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Specular Umbrella Thought Process

I thought I would run through my thought processes in setting up and executing this assignment, more for my own reference than anything else.

My first challenge was to find a suitable background in a house that was pretty well all light colours.

Tried our piano, but that was far too reflective for my liking.

Eventually realised I had a sheet of Masonite (hardboard) in my shed so thought I would try that.

I tried a couple of test shots through an umbrella and it looked like a goer so here's my steps.

1. I got the angles, size and brightness of reflection roughly correct by adjusting the flash and camera position. Looked OK at 1/4 power with camera on 1/125 @ f/6.7.

2. Adjusted camera position to get the reflection in the correct position for my preferred composition.

3. I then brought the model into play. I adjusted the camera distance from the model to get the halo at the correct size. I then added a white board on camera right to reflect some light into the shadow side.

The lighting was good from the start so it was then a matter of getting the correct pose.

I daren't impose on my wife to sit around for the set up shots in addition to the actual photos, so I've used a much more passive substitute.

My final result is here: www.flickr.com/photos/8148142@N08/1158282789/

 

 

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Uploaded on August 21, 2007
Taken on August 21, 2007