Portraits, what of the lighting

[gahspidy]

Here are a few portraits taken with the wireless speedlite system I have been slowly building.
The Key light on upper right was shot through a soft box (24x32") with the 580 EX ll. fill was on camera with a 580 EX ll diffused, and the back and hair light was with the 420 EX.
Does this look fine or am I needing to adjust things some more? It finally seemed to fall into place IMO, but more experienced eyes can tell.

[brhitch]

Gary, These both look good. I think with the second one though I'd like to see a bit more catch light in the eyes but that is just my preference.

[gahspidy]

thanks brhitch, the first one I am somewhat disappointed with the hard lighting on top of head and rear shoulder, and shadow towards front of sweater, although ultimately i think it's ok.
The second I felt was more of a better , even result. Yes the catch lights are less in the eyes of that one.
That's another thing, there are two catch lights in each eye in each image. I thought this was fine, but does that seem to be a issue for anyone. Is that acceptable? I remember seeing that before and thought it looked fine, sometimes really effective but this was not something I was actually intent on or deliberately doing.

[brhitch]

Gary, the lighting is a little hard but not so bad that it's not ok. A little more post processing might help that. I hadn't noticed the double catch lights because the second one is so small. I personally don't like a double catch light but since it is so small in these photos it doesn't detract from the eye. Only when both catch lights are large is when I think it becomes a problem. Overall though, not bad. You might try converting to black and white. That may soften the lighting some for you as well.
Brian

[MJS]

Nice Work Gary, How close was the main light. The closer, the softer the light and the bigger the catch light. I usually put it at about 1 - 2 feet above the models head. I agree with yo on the first shot, a bit too harsh on the hair light, the second looks really good. I actually thought about having my advanced class shoot a tutorial of sorts with portable strobes, doing a one, two and three light set up with behind the scenes shots of the set ups, etc. Maybe when they finish their current projects.

Did you diffuse the on camera flash at all?

[gahspidy]

Nice Work Gary, How close was the main light. The closer, the softer the light and the bigger the catch light. I usually put it at about 1 - 2 feet above the models head. I agree with yo on the first shot, a bit too harsh on the hair light, the second looks really good. I actually thought about having my advanced class shoot a tutorial of sorts with portable strobes, doing a one, two and three light set up with behind the scenes shots of the set ups, etc. Maybe when they finish their current projects.

Did you diffuse the on camera flash at all?

Sounds like a terrific tutorial idea, Mike. Especially since you are in such a position to put one together.

My main light was on a boom stand and approx 3ft away from the subject. It was also about 2ft higher and about 45deg angle to her left (my right), the fill was on camera with a large bounce diffuser that actually lifts and projects the light much higher above the flash. It was good for me especially since the cheap E-TTL cord I got from Adorama ceased working and I had to mount the flash directly to the camera hotshoe. Ratio was about 1:2, maybe 1:3.( I have a Canon cord on the way) The hair light I just started getting the hang of the placement for it near the end of the shoot. I was placing it just behind but to the side of the subject and light was actually skimming the hair and hitting ear, cheek and causing shadows. I eventually placed it very much behind her off to the side so that it would not touch her face.
Another thing I want to point out is that I switched from using a black muslin to using stretched black velvet. With the velvet, I can have the subject fairly close to it, ideal for a small area. It seems to stay black, period.
I don't see me ever using the black muslin again unless I wanted to experiment with hitting it with light to give nme gray.
Anyone looking for a deep black background, forget muslin and go with velvet or velour.