Headshots still coming out just slightly "blurry"

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Robert G Billard

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Name
Robert G. Billard
Edit My Images
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We are having an issue with our headshots: lighting is great, composition is great resolution is great but they are just a tad fuzzy.

We are using a large soft box close to the subject and a strobe flash with a translucent unbrella in front of it. A top light for highlights on the hair; black background and a Canon EOS Rebel XTi. We are using the AV setting so that we are setting the shutter speed to around 1/200 and an ISO of 400.

But the images just arn't sharp enough. I do not know what I am doing wrong, but I am sure you all do and could help

Thanks
 
We are shooting jpeg on large and then in Photoshop changing the resolution to 300 without bicubic resampling.

I don't know how to attach an image.... gak
 
what aperture are you using?
 
Okay so I went back and check all the settings and the Shutter was 1/250; ISO 200; Aperture 4.0 (but I was using the TV mode on the camera so I just set the shutter speed and it picked the aperture. I notice that I had it on Auto White Ballance and know that I should have had it set for tungstun (right?). The picture looks fine interms of the lighting level but...

If I could figure out how to put a picture up here I would but I am obviously not that computer savvy... I have no idea how to put a picture at a url location so that I can attach it here...

Thanks for your continued support.
 
If you're using flash it has the same colour temperature as daylight (not tungsten). DSLRs usually work quite well on auto WB for flash and daylight so you're probably OK with that. If you're mixing flash and tungsten light, that's a different matter, and generally not a good idea.

A large soft box and shooting through a transluscent umbrella sounds like it could well be your problem. Shooting through an umbrella produces a soft diffused effect and combined with a large soft box could just be a tad too much. I'd try dispensing with the brolly.
 
That's great advice. I will try that, but I did try it without the brolly and the light was VERY harsh. Would I increase the shutter speed to compensate? OR lower the ISO or both?
 
Night owl huh? :D

Erm neither really. If the light is too harsh I'd try reducing the flash power if you can, or just moving the flash and soft box further way from the subject. Alternatively use a smaller aperture which will effectively reduce the flash power each time you stop down. If you're shooting digital, a few test shots should soon put you in the ball park.


It's pretty easy to upload a pic to your free gallery here on TPF and I'm sure you'll get lots of better advice if folks could see an example shot. ;)
 
I can't reduce the power of the flash on it manually but I think I can adjust it on the camera itself, right? It is already as far back as it can be... almost out the door...

I found the gallery section of this forum and tried to upload but the files are too large, what size should they be so that I can upload them?
 
Just checked and I have already reduced the flash settings on the camera to -2 which is the max...
 
The max limit on file sizes for gallery is is 800 pixels on the longest side and max physical size of 200kb.

OK. I'd start again at 100 ISO. Altering the shutter speed has no effect with flash. If you're in a restricted space and can't move the lights further back then just keep reducing the aperture a stop at a time until you're getting a softer light.
 
Okay, I just uploaded two photos to the gallery, too bad how small they are...

Let me know how I can improve...
 
slowly figuring this whole thing out... just uploaded clearer pictures at the 800 pixels range... they are pretty blurry, WAYYY more than in "real life" due to the size... I can't figure out how to delete photos from the gallery so if you could enlighten me, that would be great!
 
wow... I really am pathetic at this upload thing...

Alright, I just downloaded a great photo from your gallery and figured out the setting and reset mine and then uploaded them again. So please check the newest uploads on my gallery..

Sorry for the confusion. I still haven't figured out how to delete photos from the gallery...
 
Here atr Robert's pics, to save anyone having to go searching for them....

Karen_Billard_Sept_08_Headshot_for_Forum.jpg


Karen_Billard_sample2_for_Forum.jpg
 
And here's the exif,

Standard Information
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Software: Adobe Photoshop 7.0
ImageSize: 518x794
ComponentsConfiguration: YCbCr
CreateDate: 2008:09:10 22:00:33
ModifyDate: 2008:09:19 19:27:04
DateTimeOriginal: 2008:09:10 22:00:33
ExposureTime: 1/250"
Aperture: F4.5
CircleOfConfusion: 0.004 mm
HyperfocalDistance: 119.46 m
ExposureProgram: Shutter speed priority AE
ExposureBiasValue: 0
MeteringMode: Multi-segment
Flash: Off
ISO: 200
WhiteBalance: Auto
FocalLength: 45.0 mm
FocalLength35efl: 45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 358.9 mm)
ColorSpace: sRGB

