Guess I'm going to have to buy a freakin strobe!

You know...I thought that because I was a freediver, and shoot most of my images at 1 meter or less, that I would be able to get away without having to buy a strobe(s). At least I was hoping that this would be the case, because quite frankly, this has become one hell of an expensive hobby...and I'm not sure how receptive the little lady is going to be when I tell her I need to spend $800 min. on a camera light.

That said, I took this shot the other day...and I really like it.

I feel it could be much better if it was lit from the front as well as from the natural light overhead.

Would one strobe effectively have worked, or would 2 have been the optimum choice?

If I had one strobe only…say a DS-125…would I have wanted it mounted on the right for this particular shot?

And before you advise me to get closer...I shot this with a 10-22mm and she was less than 2 feet away from my lens. Any closer and I would not have gotten all of her in the frame...which I think would have been a bad thing.

Thanks in advance for any advice and criticism.

Al Nelson

I think you should post more photos of her from different angles just so we get a better idea....

Anyhoo, you may try taking this shot earlier in the day and keep the sun behind you. This way you will avoid the top down light. You will need to use a slower shutter for that mind you.

Two strobes are definitely optimum but one also works. Use a WA strobe like the YS 120 or DS125 or one of many others....you are correct saying that having it to the right would work best on this photo but from two feet and further it usually is not that big of a deal on a shot like this because your flash is acting as "fill flash" and just filling in the highlights.

My other suggestion would be to have your model wear a mask that does not have split windows like that. What that leads to is shadow thrown across one eye or the other. A single frame works much better in these conditions (no i am not talking about the huge old style ones)

have your model wear a mask that does not have split windows like that. What that leads to is shadow thrown across one eye or the other. A single frame works much better in these conditions

Man...that's the kind of advice I'm looking for. Thanks Mike. Just so happens that I swapped that mask for the "full frame" type you are speaking of, due to the fact that it didn't fit properly...so bonus for me. I also plan to coordinate fins with bathing suit in future outings...didn't even think about that until I got back to shore and looked at the photos.

Thanks for the constructive criticism.

Cheers,

Al Nelson

ps...don't love these shots, but Mike, you did ask.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/uploads/gallery...15_73_56477.jpg

http://wetpixel.com/forums/uploads/gallery...15_73_34898.jpg

Never mind the thanks, keep posting more photos!!

And yes, fins are a nice touch as well. Stay away from black as well as blue. A light colour tends to give the best contrast.