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I got a nice shot of Hannah in a bikini in front of the sunset when I took my last shot, but I'm not posting it here.
But it made me keen to try low light outdoor portraits with flash, which I've never done before.
This shot was quite late after the sun had set, so there was little second light (which was what I was hoping for). I was holding the flash (420ex) at arm's length, and had it at 1/2 strength I think.
It has made me realise I need a 580exII to trigger the other flash, and I need proper light stands. Apart from anything else my hand was shaking holding the camera one-handed after a little while.
(Holding my new 70-200 one-handed was simply impossible 
)
All advice is most welcome.
| Title: | First attempt |
| Username: | 
LeighRebecca |
| Uploaded: | 25 Sep 2009 - 10:11 AM |
| Camera: | Canon EOS 5D Mark II |
| Lens: | 24-105 |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Tags: | Flash / lighting, Portraits / people |
| Votes: | 66 |
Comments
Lovely portrait the flash has brought out all the tones without burning out any of the detail. I 'm no expert but when I use flash I tend to get everything over exposed. The exposure on your lovely model looks very good every detail is there and I like the back ground. As Kaleena says I think you could give me lots of advice.
Mary
I like it, do you like it? If you do end of story. Great.
Rob
Thanks guys.
Nick, I'm not sure what the gel is used for? Ah, is it to balance the tones in the ambient and flash light? I think I see what you mean. Thanks.
Mudge, I had a monopod with me, but wanted to be able to move really quickly and switch between landscape and portrait mode. I guess I need to spend more to get a good head for the mono pod!
Every time I do portrait photography I find I need some other expensive piece of equipment!
Well worth the effort Leigh - good work, would certainly recommend getting a light stand for the flash also worth getting an adapter to mount the flash that will take an umbrella, which you can then use as a shoot through or a reflector.
Regards Richard.
I have no experience of this type of shot but it looks good to me 
Den
Many years ago I had to do lots of images with balanced flash and daylight. I had a bracket that screwed to the base of the camera with the availability to take two flashes one either side plus the left one could be moved further away from the camera, it was home made and cost very little. You want that flash dialled even lower to balance with low light daylight. Hope this makes sense.
Dougie
Thanks again. That home made bracket sounds great, Dougie, though I think if I tried to make something it (and I ) would look like a dog's dinner!
I think you're right that the flash should have been lower, but I had the shutter speed as low as I could for hand held.
A great portrait Leigh, must be nice having your own willing model.
Quote: I think you're right that the flash should have been lower, but I had the shutter speed as low as I could for hand held.
What ISO were you using leigh, I guess you could go fairly high with the 5D II without problems.
Darren.
One technique worth trying when shooting outdoor portraits, is to bounce the flash off the palm of your hand. Position the flash head as you would to bounce it off a ceiling and angle your hand over the top of it to bounce the light onto your model. The light from the flash picks up your hands skin tones and gives a lovely warm tone to the light, instead of the white light of the flash and its cheaper than buying a gel fitter for the flash head. I use the technique a lot when shooting wedding portraits!
Chris C
Thanks everyone. Good tip there Chris. I'll have to try that.
darren, I still try to avoid high iso settings - but you're right, I could probably go up a fair bit more than I do.
Good to see someone else doing this type of shot on here...I always feel a bit embarressed offering advice but here goes....
I agree with you about maybe getting another speedlite,(I got mine secondhand from ebay,2 for the price of one new one) and also the stands,I use my cheap Bowen stands from my studio lights with homemade brackets to accept the speedlites.But you maybe could consider an ST-E2 transmitter for your hotshoe to trigger the speedlites,that way you would have more options with the positions of your 2 speedlites if that makes sense.
Marcus
Hi Leigh,
This is stunning, the lighting and exposure all seem spot on. Lovely composition and a lovely smile.
Kind regards
Phil
Well, despite your predicament, Leigh, this is a super portrait. I couldn't do better, so not going to offer any advice!
TrevB
Well, this is going down much better than expected. Thanks - and thanks for that advice Marcus.
I THINK YOUVE DONE REALLY WELL HERE CONSIDERING YOUR NOT AN OCTOPUS SKIN LOOKS NICE AND LOVELY TONES AND EXPOSURES SPOT ON.
OK MY TWO PENITH FOR WHAT ITS WORTH
THIS IS THE TRICKY BIT BUT TRY AND FIND THE BRIGHTER BITS OF CLOUDS AND POSITION YOUR MODEL IN THIS AREA IT WILL MAKE HIM/HER STAND OUT MORE ( BUT THIS IS TRICKY AT NIGHT AND WITH OUR LOVELY CLOUDS BUT CAN BE DONE)
SECONDLY TRY FIRING YOUR STROBE/ FLASH INTO A REFLECTOR THIS WILL KILL 2 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE IT WILL DIFFUSE THE LIGHT EVEN MORE AND GIVE YOU A LOT MORE LIFE IN THE EYES
BUT AFTER SAYING ALL THAT FOR FIRST ATTEMPT........ROCKING WORK !
Thanks again. Bread, that's great advice - and from a real pro. Thankyou so much. Jon, I know my favourite model very well. (My eldest daughter)
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