GPS Information

Other Information
APP14Flags0: (none)
APP14Flags1: (none)
ApertureValue: 4.5
BitsPerSample: 8
BlueMatrixColumn: 0.14307 0.06061 0.7141
CMMFlags: Not Embedded, Independent
ColorComponents: 3
ColorSpaceData: RGB
ColorTransform: YCbCr
Compression: JPEG (old-style)
ConnectionSpaceIlluminant: 0.9642 1 0.82491
CopyrightFlag: False
CustomRendered: Normal
DCTEncodeVersion: 100
DeviceAttributes: Reflective, Glossy, Positive, Color
DeviceManufacturer: IEC
DeviceMfgDesc: IEC http://www.iec.ch
DeviceModel: sRGB
DeviceModelDesc: IEC 61966-2.1 Default RGB colour space - sRGB
Directory: C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\R2FFE0OL
DisplayedUnitsX: inches
DisplayedUnitsY: inches
DocumentID: adobe:docid photoshop:4bc0a790-86bb-11dd-8b7c-bf0993d09f67
EncodingProcess: Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
ExifByteOrder: Little-endian (Intel)
ExifImageHeight: 794
ExifImageWidth: 518
ExifVersion: 0221
ExposureMode: Auto
FNumber: 4.5
FOV: 5.7 deg
FileModifyDate: 2008:09:20 07:40:34
FileName: Karen_Billard_sample2_for_Forum[1].jpg
FileSize: 80 kB
FileType: JPEG
FlashpixVersion: 0100
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit: inches
FocalPlaneXResolution: 4453.608247
FocalPlaneYResolution: 4433.295325
GlobalAltitude: 30
GlobalAngle: 30
GreenMatrixColumn: 0.38515 0.71687 0.09708
ImageHeight: 794
ImageWidth: 518
JFIFVersion: 1.2
LightValue: 11.3
Luminance: 76.03647 80 87.12462
MeasurementBacking: 0 0 0
MeasurementFlare: 0.999%
MeasurementGeometry: Unknown (0)
MeasurementIlluminant: D65
MeasurementObserver: CIE 1931
MediaBlackPoint: 0 0 0
MediaWhitePoint: 0.95045 1 1.08905
Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
PhotoshopFormat: Optimised
PhotoshopQuality: 7
PrimaryPlatform: Microsoft Corporation
ProfileCMMType: Lino
ProfileClass: Display Device Profile
ProfileConnectionSpace: XYZ
ProfileCopyright: Copyright (c) 1998 Hewlett-Packard Company
ProfileCreator: HP
ProfileDateTime: 1998:02:09 06:49:00
ProfileDescription: sRGB IEC61966-2.1
ProfileFileSignature: acsp
ProfileID: 0
ProfileVersion: 2.1.0
ProgressiveScans: 3 Scans
RedMatrixColumn: 0.43607 0.22249 0.01392
RenderingIntent: Perceptual
ResolutionUnit: inches
ScaleFactor35efl: 8.0
SceneCaptureType: Standard
ShutterSpeed: 1/250
ShutterSpeedValue: 1/250
Technology: Cathode Ray Tube Display
ThumbnailLength: 4035
ThumbnailOffset: 1036
UserComment
ViewingCondDesc: Reference Viewing Condition in IEC61966-2.1
ViewingCondIlluminant: 19.6445 20.3718 16.8089
ViewingCondIlluminantType: D50
ViewingCondSurround: 3.92889 4.07439 3.36179
XResolution: 72
YCbCrPositioning: Co-sited
YCbCrSubSampling: YCbCr4:4:4 (1 1)
YResolution: 72
 
I'm not really any good with Flash work, but I note the exif says 'Flash off' ?
 
very basic beginner here, but are you using a remote or manually pressing the shutter down?
It could be that if you are manually doing it your pressing down to sharply and its not giving a crisp image?

I must admit though, from using a 400D myself, its not the sharpest camera... a lot of PP is needed afterwards.
 
What lens are you using?? Does no one think it could be an issue with the focusing of the lens?? Or If you are focusing manually and eye piece is out of focus then if you focused a shot with an out of focus eyepiece view finder you shots will be blurred.
Just a thought.
 
Your problem has nothing to do with lighting - the shots are OOF.
 
would his ISO 200 have something to do with it also? Does this not need to be set to 100 for a sharper shot?
 
JumboBeef said:
Why such a high shutter speed? I would drop that to 1/60 and get your aperture up to F8 or F9...............
Click to expand...

Changing the shutter speed will not help the aperture - he has to increase the flash power to allow the aperture to be smaller, which would almost certainly help.
 
gazedd said:
would his ISO 200 have something to do with it also? Does this not need to be set to 100 for a sharper shot?
Click to expand...

ISO has nothing to do with it either - except if he uses a HIGHER ISO he will be able to use a smaller aperture but the problem is focussing I think.
 
gazedd said:
I must admit though, from using a 400D myself, its not the sharpest camera... a lot of PP is needed afterwards.
Click to expand...

I disagree with this, I have some very sharp shots from my 400D but it might be the lenses. I would expect the most basic lens to give sharper shot than the above though
 
If you shoot other stuff, do you still get soft shots, if you use it handhelf for example? It looks like the camera hasnt locked on anything for focusing to me
 
^^
good thought - if you're using speedlights in a dark room that could be the prob - if you have studio flashes with modeling lights it won't be!
 
Can I ask why you are using AV or TV mode on the camera in the studio.

Camera should be set up on manual if using studio lighting

So many other things can influence the settings the camera decides on under these conditions
 
Was the camera on a tripod, with the IS switched on? If yes, turn it off and try again.
 
the 400D is a perfectly capable camera. I have got tack sharp shots without L lenses. As above the shots just look oof!

are you using just one focus point or are you letting the camera select which focus point its using.

there are so many things that could cause it, unless you have a very soft lens it will be down to the way it's being focused.
 
Hmmm... that does look like a focusing or processing issue. This is a sharpened version of your shot, but it's still not as sharp as it could be.

2872435904_bbf924e1b6_o.jpg


With portraits you need to focus on the eyes.Try focusing manually.

The other thing is digital shots should need some sharpening. Don't expect them sharp right out of the camera unless you're shooting jpegs and you have sharpening enabled in camera. Even a sharp shot will lose definition when you resize it for web viewing and need sharpening at the new size before you upload it.

To delete pics from Gallery, open the shot at full size and just below it you'll see some edit icons, one of them being 'Delete'
 
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