First attempt with Home Studio Flash - Some C&C would be welcome...

K_user

So I finally got a chance to take some photo’s with my new gear. Its my first time using a Home Studio flash and it seems simple enough - to set up anyway!

Now when I say “time” I have to qualify. A ½ hour, with no set up time, one 9 month old who wanted to pull down all those wires, no other adult to help with said baby, one dirty face and one nappy that needed to be changed…and none of this was in the manual!

I think that there is a slight blue tinge to the skin, but has anyone got any comments?

Tallon

Photos made my day... really cute..

I cant give a photographical account of what I think because I'm smiling too much

mindundalk

I can't seem to get past that big smile, but other than the blue tinge (keep going)

Fireman

k_user did you shoot them in Raw, it might explain the unusual skin tone, But I have to say apart from that a fantastic day's work---Keep up the good work

Trev M

Aww Im waiting for my little lad to get a bit more cooperative about the shooting, at the moment Im snapping random shots of him when I can....he's not a fan of the camera so far. These look fantastic to me, possibly warm them up a bit for a kinda cosy effect to go with that big smile?

Could I trouble you and ask what Home Studio Flash you use and how you set up?

K_user

Thanks all!

Yeah, its the smile that sells it - had I posted a picture of my ugly mug the complaints would have rained in!

K_user

Fireman wrote: »

k_user did you shoot them in Raw, it might explain the unusual skin tone, But I have to say apart from that a fantastic day's work---Keep up the good work

Thanks - I'm looking forward to the weekend, might be able to get my wife to assist with the little lad. Today was a bit too hard! I'd sit him down, dive for the camera, but by the time I got the thing focused he was off crawling!

Yip, they are taken in RAW. The colour tint was my own fault. I did a little work in Photoshop but didn't spot the colour cast. It was only when I was uploading the pictures that I noticed the problem, by that stage I couldn't be bothered to go back and fix it.

K_user

Trev M wrote: »

Aww Im waiting for my little lad to get a bit more cooperative about the shooting, at the moment Im snapping random shots of him when I can....he's not a fan of the camera so far. These look fantastic to me, possibly warm them up a bit for a kinda cosy effect to go with that big smile?

Could I trouble you and ask what Home Studio Flash you use and how you set up?

Thanks - you have to love it when they are really small though! You get lots of photo's of them looking completely in the wrong direction, its like they wait until the last millisecond before turning!

I just bought the INTERFIT 150 Mark2. Its my first time using one, so my set up was fairly basic. A chair with a white sheet thrown over it. One flash head and softbox slightly to the left and from above. The other flash head on the right, with just a spill-kill, pointing at the sheet. A reflector just resting against the second head, to light the other side of his face. I then plonked the child on the seat and snapped away quickly. I got 10 shots before he got too annoyed to continue. In 8 of them he was either looking away or looked drunk! The 2 I posted were just the lucky ones

DK32

2 good pictures is better than none Congrats on these, they are really good and the little fella's smile is indeed infectious. I had to get my wife to help me keep the girls distracted so I could get some with my first attempt at using the Interfit kit. I need to work on a better background setup but I'm loving the interfit kit for it's simplicity.

Cabaal

Lovely shots to be honest, I'd say your other half would love them framed

K_user

She squealed alot when she saw them - perhaps she finally approves of me spending all the money on "that geeky crap"!!

K_user

DK32 wrote: »

2 good pictures is better than none Congrats on these, they are really good and the little fella's smile is indeed infectious. I had to get my wife to help me keep the girls distracted so I could get some with my first attempt at using the Interfit kit. I need to work on a better background setup but I'm loving the interfit kit for it's simplicity.

Love the dresses and we have even more smiles!

The Kit seems good, simple to use, easy to set up. I still have to work out the correct way to meter though.

And like yourself the background is an issue. Its either buy a kit - which I can't afford - or do some DIY on the wall of my study - too much like hard work?

DK32

In the same boat myself, can't really afford a background, would really like a pop up hi-light but it will have to wait a while. Mean time I'm going to stick with sheets (ironed ) and neutral coloured walls.

K_user

Would you believe someone made off with my Ironed white sheets. I had to use a baggy, un-ironed one that needs a wash! Hence the facial close ups!

ditpaintball

Nice shots.

On the tint issue, check the white balance setting ( either in camera or in raw converter after )

You should have it set to flash... it is the 'thunderbolt' symbol.


Another option would be to convert that image to black and white.

K_user

ditpaintball wrote: »

Nice shots.

On the tint issue, check the white balance setting ( either in camera or in raw converter after )

You should have it set to flash... it is the 'thunderbolt' symbol.

Thanks.

Yeah, I have it set to flash, the blue tint doesn't really bother me all that much. I think it was a post-processing error on my part. Something I'll take a look at again.

What I was interested in was whether anyone would spot any other issues.
If the background is too white, or if the parts of the face that are cut out makes it "look" wrong. Is it sharp enough.

ditpaintball wrote: »

Another option would be to convert that image to black and white.

Had to give this one a go!

hoganpoly

may i ask what lens etc you were using

K_user

I have a Fuji S5 and used my Nikkor 50mm.

I think I varied between F8 at 125s and at 80s - depend how close I moved myself or the softbox.