Creative background tip

[Guest]

Didn't know where else to put this so - here it is; Phil you can move if you want.

 

Photo for a client who wanted a very tight crop so that a tiny thumbnail would show the element of his life as a writer/publisher.

 

Could not use a fancy background (even if I had one) but wanted to lift the image from plain white or black so I lit the background with a separate flash with a blue gel and a grid to give a slight pattern reminiscent of the effect of Venetian blinds ( a slotted colander would do).

 

I know the desk is tilted, that's because I rotated the final image to make it even tighter, at the finished display size, which will be much smaller than this, I don't think anyone will notice.

 

 

Flash in brolly left and front, reflector right to fill shadows, separate flash on BG as above.

[fuzzyedges]

Good use of a coloured flash Bill

Ive seen many a rubbish shot with coloured gels (I think it was a case of Ive bought some and I am going to use them ) to the extent that I could see very little use in buying any but now I can

[Phil]

Moved to 'General Photographic', mainly because I wouldn't know where to stick it either

 

This is a question and not a crit, granny - suck eggs etc.

There's a few 'shiny' areas, tip of nose, cheeks, is that acceptable?

[Guest]

Moved to 'General Photographic', mainly because I wouldn't know where to stick it either

 

This is a question and not a crit, granny - suck eggs etc.

There's a few 'shiny' areas, tip of nose, cheeks, is that acceptable?

Yes and no, not ideal, but he was quite hot and I don't have space or the kit to put in bigger, softer lights further back so what you get is what there is basically.

There is detail in highlights and shadows so exposure is pretty spot on.

 

It would not be difficult to clone them down a bit in the final edit.

Edited November 29, 2014 by Bill

[Phil]

There is detail in highlights and shadows so exposure is pretty spot on.

 

Cheers Bill.

 

I never doubted the exposure for a second, just wondered whether it was acceptable to leave the bright areas.

 

There are so many aspects to our trade/hobby/craft that it becomes more and more difficult to differentiate between them all.