A discussion forum - and more - for users of Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras.
A quick portraitModerators: Greg B, Nnnnsic, Geoff, Glen, gstark, Moderators
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A quick portrait
Hello,
Took this portrait on a beach in January. It was mid day or thereabouts and the sun was pretty harsh. Took the first one with 50mm f1.4 1/350s f8. Flash was used, I think. The 2nd one was with the kit lens at 60 mm with CPL 1/180 s f4.8 with flash. 
Are any of these keepers, help me decide, please? Personally, I don't mind the first one. What can be improved? Thanks Alex
G'day mate,
Don't know the foggiest about taking pics of humans  ...
The first one seems to be on the edge for exposure, but it's a nice portrait though... The second one I think the sloping background edge of the rock may be influencing whether you like it... If you wanna play in PP, I'd be tempted to soften the skin and sharpen items like eyebrows, eyes, lips etc... Not much help I'm afraid, I don't think I've ever taken a photo of a human
Cheers mate... Aka Andrew
I don't think I have. Everyone here can be thankfull that I will never take and post a self-portrait.
Hmmm, just check out both our avatars! Aka Andrew
Alex as I was writing, before my family decided to overload the generator and cut me off
 , I think Mudder's comments are spot on. I think the expression on the second portrait is the more pleasing and so is the skin tone and exposures . I would probably be tempted to soften the reflector fill light even a tad more. I think the rock in the background, as mudder mentioned, does not enhance the image and a clear sky would create more separation between subject and background.
cheers marco
Hi Alex, I think the highlights in the first image are blown out a bit too much. Without wanting to sound too critical, I've noticed that in a number of your portaits and fashion shots with flash you've been getting blown highlights. This may be the effect you are after, but I'm not sure. In the second image, the flash is not as obvious but it's still apparent.
With these type of outdoor shots where, I asume, you are using the SB800 for fill flash in TTL BL mode, I'm suprised that you're getting the blown highlights. I've found it's almost impossible to blow highlights in TTL BL mode even if I wanted too. With the d70 in either A or S mode, the camera seems to work really well with the SB800 in TTL BL. Maybe you are using TTL mode where the flash is providing a greater proportion of the light? Are you using a diffuser? I've found this helps soften the SB800's light. Are you using centre weighted metering and metering on her face? I find that works best with TTL BL. I think the full 3D matrix metering or whatever it's called would pick up a lot of the shadows in this image and could cause over exposure of her face. Spot metering won't work at all in TTL BL mode, or more correctly the SB800 will switch from TTL BL into TTL mode if you have spot metering turned on on the d70. Again, even if this is the case, if you're spot metering on her face, the SB800 should get it right. Please don't take this the wrong way as I'm not having a go at you. I just think that the SB800 is such a great piece of equipment, the exposures should be spot on and I'm just trying to understand what's happening with your use of flash. Cheers John D3, D300, 14-24/2.8, 24-70/2.8, 85/1.4, 80-400VR, 18-200VR, 105/2.8 VR macro, Sigma 150/2.8 macro
http://www.johndarguephotography.com/
John,
Thanks very much for your advice. I used centre-weighted metering with SB800 set to iTTL with some negative exposure comp. (I think -1, but I'm not sure now). I never use BLTTL - may be I should be. The reason why I never used BLTTL for fill flash is because I read from many sources that BLTTL gives unpredictable results. May be BLTTL should be the go for me for now, when I use flash as a fill. Alex P.s. the diffuser was on.
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