Stock Critique Event - Log Pt3

<kuschelirmel>  Our almost last stocker for today is stormsorceress

*  elandria can see this degrading into a large scale spanking session

*  stormsorceress was promoted to Asking by kuschelirmel

<elandria>  

<stormsorceress>  Hi, i was wondering whether you could critique this stock for me : stormsorceress.deviantart.com/…

<lockstock>  Hi hi!

<stormsorceress>  Hi!

<lindowyn-stock>  

<kuschelirmel>  

please note that Stock-By-Crystal will be our last stocker to be critiqued - we'll open up the floor right after her</b>

<lindowyn-stock>  And then we will all fall into the basement.

<elandria>  Its a great shot, though a tiny bit soft on the focus

<lockstock>  This same shot, taken from about 5 more feet back and in landscape format.... Just so you'd get all of the ivy and the full structure.

<kuschelirmel>  stormsorceress: lets start with me telling you I love that you didn't shoot in bright sunlight - the shadows in this are wonderfully soft and really workable

<lockstock>  It's an awesome setting though.

<kuschelirmel>  lindowyn-stock: lol

<stormsorceress>  kuschelirmel: thanks...sunlight is such an awful thing to shoot in...

<lockstock>  I love the cool architecture and all the ivy

<elandria>  yer harsh sunlight is hell to work with

<cryingsorceress>  It's nice. The bright sky makes it kinda easy to cut out

<stormsorceress>  lockstock: really...that's grea to know..i never know which setting to use it on...i might have it on landscape somehwere

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: yeah i think could step up the quality....not so many shots though...i could try that?

<lockstock>  You could do a whole pack using this setting. Different framings, angles, etc. It's lovely!

<stormsorceress>  cryingsorceress: yeah that's what i thought. The joy of cloudy skies...lol...

<cryingsorceress>   I'd really love to see a night shot too

<stormsorceress>  lockstock: of this kind door thing?

<lockstock>  Yup.

<lindowyn-stock>  Something I noticed as an ongoing pattern with this type of stone (castles, monastaries, basements) is that it is very difficult for some reason for cameras to focus fully on it. Whether its because the leaves and the walls share the same value of grey, I don't know. Take your time and really focus when shooting this type of subject cause it's hard. You did well though!

<stormsorceress>  cryingsorceress: lol...night stock...my camera has a really long night-shot setting thing..(not very camera articulate)

<lindowyn-stock>  And like they said, very easy to cut out.

<elandria>  I agree with lockstock this would have been even better as portrait with a little more "surrounding" architecture

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: lol..yeah i know...(thanks)...everything seems to com out the same shade of rock grey....any ideas how to get a bit more contrast?

<elandria>  tripod is a musthave if you're going to try night stock

<elandria>  or low level light stock

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: lol...yeah....like a 30 taking thing....it's impossible to hold you hand steady....

<elandria>  yup

<elandria>  i just steal causticstocks lol

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: hahaha......yep i'll add it to my b-day list...

<elandria>  yer I think the best thing is to take tons of shots from different angles and to not worry about getting just one or 2 perfect ones

<stormsorceress>  is there a setting on cameras that would give more contrast?

<elandria>  caustic and I take about 250 - 300 shots at each location we go to

<lindowyn-stock>  I hate to say it, but I feel like some cameras simply can't handle it. To combat the "all one tone look" and bring out the darker bits, I often use the exposure compensation and stop down a few ticks.

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: yeah...from this shoot i took about 230.....most of them are awful...and look like this..lol

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: lol...yeah i was afraid that was the case...and short of distorting it in PS there's not much i can do right?

<elandria>  limitations of your camera is the only thing

<lindowyn-stock>  Here's where we can all appreciate the digital revolution and go "I am so glad I didn't have to pay to have these develooped"

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: lol...yeah i thought so

<elandria>  its just a case of working around them

<lindowyn-stock>  Develooped is like developed. But crazy.

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: lol...yeah...total pain...

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: yeah i guess....

*  lindowyn-stock goes to check stormsorceress's camera specs

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: lol...thanks..i am not very camera savvy...maybe that's my problem.

<elandria>  for focus you shoudl be able to focus to one side then move the camera to the right angle to get a sharper shot so long as you don't go completely astray and focus on something miles away lol

<elandria>  but you know caustic and I love the shots you put up, its just a case of working out how to use your camera to the best of its facilities

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: so what do you suggest? lol..awww...thanks.....yeah learn more about camera

<elandria>  and also trying to visdualise how manippers are going to use the stock in a background

<elandria>  visualise*

<lindowyn-stock>  It's important to remember that your camera is only reading shades of grey, so whatever there is in the picture you can find to meter on (or focus on with point and shoots) that is close to 18% gray, do it. If not, find the little +/- button on your camera, drop it down below the 0 line (less light= darker) and focus on a medium tone.

