Just perfect

....and what do you do if it develops a fault ?

Nice set. 4+7 for me.

I don't do long exposure photography, so someone with more knowlege than me will need to answer, but as I understand it there are two potential problems of light leakage through the viewfinder:

1. Light leakage through the mirror (through the semi-transparent section ?) and hitting the sensor thereby affecting possibly both the calculated exposure in LV and the captured image.

2. Light leakage, not getting past the mirror, but hitting the light meter (located prism side of the focus screen) and affecting the calculated exposure.

1. would affect all types of captures... LV; MLU; normal. But 2 would only affect MLU and normal exposures, as LV meters off the sensor, not the light meter

Nice pictures Peter. I have been there and it is very interesting inside and out. Yes the gardens are lovely.

Not sure, but in your gallery I think all photos do show correct make/model of your camera when viewed with a simple browser exif viewer addon. Just a number of them do not display correctly when the view exif link is clicked.


Perhaps you can compare those that do work and those that dont to see if there is a pattern

Algi

Thanks for that link, I think that proves the case. Exceptional portrait photographer, I have seen his photographs many times, but would never have thought to look in detail at the catchlights, until now.

My favourite has always been the one of Pablo Casals. You really have to be a top portrait photographer to know when you can take a picture with the subject facing away from you.

Thanks so much for the feedback Nigel, you have given me a few good things to consider. The tip about being able to see the size of the fill light in the catchlight reflection is a good one.

I guess it is all about experimentation and seeing what i think works best.

Regarding catchlights, when two are formed as in Ripley's right eye in the last two pictures, would you ever consider photoshopping one out ? I guess again there is no "right" answer.

Ok two more pictures from tonight, this time more "traditional" portraits I guess.

I used a 60cm*60cm softbox with AF540 mark II to the camera's left at about a 45 degree angle to little Ripley and slightly above, angled down as my main light. I used a AF360 mark I with a Gary Fong diffuser and an old Bowens type reflector dish immediately to the camera's right to provide a little fill to the right hand side of the image (his left).

Do you think i have used enough power for the fill ?

Do you think the reflector dish is a good or bad idea for the fill?

Really appreciate the feedback.

Thanks for the kind comments everyone.

Nigel, I splashed out on three V6 II triggers which arrived late last week. As my only previous experience was optical triggering with one flash on the camera this is all very new, but i can see already the huge advantage of being able to adjust individual or both flashes power output (and zoom) from my shooting position.

Yes, my models may not charge high fees (a few "gravy bone" biscuits), but the downside is they basically do what they damn well please. The two photos here were quite accidental in that they both got fed up with being photographed facing the lighting and decided instead to look out the window. I realised I had a backlighting/rim lighting oportunity without having to move the lights and luckily there was just enough window light to illuminate the faces although i had to open the aperture a few stops to take advantage.