Outdoor Shoot & Avoiding Reflections in Glasses

[KevinStecyk]

Thank you Doug for your suggestion.

I should have time to experiment with and without umbrellas.

And I agree, I am likely making things more complicated than they need be.

[KevinStecyk]

Originally Posted by Dennis_Vied

I also favor the masking in trick. Works wonders with a group, a number of whom are sure to blink at an inopportune time. I pick the shot with the best smiles, and fill in the eyes from other shots.

Hi Dennis, thank you for your suggestion. Could either your or Michael or both provide an example? That is, show a photo with the glasses and reflection, one with glasses, and then the masked trick? I would like to see the finished result. I am sure that it works. I would like to see how the "pieces fit together."

Perhaps to protect the subjects, you might wish to show the examples behind the members' area?

[David_Buzzard]

Here's a shot similar to what you're describing...



This was lit with an SB-900 flash bounced into an umbrella at camera right, about three feet from Mark and the baby.

About reflections, the thing to remember is that light bounces off reflective surfaces like a cue ball off a pool table bumper. If the light hits the subject from an acute angle, it will reflect away from the camera. If the light comes from the same angle as the camera, then the light's going to reflect back towards the camera. That's why you get crazy reflections in glasses from on camera flashes.

With lighting people, I like to use the largest light source possible, and try to get it as close to the subject as possible.

David Buzzard

[KevinStecyk]

Hi David,

That's excellent. It's exactly what I am looking to achieve!

I've read Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting (Amazon subscription link), which is an excellent book that helped explain reflections, among other topics. However, my friend does have large glasses, so they will cover a wide range of angles. Not having photographed a person wearing glasses before, I wanted tap into others' experiences and knowledge.

Your shot is excellent and is what I want to emulate. Thank you for sharing your guidance.

Best regards,
Kevin

[KevinStecyk]

Thanks everyone for your help. I achieved my objectives.

I used two Canon 580 EXII flashes, camera left and right. Dave and Glenda were placed in a shadow by a tree in this photograph.

I've got other shots where it is from the shoulders up. I didn't have any reflections in any of my shots. So I was rather pleased.