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: yeah...that's the problem...some shots are better than other in some

<elandria>  having a "stage" in the foreground or creating a "building block"

<lindowyn-stock>  I always say, shoot the stock

you</i> want to use.

<elandria>  don't try to do both in one shot, it just creates confusion

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: ok.....find the +/- button

*  lindowyn-stock looks for a tutorial

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: ahhhh...now i get you...ahh...that's a great help.

<elandria>  yep you do manips too so you should have fairly good intuition about what kind of angles you'd use

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: yeah i draw on that a lot....i don't pull it off all the time...

<elandria>  that goes for all stock to be honest

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: lol......yep completely...

<elandria>  if you don't think you could use it yourself try another angle or "pose"

<lindowyn-stock>  www.cambridgeincolour.com/tuto… This could either be useful or complete fail, stormsorceress. It looks good to me so far.

<stormsorceress>  Elandria:

<elandria>  the building may not be able to move, but you can, even if it means you crawling around on the ground to get a better shot

<kuschelirmel>  stormsorceress: angle wise, manippers like to have at least one shot straight up - but different perspectives like from the side a bit and perhaps shooting from the ground up can be useful too

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: thanks so much...i'll read it.....thanks in advance...lol

<lindowyn-stock>  Angles are hot.

<elandria>  angles kick asss lol

<stormsorceress>  kuschelirmel: yeah i try to crouch down to take most of my shots...so that it's more in perspective

<lindowyn-stock>  Most people can fix the distortion caused by a wide angle lens in photoshop anyhow stormsorceress, so don't worry too hard about that.

<lockstock>  Still half an hour before "closing time"

<stock-by-crystal>  lol Smooth

<lindowyn-stock>   Time for you to go home so finish your whiskey or beer...

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: thanks...for all your help! I'll definitely read that tut..

<elandria>  yup causticstock say s you know where he is for more architecture tips

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: lol...i'll certainly poke him...

<elandria>  lol

<lindowyn-stock>  Any of you guys that want Photo 101 tips, do not be afraid to poke me by note, or sneak in ARstock sometime. Seriously. Is all good.

<elandria>  yuppers lindowyn-stock is the font of all cammy knowledge

*  kuschelirmel will poke lindowyn-stock until her ribs hurt

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: is it alright that if i have any questions i can note you?

<cybergranny>  lol kuschelirmel

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: about the tut?

<kuschelirmel>  i wish id known that sooner lindowyn-stock

<elandria>  lol

<lindowyn-stock>  Yep.

<lindowyn-stock>  I have too many hobbies is all.

<elandria>  same goes for everyone though, nobody should be afraid to note other stockers to ask for help

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: lol...i seem to remember noting you and Caustic....ages ago for help....

<kuschelirmel>  Elandria: wheee!

<stormsorceress>  lindowyn-stock: lol....really? Is it a chatroom

<elandria>  lol yer and you'll never get rid of us lmao

<lindowyn-stock>  You know it now kuschelirmel!

<stormsorceress>  Elandria: hahaha...like i'd want to....

<lindowyn-stock>  Yes stormsorceress

<elandria>  lol

<lockstock>  *cough* next?

<kuschelirmel>  

alright, lets move on to our last critique for the day - we'll unmute you all afterwards and hope to hear if this was helpful</b>

<lindowyn-stock>  Stockers love helping other stockers. Period.

<stormsorceress>  thanks for all the help guys!

*  stormsorceress was demoted to Stockers by kuschelirmel

*  stock-by-crystal was promoted to Asking by kuschelirmel

<stock-by-crystal>  Well hello everyone!

<kuschelirmel>  here we go Stock-By-Crystal

<elandria>  

<lockstock>  Thanks for waiting, Stock-By-Crystal

<stock-by-crystal>  Please be gentle, I already have cramps

<lockstock>  LOL

<stock-by-crystal>  Hello everyone I was hoping to get critique on this and maybe get some advice on better lighting tips. That seems to be my downfall when it comes to model stock.

<lockstock>  Impressive focus!

<cryingsorceress>  Oh wow. Action stock without blur!

