Posted: 12/18/2007 8:39:15 PM EDT
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I was sooooo close. I almost made it through the holidays without having to take anyone in my family's Christmas card photo. Unfortunately, my sister had other plans. She called me last night in a panic. Seems that she never scheduled pictures for my neice/nephew, and now it's too late. So, begrudginly, I agree to shoot some for her at her house. So, when we get there, I find out that she wants me to shoot them wearing these God awful Packers outfits. I flat out refused. My neice was wearing a white/pink "packers" shirt, and my nephew was wearing the traditional packers jersey of Green/Yellow. One is mid key, the other high key. So after some arguing, my sister finally agrees to get them other clothes to wear. She comes out with a tank top and capri pants for my neice, and I stop her again. After a search of their closets, we finally find something that is long sleaved, and isn't bedazzled up the wazoo (damn 9 year old girls and their sparkly clothing). Seems my sister no longer beleives in buying them long sleaved clothing, or even sweaters that fit into a good holidy theme. Oh well, it's their pictures not mine. Next, I get the deman that the picture be in front of the Christmas tree. That's not so bad, so I head downstairs to the very large basement. There, I find that my sister has converted this massive room into a Packers shrine. The walls are green/yellow in stripped patterns. Packers banners are everywhere. I've got plenty of room to work, but nothing to work with. So, I head back upstairs. The only thing we can do is take all the furniture out of the dinning area and use a second tree. Sadly, this space is incredibly small. I can only use a single strobe, and I can't get any seperation of the kids from the tree due to the space. Even worse, is the fact that I can't get a good shot of the tree, but only a partial. The good news, is that because of the cramped space, the strobe is very close to the kids. It will throw much of the empty space very dark. God, I hate doing this stuff. I think I got one to come out okay. I was so pissed off, I didn't bother with a bunch of posing stuff. On the upside, my sister made some Alaskan King Crab legs for dinner.  
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I think you did a fine job. I like the lighting on their faces (damn near perfectly exposed) and you have nice catchlights. The posing is well done. My only thing is her arm and the lack of detail in the blacks. The sleeve decorations appear to be hovering and not attached to anything. The mind has to make the connection when it see the hand that there's an arm attached. I might add a curves adjustment with a blend mode of screen and an opacity around 15% to give just a slight bump in exposure. Not even near a 1/3 stop. Just a hint of an increase. Great job!  What lights/modifiers are you using? I've found myself pulling out the 43" umbrella lately. The 60" Softlighter is a bit big and the brolly just seems to stay folded up lately. I love my Alien Bees. |
Interesting. I can see the arm and the detail fine. Are you viewing on a calibrated monitor? I will agree that it is darker than it should be. Can't really be helped. Due to the tight space, I couldn't put the strobe closer to the camera axis, like it should be for a closer group shot. Because the strobe was too far camera left, much of her upper body is in his shadow. Lights was a single Hensel Integra Pro Plus 500WS light with a Photoflex medium softbox, placed camera left. |
Yup. Calibrated Monday I think. Hmm. Go figure.
I know what you mean. I had a tight Christmas session a few weeks ago. It can be tough when space is limited.
Nice. You could've used a slight hairlight to add a little separation between them and the tree. I needed to do that with my son too but didn't bother. 
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The hairlight is a sore issue.  I initially planned to use a small softbox for a hair light, but the Hensels are just too damed heavy. With just the monolight, on a boom, I have to use an 18 lb sandbag, plus an 11 lb counterweight, both placed on the boom iteself to keep it from tipping. With that config, the boom is bowed pretty badly if extended very far. If I add the softbox, I can't use the boom at all.So, for a hair light, I have to revert to a snoot with a grid. Ever price a Hensel snoot? It's $200 for that little piece of plastic. If you can get past the price, you have to wait up to 4 months for anyone to have them in stock. Dang Germans. It's a moot point anyway. I had no room to mount another light. Trying to bounce a hair light would have just caused way too much spill and plus would have lit up all that empty space and bare wall. I wanted to maintain the contrast so the eye is naturally drawn to the kids. |
Whoops. Sorry to open that can of worms.  Talk about a beast! I easily get away with a 10 lb. counterweight even with the 60" umbrella and the boom extended. I just need to file a flat spot on the mounting stud so it's less prone to slipping. I thought about putting my SB-800 flash on the end of my monopod and having the wife hold it but with a 2-yr old it was hard enough to get him to stand still. I still like your image.
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