flash and there is many different ways and opinions that it gets confusing. I have no problem shooting without flash and have no problems with exposure, etc. I feel the next step in growing is to learn external light. I really enjoy doing outdoor sessions, but want to be able to understand the proper way to add light if needed. The winter months will decrease my outdoor business, so I want to be able to do indoor sessions thus want light. This will mainly be children 1 and under.<br>

My practice room is a 12x12 room with 9 ft ceilings with white walls, white trim, white doors and wood floor. 2 north floor to ceiling windows. My goal is to teach myself external light in this room. I have canon 430 flash, a mono light, umbrella (black removeable for shoot through), pocketwizards TT5/TT1 and sekonic meter.</p>

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<p><em>I doubt it. It would have to be really nice light indoors for me to use it. Otherwise I am simply mixing light sources and risk having two different color temperatures in the shot. And in a case like this, I doubt I would use TTL on the shoe mount flash. Using manual will be much more consistent.</em></p>

 

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<p>John, can you give an example of the above? So, if you were indoors at a home for example you wouldnt use a meter, therefore, you are using camera meter to determine exposure? I normally use in camera, but from research its shows the Sekonic meter will give me more accurate exposure, so I thought I should get used to using it? </p>

<p>The shoot ended up being outside which was fine. Kinda windy, but things turned out okay.</p>

 

<p>Thanks Marc, I am reading too much information and trying to learn too quickly. I have been at this for 1 1/2 years, but realize how important adding lighting is. I prob need to slow down I guess. For today, I will try to keep it basic. I actually have more experience with my flash as compared to the studiomax 320 mono (which has a slave). I will play with it here at home and just use TTL. Would you still meter for ambient with the sekonic and then let the flash do the rest? However, I will have to figure out the output on the mono as its manual? I guess if the flash on TTL isnt quite bright enough, I would just start on low power on mono. I may just ditch the mono..<br>

As I was typing:<br>

Well, great news they called and the father wants the picture outside. Today in Indiana its about 58 but cloudy, so that is great! The wind will be the issue, so I told them we needed a wall or something which would help with that. They have a big brick home, so finding a good side shouldnt be an issue. I will just measure ambient and add some flash if needed. May review my Off Camera Flash book by Neil Van Niekerk.</p>

<p>But,I will also take everything incase it rains!! Then we will be inside!!</p>

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<p>" I personally don't know why anyone would use a GFLS outdoors? It is a <em>bounce </em>diffuser. An umbrella can be useful outside... "</p>

<p>John, Gary Fong shows how to use it outside. Instead of using the flash directly into my family face yesterday I had it off camera high angled down towards the family for fill. Here is link where he discusses using it outdoors.<br>

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=107377938299</p>

 

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<p>Thanks everyone, yes Frank I may be too pre-occupied with it lol. I have had it for a year and since I am trying to learn more about OCF I want to use it. I watched hours of tutorials on Sekonics site and they showed using it outside and going with percentage. However, during an outside shoot this afternoon I ditched that whole percentage idea lol. I used the meter for ambient and then added some flash at 1/8 or whatever seem to add just a little fill to the picture when I viewed. Just quick download of the pictures and nothing is overexposed and seem pretty decent. There were a few where I had them standing in front of a brick wall where there were shadows behind the the 2 center people (family of 4), but moved the light center and that took care of it.<br>

The home is huge. I went there a few weeks ago for a birthday party my daughter was invited too. The basement was huge, however, I didnt pay attention to height at the time, but I am sure they are higher than 8 ft. Mine is a poured basement with 10 ft. I considered the house I am going too a mansion lol. Anyways, they have 2 fireplaces in 2 different rooms downstairs. She said the room we will be in has tan walls with large window. So, if thats the case I will not turn on any lights and measure the ambient and then add flash. Is that a good plan? I am not sure if I am going to take my mono. I have not used it and feel more comfortable with my flash, so I am hoping it will be enough to cover 14 people. I tried using a shoot through umbrella outside today, but lost too much light, so went back to the gary fong diffuser. I thought the umbrella would spread more light?</p>

 

<p>My goal is to get a well exposed, no major shadows on anyone and good focus. If I can get that that will be good. They just want a shot with all family members together. Nothing high fashion or drama.</p>

<p>Hi Pete,<br>

I shoot in manual mode for all equipment. I cant use the meter to check flash otherwise. Yes, my meter will tell me how much percentage of flash vs ambient light. I didnt know if 50% or higher was a good number to aim for? If its too dark I will read 100% I am guessing. <br>

Yes, my mono has a slave which will be triggered by my canon flash. </p>

 

<p>oh, from what I have researched that a aperture of F5.6 or above will keep everyone focused with flash? MY experiences are with kids, maybe 4 o 5. I am sure my meter will give me a higher aperture once I am testing, but not sure what to do if it goes lower. Last resort I will ditch the meter and chimp I guess.</p>

<p>Canon T2i for now. saving for Mark. Never thought about ceiling. This is a HUGE home so I am guessing they will have at least 10 ft ceiling in basement, but will try the above seating first. I told client indoor groups are not my experience, but she said they just want a basic snapshot which not sure if I should be scared of that answer or glad lol. I am hoping the weather holds out and if possible I will get them outside as well, so I have another option to work with. </p>

<p>oh and should I shoot in manual and the flash will be on manual to utilize the pocketwizards with my sekonic. I just realized by doing the percentages my aperture will bounce around? So, I prob need to make sure that I stay around f11 to get a group of 14 prob 2 deep maybe 3 in focus correct. <br>

So, I would have to make sure the meter was on aperture priority, but with flash thats going to be hard right?</p>

<p>Background: I have sekonic 358, pocketwizards TT1/TT5, 430 canon flash and a studio max monolight with one light stand, umbrella with black and white cover.</p>

<p>I am new to lighting. I understand how to use the meter to check ambient light and then check flash to see percentage flash is putting out. So, enough I guess to be dangerous lol. <br>

So, I have a group of 14 (about 6 kids) that will take place in basement (has a larger window per client) tan walls. The picture will be in front of fireplace. So, my question is how do I keep shadows off of faces. I plan on putting them up against fireplace, so that I am guessing will help with background shadows? I will be using a 35mm lense for this shoot since I am not sure how much space I will have? <br>

So, should I just put the mono center and a few feet above tallest person in the back with light slightly tilted down? I can keep my flash on camera as well with a gary fong difusser and have it pointing up as well and maybe reduce its power if needed?<br>

Should I take ambient readings and then add the above and check meter to see the percentage? and keep checking until I have how much like 50%, 60% for this size of group. I am just worried about shadows as well as overexposing? <br>

With the fireplace I am sure there is a place to sit people in front, but how would I then position the middle. Meaning if you have people sitting in the the middle- the sides I guess could be kneeling and then kids sitting on floor in front? My point being you cant have people standing in the middle because the fireplace stoop/bench in-front going across the fireplace. Or do I have people stand in front of the fireplace not using the the fireplace seat and the have some sitting on stools across center and then people could stand in back and then layer people in front. etc. </p>

<p>So two part question.<br>

1. how to light 14 people with my equipment?</p>

<p>2. How to stage in front of fireplace if it has an existing concrete hearth or whatever its called going across?</p>