<elandria>  I love dynamic shots like these

<stock-by-crystal>  I can't even begin to tell you how many times I jumped off that bed, only to get 2 good poses out of it, lol

<elandria>  lol

<elandria>  well the 2 you got are great

<elandria>  sharp easy to cut out, really useable

<cryingsorceress>   I love the sharpness.

<stock-by-crystal>  Half the time my hair was in my face or I looked like that guy from the Goonies

<lockstock>  

<cryingsorceress>  Even bigger res would be great too.

<lindowyn-stock>  Right off the bat, I can say thank goodness: I'm impressed that the harsh shadows normally incurred by an on camera flash are directly behind you, and thus made so much easier to cut out.

<elandria>  its a tiny bit grainy but i've seen and own much much worse

<lockstock>  Yeah, for a flash, it's not bad lighting at all.

*  elandria points @ lindowyn-stock for lighting 101

<lockstock>  Yeah, I can't slam anyone for graininess

<cryingsorceress>  

*  elandria agrees with lockstock

<stock-by-crystal>  Unfortuatly, some of my other stuff turns out very grainy such as this stock-by-crystal.deviantart.co… (Ignore the title, lol)

<stock-by-crystal>   huh?

*  lindowyn-stock is going to have to write up a low budget/commando lighting tutorial

<kuschelirmel>  Stock-By-Crystal: about the hair in the face, maybe try some more *whatarethosecalled?* to get the hair up there

<elandria>  I guess we'd all love a full set pro lighting however try strobist.blogspot.com/2006/02/… as well for some useful tips (personally I find some of the info a bit overwhelming since I am a lighting-tard lol

<stock-by-crystal>  kuschelirmel: Bobbypins?

<lindowyn-stock>  Bobby pins?

<kuschelirmel>  lindowyn-stock: i highly encourage you to do so!

<lockstock>  Yup, that's when you need better lighting.

<kuschelirmel>  Stock-By-Crystal: probably lol i'd need to get a dict

*  lindowyn-stock collects lighting equipment instead of buying food. Do not do this, peeps.

<stock-by-crystal>  

<lockstock>  Heck, just open the front door and drape a sheet over it and use the natural light.

<cryingsorceress>  you're crazy lindowyn-stock

<lindowyn-stock>  Confirmed, cryingsorceress.

<elandria>  again though all I'd say is don't be afraid to take a zillion shots with different lighting if you can do it, desk lamps etc are great for directional lighting so long as you can control the amount of shadowing

<lindowyn-stock>  Natural light is the best light there is.

<elandria>  just takes practice... and brain picking lol

<stock-by-crystal>  lockstock: Well my problem with natural light is I am a little... embaressed to do stock in front of my family, so I usually have to wait until late at night to do model stock.

<elandria>  or moving closer to people like lindowyn-stock

<lockstock>  An open garage can work too, if it's not junked up.

<lockstock>  Ah, understood.

<lindowyn-stock>  

<elandria>  bah throw your family out the house!

<elandria>  

<stock-by-crystal>  

<cybergranny>  lol

<stock-by-crystal>  I would love nothing more than to kick their arses out

<lindowyn-stock>  Wait till they're out of town, then head out side?

<lindowyn-stock>  With some glorious, glorious sheets?

<kuschelirmel>  I have one of those construction lights, it was very cheap in the hardware store

<stock-by-crystal>  Well my mom is out of the house a lot during the day, its my sister. She doesn't have a job and she lazes about the house all day watching TV

<lockstock>  I have one of those too. Gets damned hot!

<kuschelirmel>  the bulb gets damn hot really fast, but its better than the inbuilt flash

<stock-by-crystal>  kuschelirmel: How cheap, I've been considering getting one

<kuschelirmel>  Stock-By-Crystal: i dont remember but like 10 euros or something, not much more

<stock-by-crystal>  Uhm... does anyone have a currency convertor handy?

<kuschelirmel>  well, i would use the current exchange rate lol

<kuschelirmel>  lets say 15 us dollars or less

<kuschelirmel>  probably much less

<elandria>  I have 2 big construction lights the issue is the light is very orange so you have to alter the white balance to compensate

<stock-by-crystal>  kuschelirmel: Yes bluem00n informed me

<elandria>  xe.com

<elandria>  for currency conversion

<stock-by-crystal>  Elandria: Ah thanks

<elandria>  np

<kuschelirmel>  Elandria: it is orangy

<stock-by-crystal>  Oh crap, its saturday isn't it?

<lockstock>  finance.yahoo.com/currency?u

<elandria>  yer very I used them for my creamand green shoot and they are poo colours lol

*  lindowyn-stock ponders available bulbs, and whether GE made a natural light line for the construction lights... they might have...

