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30" X 40" Soft Box Images
Bryce Wilson
Registered Users Posts: 1,586 Major grins
I wasn't going to post this set. Not because I don't like them, but because I was afraid you folks are getting tired of seeing my "vintage" portraits of "short people".
Because of Icebear's thread on soft-box vs. beauty dish, I thought I'd throw them up. These were all taken with a 30" X 40" soft-box placed about 4.5 ft from the subject and at about 40 degrees to camera left. What I really appreciate about using this particular sized soft box with children is that I don't have to move or change the lights at all during a session, even though I do a variety of poses. To me, the light looks very natural with just the right amount of shadow. Not too harsh and not too flat.
These were taken four days ago in .jpg with an old d-100 with almost no PP except on the close up.
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Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
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Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
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Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
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Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
5.
Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
6.
Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
Because of Icebear's thread on soft-box vs. beauty dish, I thought I'd throw them up. These were all taken with a 30" X 40" soft-box placed about 4.5 ft from the subject and at about 40 degrees to camera left. What I really appreciate about using this particular sized soft box with children is that I don't have to move or change the lights at all during a session, even though I do a variety of poses. To me, the light looks very natural with just the right amount of shadow. Not too harsh and not too flat.
These were taken four days ago in .jpg with an old d-100 with almost no PP except on the close up.
1
Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
2.
Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
3.
Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
4.
Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
5.
Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
6.
Little Rascal by Bryce Wilson, on Flickr
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Comments
I trust you charged plenty for these.
The BG is killer. Whose is it, if you don't mind me asking.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Who is wise? He who learns from everyone.
My SmugMug Site
The background is a large piece of muslin fabric that was dyed and then painted with brown, black, tan, cream and white spray paints. JoAnn fabrics has the muslin and Home Depot provides the paint. If you make one, wash it prior to use or you will find the knees of your trousers to be stained forever.
TYVM Adbs!!!
Nice shots, I like this kind of work for kids. The backdrop has a nice and warm color, I buy them typically. But you inspired me to make my own....Thanks.
As to the light, perfect ! And a nice balance between elasticity and depth.
www.cameraone.biz
One question: Why did you choose to use the older camera when you have newer (med format) better cameras?
Sam
The lab I use has a special protocol, similar to a photoshop action, set up for me and is used on this particular type of work that I do. It gives the finished prints a real vintage look and feel that I have yet been able to duplicate digitally. It took me several months of trial and error to get the WB and temperature on this camera set to the spot that makes the finished prints look exactly the way I want them to look straight out of the camera with no post processing. Just crop and print!
I find it much easier (and safer) to leave this camera set to those exact settings and use it only for this type of session. I'm not 100% certain, but I think the limitations of the d-100 might contribute a little bit to providing some of the "vintage" look that I like in the finished prints.
And thanks for the kind words!
What kind of paint do you end up using for the spray paint? Conveniently, in our new house we have a old washer dryer, and a daughter who loves paint...
Who is wise? He who learns from everyone.
My SmugMug Site
Thank you!!!
Do you hang it dry or let the dryer do the work after the paint has set? From the sample you have there, you did a really great job in creating the pattern...
Who is wise? He who learns from everyone.
My SmugMug Site
So, does what we see onscreen reflect the print look, or is that a little different? Would be cool if you could scan/photograph one of the finished prints - I'd love to see the final look you go for
ETA: This thread inspired me to get a larger softbox. It's just an eBay 24x36 Apollo umbrella SB knockoff, but for $30 I figured it was time to give it a try... I love my Photek, but I also like modifiers with some length to them (eg, my stripboxes) so it was kind of a no-brainer at that price
In the mean time, this is as close as I've gotten to replicating the look of my prints from the lab via digital processing.
After the initial dye job I let it air dry. After each color application I let it air dry. After the final wash, I took it to a laundry mat and used one of the large commercial dryers for size reasons as well as maintaining domestic harmony should any colors come off in the process.
Who is wise? He who learns from everyone.
My SmugMug Site
Who is wise? He who learns from everyone.
My SmugMug Site
I know that Rosco Theatrical paint is a lot more expensive to start with..but the super dye paints can be diluted like crazy to make them absorb into the fiber much better...for me spray paints started flaking off after a while and then I switched to house paint and that is so heavy, but no flaking....
Does Greensboro have a live theater (opera, plays etc etc) if so they usually will have a paint rail, this is a frame that backdrops can be attached to to be painted and it is usually lowered into a basement and then raised spo you can paint at a given height and never have to bend over and mess up your back....before painting it is also advisable to spray the backdrop with a dilution of elcheapo spray starch and water mix..this will stretch the backdrop taut for painting easier...also colleges a lot of times have these and will also rent the rail on a daily basis if they are not using them, it might also be possible if the college has a theater tech dept to get the students to paint it as a practicum for a grade....the old masters style os pretty easy to do with a few flat and round paint brushes....
Muslin of various weights and widths can be had for pretty cheap at Theatrical Supply stores or ordered offline .....
Good Luck.