[mcgregni]

Aiming to solve the problems of portraits in a confined living space, here are a couple of recent ones where I have managed to avoid the light spill onto the black curtains behind. I did this by really squeezing the subject onto a small defined spot, with the lights very close in, and zooming in to remove most space around the edges. I think with a bit of careful positioning and getting angles right, we domestic portrait shooters can avoid the expense and extra space demanded by studio backdrops and the stands and things this would all entail.

The main light is from a white umbrella, and the backlight is a 60x60cm softbox.

K7 - D FA28-105mm - Cactus V6II / RF60x Flashes (x2) - ISO 100 - F9.5 - 1/180th

[onlineflyer]

Very nicely done, I think you're on to something here. By the way, beautiful models.

[jlstrawman]

Very nice.... excellent, in fact. You're up kind of late?

[mcgregni]

Very nicely done, I think you're on to something here. By the way, beautiful models.

Thanks! (They're more beautiful when they're sitting still for a few seconds, numerous bribes needed)

---------- Post added 26-06-18 at 02:17 ----------

Very nice.... excellent, in fact. You're up kind of late?

Thanks also! Yep, a break during night shift ..... only time I can get some peace on the computer

[BigDave]

Very well done, indeed! You should give us all a diagram with distances!

[bwgv001]

Congratulations; very nice work. The 2nd model seem to enjoy the task.

[UncleVanya]

Very impressive!

[C_Jones]

It looks like you had your camera set for a dark exposure originally, then added your lights closely to come up with your shots. The shots seem to have turned out nicely.

[pschlute]

You have two great captures there Nigel. Well done.

[mcgregni]

Very well done, indeed! You should give us all a diagram with distances!

Thanks, I will try and take a shot of the room and the space, but it was a small area, about 1/2m square for the subject to sit on the floor, and the edge of the umbrella right up against the right frame edge. Shooting angle had to exclude a bit of sofa, but I kept the light off the black curtains by partially closing down the umbrella.

---------- Post added 26-06-18 at 04:22 ----------

It looks like you had your camera set for a dark exposure originally, then added your lights closely to come up with your shots. The shots seem to have turned out nicely.

Yes, with the black curtains the room was very dim, so the exposure settings of 1/180th, ISO100, F9.5 knocked out any ambient light. I had spent some time before with a big teddy bear sitting there tweaking the power settings on the flashes to get the balance I wanted, before the girls were coerced into action! However with kids they will always twist and turn a bit, so its never exactly the same light fall across the face for every shot.


Thanks also bwgv001, Uncle, and Peter .... I'm glad you all saw the photos

[pschlute]

I had spent some time before with a big teddy bear sitting there tweaking the power settings on the flashes to get the balance I wanted

I want to see the teddy shots too

[mcgregni]

I might even be able to find a big fluffy dog for you Peter!

[mcgregni]

Here's a quick phone snap showing the working space for these photos.... The girls were sitting on the cushion. I had to find an angle and focal length that excluded the sofa but kept the black curtain covering the whole background behind ....a bit tight honestly!

But I want to encourage people to have a go, even in small difficult spaces and even if you don't have fancy lighting backdrops and studio gear......

[Billk]

Great work <3

[LensBeginner]

Nice job, they both look terrific.
First one is my favorite, can't point my finger on one single reason why, though... it could be the catchlight, the way the face is illuminated or its angle relative to the camera.
Congratulations!