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Mike McCarty · 05-24-2004, 08:03 PM

Mary,

To save us from getting spun off into a technical direction I think we'll call that odd shot an anomaly and move on.

What I get from these shots is that you have plenty of light.

What I would like to show you at this point is what a 16x20 grayish white canvas used as a reflector can do. I was matching the size of the reflector to the size of the subject here, you could of course use a larger one if need be. I think I prefer the bumpy off white surface of the canvas over the slick white surface of a piece of foamcore. I think it throws off a softer more diffuse light.

These three images were all taken within a few minutes of each other. Notice that the subject never moved. For image #1 there was no use of the reflector, for image #2 the reflector was about twenty-four inches from the subject off camera to our right, for image #3 the reflector was as close as I could get it just out of frame.

Would you try this:

Place your statue out from the chest as much as you can and still be in the line of the light. With your camera on the tripod, place the camera as before in relationship to the subject, ninety degrees off the direction of the light.

After you get the subject framed, make sure that your zoom indicates no less than 70mm, a little more would be better. If you cannot achieve this, then back the subject up (back yourself up) and produce enough distance between the two of you so that you can achieve that 70+mm.

Now, with your camera set on timer, or, using an assistant, do as I have done in the examples below. Your first image should be without any reflective aid, the second, third and fourth if you want, should show increasingly more light reflected onto the shadow side.

PS: Mary, it looks like you may benefit from slightly over exposing your subject about a half to one f stop. If you remember.

PPS:
I think these highly polished props show a bit of a burn out on the light side, my guess is that this same light would show pretty good against skin. But either way, we observe and adjust.

05-24-2004, 08:03 PM	#24
Mike McCarty PHOTOGRAPHY MODERATOR SOG Member '03 Finalist Taos SOPA '03 HonMen SoCal ASOPA '03 Finalist SoCal ASOPA '04 Finalist Taos SOPA Joined: Dec 2001 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 2,674	Mary, To save us from getting spun off into a technical direction I think we'll call that odd shot an anomaly and move on. What I get from these shots is that you have plenty of light. What I would like to show you at this point is what a 16x20 grayish white canvas used as a reflector can do. I was matching the size of the reflector to the size of the subject here, you could of course use a larger one if need be. I think I prefer the bumpy off white surface of the canvas over the slick white surface of a piece of foamcore. I think it throws off a softer more diffuse light. These three images were all taken within a few minutes of each other. Notice that the subject never moved. For image #1 there was no use of the reflector, for image #2 the reflector was about twenty-four inches from the subject off camera to our right, for image #3 the reflector was as close as I could get it just out of frame. Would you try this: Place your statue out from the chest as much as you can and still be in the line of the light. With your camera on the tripod, place the camera as before in relationship to the subject, ninety degrees off the direction of the light. After you get the subject framed, make sure that your zoom indicates no less than 70mm, a little more would be better. If you cannot achieve this, then back the subject up (back yourself up) and produce enough distance between the two of you so that you can achieve that 70+mm. Now, with your camera set on timer, or, using an assistant, do as I have done in the examples below. Your first image should be without any reflective aid, the second, third and fourth if you want, should show increasingly more light reflected onto the shadow side. PS: Mary, it looks like you may benefit from slightly over exposing your subject about a half to one f stop. If you remember. PPS: I think these highly polished props show a bit of a burn out on the light side, my guess is that this same light would show pretty good against skin. But either way, we observe and adjust. Attached Images __________________ Mike McCarty