<kuschelirmel>  but either use white balance or photoshop to compesate a bit and its way better than harsh light

<elandria>  UV lights/natural daylight thingy ones are great

<kuschelirmel>  Stock-By-Crystal: it is

<lindowyn-stock>  Diffuse light as much as possible without making it go away.

  Cause no light is ...no good..</sub>

<stock-by-crystal>  Ah craptasticness...

<elandria>  but need for experimentation is a must I guess

<kuschelirmel>  Elandria: it always is for sure!

<elandria>  yup

<lockstock>  I use our white walls to bounce light rather than shine it directly on me.

<lindowyn-stock>  

<lockstock>  Got any big windows?

<stock-by-crystal>  Oh yes

<elandria>  big windows are good I only have tiny victorian ones :S

<lockstock>  If you can open all the windows in one room, during mid morning, preferably, you can get some lovely light.

<elandria>  not to mention the force 10 gale says causticstock

<lockstock>  That's enough from the peanut gallery!

<elandria>  heheheheh

<stock-by-crystal>  

<lindowyn-stock>  On to the almond gallery!

<stock-by-crystal>  How about walnuts?

<lockstock>  Buncha nuts.

<lindowyn-stock>  You know it.

<elandria>  you got that right lol

*  kuschelirmel has to get a quote out:

<stock-by-crystal>  &lt;--- Biggest nut of all

<kuschelirmel>  &lt;KevLewis&gt; they were talking about construction lighting for action shots but it is more important to throw a lot of light on the background to kill the shadows rather than use to light the subject

*  kevlewis was promoted to Helpers by kuschelirmel

<lindowyn-stock>  KevLewis is here! He should be speaking!

<stock-by-crystal>  Thats good advice

<kuschelirmel>  

<lockstock>  Good point, Kev

<kuschelirmel>  thank god for the skype

<elandria>  

<kevlewis>  ooo thank you

<kuschelirmel>  KevLewis:

<lindowyn-stock>  Skype is fairly awesome.

<kuschelirmel>  KevLewis: maybe you can throw in some tips

*  elandria eats tips for breakfast lunch and tea* is northern and from the UK deal with it

<kevlewis>  k kuschelirmel ty, you pasted my last one if the background is about 3 stops brighter than the subject it will kill the shadows

<lockstock>  LOL, everyone stare at Kev now

*  lindowyn-stock stares at Kev

*  kevlewis raises an eyebrow

<lindowyn-stock>  

<elandria>  

<lockstock>  Oo! He can raise one eyebrow! *jealous*

<elandria>  meh

<lindowyn-stock>  I know everyone out there just tried to raise one of their eyebrows.

<elandria>  

<kuschelirmel>  3 stops? thats for the photo illiterate (like me )? KevLewis

<kevlewis>  lol

<lockstock>  Not me. I know I can't do it.

<stock-by-crystal>  lindowyn-stock: I didn't try, I did

<lindowyn-stock>  I did too.

<stock-by-crystal>  I know how to do it, lol

<elandria>  

<kevlewis>  kuschelirmel: make the background much brighter than the main subject

<lindowyn-stock>  Some people honestly can't.

<kuschelirmel>  KevLewis:

<lindowyn-stock>  Like, I can't lick my nose... but we were talking lighting here...

<elandria>  so 1 light on model and one light behind on the bg

<elandria>  to negate harsh shadows

<kevlewis>  also with the construction lights, they tend to be very directional but a sheet could be used to diffuse the light making a diy softbox, just dont burn the house down

<lockstock>  Desk lamps are a poor stockers friend. Just tell mom and dad you need it for schoolwork!

<lindowyn-stock>  Very hot lights.

<elandria>  lol good ploy

<znow-white>  KevLewis:

<lindowyn-stock>  Construction, not desk.

<kevlewis>  hugs znow-white

<kuschelirmel>  lol

<stock-by-crystal>  lockstock: I tried to use a desk lamp once, up my furature is ill equipped to raise it high enough

<elandria>  construction lights and heavy costumes in a small room are a big nono from experience

<elandria>  yup

<kevlewis>  Elandria: I would try for two on the subject if you have them. One as a main light the second as a fillto reduce (but not remove) the shadows on the subject

<stock-by-crystal>  Or nuts

<kuschelirmel>  

I'd like to suggest to open the floor now and have a little discussion - about what you thought about our little experiment - about lighting shots - about poses - about whatever </b>

<kuschelirmel>  

don't be shy to poke the critiquers and others in here for advise </b>