Afternoon at the pond C&C welcomed

[KimC]

I did the compostion and post processing. My husband took the photo (he hasn't played with his camera in a bit). The lighting wasn't the best... I need to get a light meter and a reflector next. C&C welcomed

[Kodiak]

I need to get a light meter and a reflector next. C&C welcomed

Hi Kim,

This shot does not demonstrate that you need a light meter and a reflector
but that you should be more courageous when editing!

Here, if I may suggest, bringing the tonal value down by 1/3 to 1/2 a stop
would work wonders! …and a more flattering crop… like this!

…this is only meant to keep you smiling! ;-)

[chauncey]

Kim, there are those that swear by light meters...I've never found the need for one.
Kodiak had some spot-on advice.

[Manfred M]

Kim - your camera has a light meter, and unless you are doing something particularly funky, it should be all that you need.

I do use a light meter (flash meter, actually), but only when I am setting up studio lights. It cuts down on trial and error in that environment.

I agree with Kodiak about not needing a reflector for this shot. The lighting ratio across the face is quite nice and the this is a look we strive for in studio lighting. Add a reflector to push light in from camera right and your image will be less intersting. Photography is all about light and shadows... If you still don't like it; try some dodging and burning in post-processing; that is a quick and easy way of dealing with areas that are too bright or too dark for your likes.

I also agree with Kodiak regarding cropping the image (in fact, I would have been more aggressive than he was). Look at the Robert Capa quote at the bottom of this response. I keep having to repeat that one to myself.

[KimC]

Hi Kim,

This shot does not demonstrate that you need a light meter and a reflector
but that you should be more courageous when editing!

Here, if I may suggest, bringing the tonal value down by 1/3 to 1/2 a stop
would work wonders! …and a more flattering crop… like this!

…this is only meant to keep you smiling! ;-)

Thank you for making me smile Kodiak! I appreciate your comments and then your demonstration of the change. Did you make the tonal change in lightroom, PP, or something else? Always learn so much from you - thank you for sharing your wisdom.

[KimC]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your thoughts on the light meter. I was going to take a lighting class this fall and one of the requirements was that you have a hand held meter. Now I am rethinking whether it might be the right course for me. I was already questioning it, as I looked at the instructors website and wasn't wild about their style... But I am very eager to learn, and there is always something you can learn from everyone.

Manfred, if you want to do a more severe crop, feel free. I love seeing the work you all do :-)

[ShaneS]

Very nice edit and crop Kodiak. This is a great example of what can be done in PP and something that does take a certain amount of bravery to pay with.

A few folks have suggested pushing the sliders in post to extremes while you are learning just to see what happens and learn how different adjustments impact you image. So go to extremes and then back off until you have a nice balance Kim and see where that gets you.

I have taken a few artistic photo classes but none technical. I will say that those classes gave me great insight into my own work and taught me how to analyze a scene a create and image out of it. Having said that, if you post your work here regularly you will get a lot of the same insights from the talented members here without spending a dime

[KimC]

Very nice edit and crop Kodiak. This is a great example of what can be done in PP and something that does take a certain amount of bravery to pay with.

A few folks have suggested pushing the sliders in post to extremes while you are learning just to see what happens and learn how different adjustments impact you image. So go to extremes and then back off until you have a nice balance Kim and see where that gets you.

I have taken a few artistic photo classes but none technical. I will say that those classes gave me great insight into my own work and taught me how to analyze a scene a create and image out of it. Having said that, if you post your work here regularly you will get a lot of the same insights from the talented members here without spending a dime

Yes, I agree Shane - I need to experiment more and see where it takes me. The excitement of the adventure!

I have already found this group to be extremely helpful - I am so very thankful for all of the experts willing to share their knowledge. Thank you all!

[Shadowman]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your thoughts on the light meter. I was going to take a lighting class this fall and one of the requirements was that you have a hand held meter. Now I am rethinking whether it might be the right course for me. I was already questioning it, as I looked at the instructors website and wasn't wild about their style... But I am very eager to learn, and there is always something you can learn from everyone.

Manfred, if you want to do a more severe crop, feel free. I love seeing the work you all do :-)

The light meter is a nice tool, but as others have stated your camera has one. What I like doing with my meter is seeing how closely it matches my system, it is pretty spot on but it doesn't mean my eyes agree with the measurement. Find out why the meter is required, the class may still be beneficial.

[Manfred M]

Kim - if you are looking at a lighting course, that to me implies that some if not most of the course will be dealing with flash and studio strobes. If so, I can understand the requirements for a light meter, or more specifically a flash meter.

I took a lighting course a few years ago and it is probably the one that helped me most in my photography because I started seeing things differently and noticing the nuances in how light falls. The studio part was great because, unlike natural light or existing light work; the light is 100% under the photographers control.

You might want to reconsider what it can do for you.

[ST1]

Some great advice in this thread for you Kim, plus a very good example of a terrific but simple post process and crop from Kodiak.

[Mark von Kanel]

Hi Kim,

Great photo, and as most have pointed out no light meter or reflector required! Do the course anyway, understanding light and how to make it work for you will be great, have a read of light science magic, and see how you get on. its a book that most on here interested in light recommend.

[IzzieK]

Kim...you are learning from some of the best here, Kodiak and Manfred. I had learned a lot from Manfred when I was doing some portrait experiments on my grandchild's look-alike doll. And btw, I like the shot your hubby did for you and Kodiak's crop, too.

[KimC]

Kim - if you are looking at a lighting course, that to me implies that some if not most of the course will be dealing with flash and studio strobes. If so, I can understand the requirements for a light meter, or more specifically a flash meter.

I took a lighting course a few years ago and it is probably the one that helped me most in my photography because I started seeing things differently and noticing the nuances in how light falls. The studio part was great because, unlike natural light or existing light work; the light is 100% under the photographers control.

You might want to reconsider what it can do for you.

Thanks for sharing your views Manfred. I am going to sign up for the lighting course I mentioned and also a portrait class - looking forward to increasing my knowledge this fall!

[KimC]

Hi Kim,

Great photo, and as most have pointed out no light meter or reflector required! Do the course anyway, understanding light and how to make it work for you will be great, have a read of light science magic, and see how you get on. its a book that most on here interested in light recommend.

Thanks for sharing the name of the book with me Mark. Just ordered it!! I will be taking the course :-)

[KimC]

Thank you Izzie :-)

[Kodiak]

Thank you for making me smile Kodiak! I appreciate your comments and then your demonstration of the change. Did you make the tonal change in lightroom, PP, or something else? Always learn so much from you - thank you for sharing your wisdom.

I would have liked to process a RAW file in my RAW converter… but with a ".jpg"
(as shows the exif) I used PS CS6. I just adjusted the levels and crop… +/- 15 seconds!

Glad to see you so happy with the result! ;-)

[Mike Buckley]

I took a lighting course a few years ago and it is probably the one that helped me most in my photography because I started seeing things differently and noticing the nuances in how light falls. The studio part was great because, unlike natural light or existing light work; the light is 100% under the photographers control.

I also see more nuance in natural light that I never noticed until I began shooting in my makeshift studio and was being forced to control every aspect of the light. I agree with Manfred that even if you never use any of the techniques discussed in the course (highly doubtful), it's difficult to believe that you won't get a lot out of it. That's not to say that there won't be a different course that involves a style of shooting that is more to your liking that will be at least equally beneficial.