Exposure help

Cregar · 10-16-2011, 12:26 PM

Hey all,

Hope you can help me out. I just received my AlienBee 800 with the 22" beauty dish. A friend of mine offered to let me photographer her to test out the light.

I am a little disappointed in my quality of my exposure. I used a Sekonic L-358 light meter, with the settings of 60 sec - f/8.0 and ISO 100 and in RAW. When viewing on my display on my camera all looked really good but when I imported into Lightroom the exposure looked awful. It looks so "muddy", I understand I might have to do some adjustments but didn't think it would be this much.

Attached is a sample, no adjustments made to photo.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Craig

Last edited by Unregistered User 8; 08-15-2017 at 04:59 AM. Reason: remove swearing

Marc Sabatella · 10-16-2011, 02:23 PM

Is your question about how to process this digitally? if not, then it probably belongs elsewhere, but I'm not sure - are you wondering about how to use the meter, or the lighting unit, or what? Also, on my (calibrated) monitor, the model's skin tones look fairly natural as is. Quite a bit lighter than my own, as a semi-olive-skinned person of Italian and French-Canadian descent.

Cregar · 10-16-2011, 03:08 PM

Thanks for responding Mark.

I think I just need to work a little more on the files in Photoshop, I also noticed tilting my monitor I get better colors, doesn't look so washed out.

I guess I was just needing someone with a calibrated monitor to take a look at the RAW file and let me know what they thought of the exposure.

Thanks for your time.

Craig

Ron Kruger · 10-16-2011, 03:54 PM

Depends upon what you are trying to convey. On my monitor (also calibrated) the colors look very good and the flesh tones are great, but the exposure is a little dark (easily adjusted in PP). You will get an entirely different look with a less neutral background as well. I suggest you calibrate your monitor and clean your sensor (see spots).
There does, however, seem to be a slight softness to the shot, which I would think is the camera settings, lens or technique--but not lighting or exposure. Portrait mode on many cameras will give you this soft, wrinkle-smoothing effect.

kh1234567890 · 10-16-2011, 04:09 PM

Looking at the histogram it is about a stop and a bit under-exposed and possibly with a very slight magenta cast, but that could be that she is being suffocated by that scarf

Shoot some grey card maybe ?

Cregar · 10-16-2011, 06:05 PM

Thanks for the reply's,

Ron Kruger, whats the best way to clean the sensor? My focus might have been off a little, I was using my Pentax-M 50mm F1.7.

kh1234567890, that's what was confusing me. I set the camera to what the light meter read. So I guess I need to use the EV compensation.

10-16-2011, 12:26 PM	#1
Cregar Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 96	Exposure help Hey all, Hope you can help me out. I just received my AlienBee 800 with the 22" beauty dish. A friend of mine offered to let me photographer her to test out the light. I am a little disappointed in my quality of my exposure. I used a Sekonic L-358 light meter, with the settings of 60 sec - f/8.0 and ISO 100 and in RAW. When viewing on my display on my camera all looked really good but when I imported into Lightroom the exposure looked awful. It looks so "muddy", I understand I might have to do some adjustments but didn't think it would be this much. Attached is a sample, no adjustments made to photo. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks Craig Last edited by Unregistered User 8; 08-15-2017 at 04:59 AM. Reason: remove swearing

10-16-2011, 04:09 PM	#5
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Looking at the histogram it is about a stop and a bit under-exposed and possibly with a very slight magenta cast, but that could be that she is being suffocated by that scarf Shoot some grey card maybe ? Last edited by kh1234567890; 05-30-2016 at 02:34 AM.

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10-16-2011, 02:23 PM	#2
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Is your question about how to process this digitally? if not, then it probably belongs elsewhere, but I'm not sure - are you wondering about how to use the meter, or the lighting unit, or what? Also, on my (calibrated) monitor, the model's skin tones look fairly natural as is. Quite a bit lighter than my own, as a semi-olive-skinned person of Italian and French-Canadian descent.

10-16-2011, 03:08 PM	#3
Cregar Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 96 Original Poster	Thanks for responding Mark. I think I just need to work a little more on the files in Photoshop, I also noticed tilting my monitor I get better colors, doesn't look so washed out. I guess I was just needing someone with a calibrated monitor to take a look at the RAW file and let me know what they thought of the exposure. Thanks for your time. Craig

10-16-2011, 03:54 PM	#4
Ron Kruger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 534	Depends upon what you are trying to convey. On my monitor (also calibrated) the colors look very good and the flesh tones are great, but the exposure is a little dark (easily adjusted in PP). You will get an entirely different look with a less neutral background as well. I suggest you calibrate your monitor and clean your sensor (see spots). There does, however, seem to be a slight softness to the shot, which I would think is the camera settings, lens or technique--but not lighting or exposure. Portrait mode on many cameras will give you this soft, wrinkle-smoothing effect.

10-16-2011, 06:05 PM	#6
Cregar Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 96 Original Poster	Thanks for the reply's, Ron Kruger, whats the best way to clean the sensor? My focus might have been off a little, I was using my Pentax-M 50mm F1.7. kh1234567890, that's what was confusing me. I set the camera to what the light meter read. So I guess I need to use the EV compensation.