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Problem with shadows
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July 24, 2013
8:32 pm
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Hi another question from me…

 

I have problems with shadows.. i like to eliminate/minimize shadows as much as possible…

How to minimize shadows during events? is it possible?

I hold my camera sidewards flash on the leftside facing the subject/object (the are moving). Taken at night.. using manual flash mode (i forgot the actual setting of the flash)..

1.jpg

Actually the reason I asked on how to do it because I so the picture of one of the photographer (I do not know who he is) have the same photo without the shadow (not edited).. 

Thank you..

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Thank you.

Best regards,

July 25, 2013
7:10 am
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Good question.

I would look up videos on Youtube to see if any

were available to help you with the shadow problem.

Personally, I would look for different angles to shoot the

model from, or try to lighten the background shadow in

Photoshop or Lightroom.

Dale.

July 25, 2013
5:12 pm
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From this event, photographers are position on the side where I am staying (we all have the same angle of the shot)..

Sad part is I dont know how to use lightroom yet and I only know a little in photoshop..

Thank you very much Mr. Dale..

P.S.

I have a flash (manual only) and the other guy also have flash… Do you think flash maybe a factor?

Thank you.

Best regards,

July 26, 2013
5:08 am
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A flash will get rid of shadows but I always try to

avoid using a flash if at all possible.

Photographers who make their living taking celebrity

shots etc. use a flash all the time.

Are you using evaluative metering on your camera?

That way the camera judges the whole scene to determine

different areas of brightness and compensate for them (or at

least it tries to).

Oksana is always a good person to turn to as she has made so

many great videos and one of them is all about the use of a flash

so if you haven’t watched that one I urge you to do so.

Good luck with it – Dale.

July 28, 2013
2:33 pm
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In the situation like this where you have no control over the model (you can’t move her away from the wall) and you want vertical photo, here are your options:

1. If you have a ceiling (preferably white), you can point the flash up, so it bounces of the ceiling. 

2. You can use flash bracket to rotate flash around the camera. 

3. You can use some type of flash defuser (like Gary Fong for example. there are also others)

4. You can shoot horizontal photo (the shadow will go more behind the person, rather then sideways) and then crop the photo in post. 

 

In some situation it is difficult to eliminate shadows completely, but you can make them softer and less visible. 

I will make video on this soon. 

 

July 29, 2013
12:43 am
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Sir Dale,

I already watched all the youtube video posted by Ms. Oksana. I use evaluative metering depending on the light.

In the event (night/dark), It was difficult to use the metering because the light always move from one point and the osbject/subject is always moving..

I used spot metering on that event however all my shots are very dark (ISO 1600 – I dont want my photos to be noisy), thats why I decieded to use flash.

P.S. I shoot this photos in JPEG/meduim. Reason is we need to pass the picture in the organizer immediately after the event.

To Ms. Oksana,

Unfortunately the location is an open park (no ceiling). Next time Ill try to practice using defuser (need to buy or create one) however I need to save money first.. I can afford to buy accesories immediately…

Please Ms. Oksana create more videos..

 

Thanks

 

 

Thank you.

Best regards,

July 29, 2013
5:37 am
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chazmz

Have you talked to other photographers about their techniques for

reducing shadows. I’m talking about the ones that you see at photo

shoots. I think Oksana gave you good advice on how she would do in

your situation. A shadow needs light to diffuse it (or a program like LR or PS

to reduce or eliminate it through post processing).

Hope you can come up with a solution and everything goes well for you.

Dale.

July 29, 2013
3:07 pm
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chazmz…

I would suspect what happened here is that the model was already lit and her shadow present even before you lifted your camera to take a shot.  If the photographer next to you was on your left, it could be that her shadow was behind her and hidden in his photograph.

Mandrake.

-- Mandrake --

July 29, 2013
7:14 pm
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Dale..

I just saw his picture on the laptop (used to transfer file).. I cannot use post processing because of the immediate acquisition of the photos by the organizer (we could only delete on our camera for bad photos)..

I’ll practice using defuser (I used white cloth on my flash – work “OKAY” however I want to try on that kind of event again)..

Mandrake..

I cannot actually talk with that photographer cause his actually he is from another team which is not a friendly group (photography = money/job for them)..

Sad to say.. I once try to ask them but the did not answer me back and just walk away..

 

Thanks,

Thank you.

Best regards,

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