My First Birthday Photoshoot

[polarbeardiggers]

Our local photoclub ( wpgphoto.com) held a flash and studio workshop a few days ago,and it really got me inspired,so today went out to pick up a few supplies to make my own home-grown photo shoot, since outside is -29 and windchills feeling like -45, staying indoors was a more appealling choice, and tmmr will be my 45 th birthday , I thought i try my hands at studio lighting in a cheaper degree,with my son helping to model for me as well, I bought a couple of flourescent bulbs and placed them on either side of my backdrop blanket i tacked up, i took my sb-800 speed flash and used it as a slave to my camera's flash ,placed on a tripod lowered to the ground pointing up , with a home made snoot lined with aluminum tape inside a white foam craft paper,wrapped around the head of the flash to direct most of its light upward to cancel any shadows the other lights were to cause,using both my 55-200mm vr lens and the kit lens 18-55mm for closer up shots,i'm actually quite pleased with the final product,if you see any flaws ,please don't hesitate to inform ,its how we learn,( did i say its my birthday on the 20th ) seriously let me know what you all think,thanks.

[jorger101]

Hello

I like the angle of your first shot very much. It would be better if your son's eyes and the front of the gun were in focus. I do not know what lens opening you use, but a smaller aperture would have given you greater depth of field. The second shot is much better, but you can see the shadow against your background. It would help if you moved away from the background somewhat to eliminate the shadows. The last shot works as a self-portrait, but you can still see the shadow in the background.

[GB1]

Woow, that sounds cold. Good idea to stay in unless you have an incredible reason not to.

I think the blue background is neat but also a niche thing. I'm not sure but I don't think too many subjects would look right against it. (A few would I think, but not too many.) The actual shots are OK but the DOF could be deeper on the upper two. The bottom shot is OK but might be better if you were looking directly at the lens.

Not a bad first studio shoot. I'd like to see more this winter, other colors too.
GB

[MB1]

Nice compositions for the most part but the shadows on the blue background are too harsh as is the lighting. Maybe a diffuser.........

[ernafiona]

Omit the blue background and change it with some Starwars scenery :-D