Girl on the run:

[AB26]

A first for me, capturing a child running towards me. I had to use flash as the light was already too low to get the shutter speed up without flash. Focus was set to continuous AF and I am pleasantly surprised how the Nikon handled the focus.

The girl in the image is my little sister's 2 ½ year old.

Any C&C will be appreciated.

Thanks for looking.

[Geoff F]

Against that dark background it does look a little 'flashed'. I wonder about slightly toning down her bright clothing.

But certainly an excellent action shot under difficult conditions.

[Designer]

Very nice frame and pose, but the light is a little flat due to on-camera flash.

A keeper for sure.

[AB26]

Thanks Guys for the comment.
Do you suggest doing a studio setup for outdoor flash shots?
I am confused as to how to make an image like this look less "flashed" and not so flat. Please help!

[GrahamS]

Thanks Guys for the comment.
Do you suggest doing a studio setup for outdoor flash shots?
I am confused as to how to make an image like this look less "flashed" and not so flat. Please help!

Get one of those coiled off-camera extension flash cords, and hold the flash out to the side with your left hand, while controlling the camera in your right hand. In other words, get the light axis away from the lens axis.

[Geoff F]

Thanks Guys for the comment.
Do you suggest doing a studio setup for outdoor flash shots?
I am confused as to how to make an image like this look less "flashed" and not so flat. Please help!

Portrait specialists seem to always carry around a few fold up reflectors etc which can quickly be placed around a scene then 'bounce' the flash through a reflector. Or at least keep the flash slightly away from the camera.

And make sure the model exactly 'hits the spot'.

But not always suitable for those quick action shots.

My thoughts about editing were to slightly and selectively reduce the brightness and saturation to look for like a natural light shot.

Something roughly like this.



Adjustment layers (Curves and Saturation) with masks to selectively apply the effect. Adjustment brushes should be able to produce something similar.

I mostly worked on the highlights (RGB). Then very fractionally increased the red.

[Colin Southern]

Thanks Guys for the comment.
Do you suggest doing a studio setup for outdoor flash shots?
I am confused as to how to make an image like this look less "flashed" and not so flat. Please help!

Hi Andre,

- By default, the flash head will zoom to cover your entire field of view (it doesn't know how the scene should be lit) - so in situations like this, manually zoom in the flash head and then tilt it up a little so that the head an shoulders receive the most light, and the legs / grass less.

- If you don't want the subject so isolated then you need to get more ambient light in by raising the ISO and/or slowing the shutter.

- Off camera flash / studio flashes can be made to work, just fine, but VERY hit and miss with a moving subject.

[Colin Southern]

[AB26]

Thanks Guys,

It is appreciated, I will try your suggestions.