Some practise with my lights

[Alison]

I remember one of the first times I came in here and complained about my lights and the colour cast etc. And how much I hated them! haha

That was probably in 2005 and since then my lights have sat on top of my wardrobe, collecting dust. I have had them down from time to time but my results haven't really spoken to me.

Until now...

I got my lights out on the 14th March to have some practise with them.

2 lights. I set 1 with silver umberella 45 degrees to her right and the other with a translucent shoot through 90 degrees to her left to light her hair.

I'm extremely happy with my results

[gahspidy]

Beautiful Alison. Lovely effect. Did you have a white bg or was it a wall . . .
nicely done.

[Alison]

Thanks Gary. No it's the wall behind my computer. Alot of people think I have a studio. I wish!
I should shoot my setups but it's too embarassing to show the mess and lack of space in my lounge lol.

[Asylum Steve]

I have had them down from time to time but my results haven't really spoken to me. Until now...

So, you're saying after all this time a light finally came on???

So to speak...

It's really nice to see you getting such strong results with only two lights, Alison. I'm a less is more kind of guy. There's nothing wrong with adding more lights for a purpose, but as you show, having only two is no excuse.

Good cropping as well!

[Alison]

So, you're saying after all this time a light finally came on???

So to speak...

Thanks Steve.

Yeah you could put it that way. I had to block out the fact that they were lights and imagine that the light 45 degrees to Bec's right was a window. Sounds daft but it worked for me.

As you know, I usually only have one light source with a window, and always forget to get my reflector, out to reflect some window light back onto the hair. Plus, if I am alone, there's no one there to hold the reflector for me.

[SmartWombat]

Looks good, Alison.
Like a film set, what the camera doesn't show doesn't matter

Now, how about some old microphone stands to hold the reflector and other things to modify the light? That or a really cheap tripod (I got one for £9.99) that's no use for a camera but can hold something as light as a square of polystyrene or a fold-up reflector...

[Alison]

Thank you Paul
I don't have a mic stand or another tripod but looking at the price you stated I might look into getting one.

[MJS]

Great shot Allison.! I can't remember, are you running hot lights or strobes?


Glad to see you got back in one piece Steve, how'd the shoot go?

[Alison]

Unfortunately hot lights. If I knew then what I know now hey?
I wish I could get some daylight bulbs for them but I don't think they would fit.
Oh well, never mind, maybe one day, when I am earning money from my photography, I might be able to buy a new light kit.
Here's the kit I have...
http://www.jessops.com/Store/s8732/0...y=False&comp=n

[Greg McCary]

What lens do you use and how much processing was done, It looks great.

[Alison]

I used my 17-40 f/4 L lens.

PP:
Working in RAW did an auto WB. A touch to levels & contrast.
Obviously at Bec's age she had a few blemishes which I got rid of with the healing brush.
I think I applied a kodak airbrush to a layer and lowered the opacity down to about 30 or 40.
Dodged the bg a bit because it was a cream wall not white.
Rotated and cropped.
Re-sized and sharpened for web.

[brhitch]

Great shot Alison. Love the framing on this one. Nice expression on the models face as well and I love the eyes. Great job.