CC please on how to improve my lighting..

matty D

matty D

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I had a go at trying to capture my dog shaking off water this afternoon. I'm semi happy with the outcome but I can tell that there is loads of room for improvement, although I'm not sure how to improve it.

This shot was lit with direct flash (awaiting delivery of an octabox) camera left using Profoto B1 TTL (low power and freeze mode), and an SB900 through a small softbox camera right, manual 1/64, triggered in dumb slave mode.

Both units were about 45degrees towards the dog.

I'm thinking (although probably wrong!), that a softbox on the main light will help, but all I have that I can use on the Profoto at the moment is a cheap reflective umbrella, and it was throwing light everywhere.

Also perhaps a light off to the side and behind to light his back a bit??

All help appreciated :)


Shake by Matt Franks Photography, on Flickr
 
The lightning on the nose looks harsh. I think that and the left eye are just distracting enough to take the edge off the shot

Maybe a little more movement of the water too
 
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mattyg said:
The lightning on the nose looks harsh. I think that and the left eye are just distracting enough to take the edge off the shot

Maybe a little more movement of the water too
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback. I guess softening the light once I get a softbox will help with the nose. Not sure I'm seeing a problem with the left eye though, is it the fact that it's half closed that's distracting for you? Personally I'm ok with that, in fact I was hoping for slightly more facial distortions.

I hadn't thought about creating more movement in the water to be honest, I was focused on freezing it, but I'll try it out
 
matty D said:
Thanks for the feedback. I guess softening the light once I get a softbox will help with the nose. Not sure I'm seeing a problem with the left eye though, is it the fact that it's half closed that's distracting for you? Personally I'm ok with that, in fact I was hoping for slightly more facial distortions.

I hadn't thought about creating more movement in the water to be honest, I was focused on freezing it, but I'll try it out
Click to expand...

I think if both eyes were "distorted" that would work but having one that looks normal it kinda (to me anyhow) makes the other look like a disability. If you know what I mean.

I've had a quick google image search.

I really like this one

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1418749/thumbs/o-DOG2-900.jpg?5


And these show more water movement
http://purelifebondi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wet-dog-shaking-off.jpg http://demilked.uuuploads.com/shake...on/shake-dog-photography-carli-davidson-9.jpg


But if you want distortion

You need one of these
https://www.mysocialbook.com/blog/w...0/shake-dog-photography-carli-davidson-18.jpg


I really must have a go with our Beagle..

Please don't post other peoples images
 
I think you'll see a fairly big difference if you were to up the exposure by about 1/3 of a stop!.. (just on the dog of course)
 
Hi Matt

I had a play with your photo - I played around with the exposure brush, upping the clarity, deepening a few shadows, and a wee bit of dodging and burning on just your pooch... Cant do anything about the movement of the water, but I think it's closer to what you were looking for. The images above on the black background would have had a fair amount of post to them, in addition to some great lighting - more than likely a three light setup (side / side / front top & centre).

Happy to send it to you via PM so you can see what I'm talking about. Won't be insulted if you're not interested. But I really think you can get to where you want to be, or at least very close to it with some post work on it.
 
sunnyside_up said:
Hi Matt

I had a play with your photo - I played around with the exposure brush, upping the clarity, deepening a few shadows, and a wee bit of dodging and burning on just your pooch... Cant do anything about the movement of the water, but I think it's closer to what you were looking for. The images above on the black background would have had a fair amount of post to them, in addition to some great lighting - more than likely a three light setup (side / side / front top & centre).

Happy to send it to you via PM so you can see what I'm talking about. Won't be insulted if you're not interested. But I really think you can get to where you want to be, or at least very close to it with some post work on it.
Click to expand...

Hopefully the OP will give you the ok for you to upload here then we can all see.
 
View attachment 25791
I have (somewhere!) a shaky dog water flying shot. (found it... I took a quick jpeg with my macro instead of scanning it, lazy me!)
I shot it years ago on film, daylight only about 3pm lowish sun coming across from the 11 o'clock position from my looking directly at the face of the dog.
Meaning the sun was nearly direct into the lens, however, this gave a great back light rather than a harsh flash from the front.
Not set up of course in my case but I was wondering if trying to set a flash say coming from an angle out of sight and over the dogs torso, rear to front, you'd get a different effect with the water?
I may get up in my loft & see if I still have the shot & scan it to post, most likely find my memory is not what I hope but that's what I remember, it really looked good, plus as others have commented the eyes!
The dog I photographed had its head pretty much centred & its eyes both similar.

But its the direction of the light I really am trying to suggest giving a go from a non front / direct position.
 
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sunnyside_up said:
Hi Matt

I had a play with your photo - I played around with the exposure brush, upping the clarity, deepening a few shadows, and a wee bit of dodging and burning on just your pooch... Cant do anything about the movement of the water, but I think it's closer to what you were looking for. The images above on the black background would have had a fair amount of post to them, in addition to some great lighting - more than likely a three light setup (side / side / front top & centre).

Happy to send it to you via PM so you can see what I'm talking about. Won't be insulted if you're not interested. But I really think you can get to where you want to be, or at least very close to it with some post work on it.
Click to expand...

Hi, happy for it to be posted here so that others can see what you have done. But I suspect you are right re the light setup. Would rather get the lighting right than too much post
 
mattyg said:
I think if both eyes were "distorted" that would work but having one that looks normal it kinda (to me anyhow) makes the other look like a disability. If you know what I mean.

I've had a quick google image search.
Click to expand...

FFS are you being deliberately thick?

Copying images from Google and uploading them to the TP servers is straightforward copyright infringement.
 
DemiLion said:
FFS are you being deliberately thick?

Copying images from Google and uploading them to the TP servers is straightforward copyright infringement.
Click to expand...

Excuse me. Thick!

I linked to them I didnt load them onto the servers.
If the board then shows the image its not my doing
 
You uploaded them to the TP gallery, which is where they were being displayed from.
 
As Scottinfocus said, consider trying backlighting the droplets - it'll help really give them some sparkle.

I think you'll see an improvement with your octa, also consider shooting in manual rather than TTL mode, it looks a touch under to me.

Davidson's ones look beauty dish lit to me, and he's taken the sharpness to 11.

You're 95% of the way to awesome, and I think that most of that 5% is in post. Glad to see that you're getting good results with the flash duration on the B1
 
itsdavedotnet said:
As Scottinfocus said, consider trying backlighting the droplets - it'll help really give them some sparkle.

I think you'll see an improvement with your octa, also consider shooting in manual rather than TTL mode, it looks a touch under to me.

Davidson's ones look beauty dish lit to me, and he's taken the sharpness to 11.

You're 95% of the way to awesome, and I think that most of that 5% is in post. Glad to see that you're getting good results with the flash duration on the B1
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback. I'll have a go using manual and a bit of backlighting over the weekend
 
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