For my first assessment I decided to set up a portrait shoot in my front room which utilised some recently purchased equipment.
Workflow Chart:
Decide on required equipment and ensure fit for purpose:
Canon 5D MkII - check and if necessary charge batteries
Canon 24/70 f2.8L lens – check and ensure glass is clean
Canon 580 speedlite flashes - check and as necessary charge batteries
Format memory disc
Set camera to aperture priority
Set camera to Raw + Jpeg format
Lastolite Ezybox soft box
Grey Portable Background
2 x pocket wizards
Light meter
My setup consisted of a portable grey background, lit by a Lastolite soft box (with a Canon 580 EXII speedlite flash) triggered by 2 x Pocketwizard flash triggers.
Preparation:
After setting up, I checked the lighting, by taking some self portraits, using the camera self timer function, and with the help of a light meter, found the aperture setting would be f5.6.
I felt that the aperture setting would give me the depth of field I required and no further adjustments were required.
Shoot images
The camera was settings were:
· Exposure mode Manual
· Shutter speed 1/125sec
· Aperture setting f/5.6
· ISO 100
I took a series of self portraits one of which is included in the images sent for assessment. Initially these self portraits were intended to check the set up and exposure levels but as models were hard to come by I decided to participate myself. The majority of these portraits were taken showing the light meter and were discarded.
The remaining models, my wife Sheila, my son’s girlfriend Jennifer and the dog Sparky were coerced into participating.
Set
Download to computer, using computer auto play setting, import into specific folder (Occupational Portraits) using same process to name images when putting into folder.
View raw images in Adobe Bridge
I took 53 images
Editing Step One – the technical edit
In this stage I edited 33 out because:
· 12 under exposed due to the flash not firing
· 2 were incorrectly framed and
· 19 were test shots
Editing Step Two – the selects
In this stage, of the 20 left, I initially selected 8 discarding 12.
The majority were discarded as several shots had been taken of the same subjects and the best composition kept.
After the cooling off period I returned and edited the remaining, leaving 5 images.
Open tagged images in Adobe Bridge
Adjust exposure / white balance
Open in Photoshop CS4
Safe levels and contrast (curves bespoke action enabling 5% increments to highlights and shadows)
Hue / saturation adjustment
Sharpen
Save image / Archive
Problems encountered / Solutions found:
- A great number of images were taken and discarded as the flash would not fire. This was due to the settings on the Pocketwizards and after some time the correct settings were achieved
- Camera found it difficult to focus. I think this was due to the lack of light and I used a modelling light which allowed the camera to focus.
I think that on the whole the images taken were quite good, exposed well, and technically adequate but I think I require to hone my directing skills. I find it difficult to direct the subjects and all too often wait for them to strike a pose which does not always lead the shoot in the direction I want to go.
The five final selection are shown below:
