Inconsistent Skin Tones w/ Strobes

A cross post from the S3 forum, but maybe the lighting experts here can lend a hand =)

I recently did some TFP/TFCD work that allowed me the opportunity to break out my SB-800 and AB-B800 and gain some experience working w/ strobes. (SB-800 for the outdoor shots and a single AB-B800 for the garage studio setup)

In natural light conditions, I'm able to use the S3 to reproduce the wonderful skin tones which it is well reknown for. However, i noticed that when working w/ strobes I can get rather inconsistent results.
Here is a link to some of the images taken during this session:

http://www.pixeldustphoto.com/gallery/Rochelle/

note: it is an xml flash viewer

I'm sure this probably has something to do w/ my lighting techniques, but I'm not sure what it is. I'm hoping some of the more experienced folks here can offer some help to a newbie amatuer.

The other thing I noticed, is that the strobes really bring out a lot of details in the subjects skin complexion. It's not as soft, and winds up having to require more time spent post processing. Is there a way to reconcile this by simply setting up the lighting in the appropriate manner? or is PP the only solution?

The strobes were shot either on camera... or off camera placed to my right. I used the LSII for the on camera shots and a large softbox for the AB-B800.

Any helpful insight and tips on how to improve my lighting technique and ultimately obtain more consistent skin tones would be wonderfully appreciated =)
Kind Regards,
-Hien
--
Me....ntal.
--
Me....ntal.

foRRREVerz said:

A cross post from the S3 forum, but maybe the lighting experts here
can lend a hand =)

I recently did some TFP/TFCD work that allowed me the opportunity
to break out my SB-800 and AB-B800 and gain some experience working
w/ strobes. (SB-800 for the outdoor shots and a single AB-B800 for
the garage studio setup)

In natural light conditions, I'm able to use the S3 to reproduce
the wonderful skin tones which it is well reknown for. However, i
noticed that when working w/ strobes I can get rather inconsistent
results.
Here is a link to some of the images taken during this session:

Click to expand...

Its difficult to tell using these images, but the skin tones look fine too me. Try setting the WB manually for consistancy of approach. I always work with a manual WB.

foRRREVerz said:

I'm sure this probably has something to do w/ my lighting
techniques, but I'm not sure what it is. I'm hoping some of the
more experienced folks here can offer some help to a newbie amatuer.

The other thing I noticed, is that the strobes really bring out a
lot of details in the subjects skin complexion. It's not as soft,
and winds up having to require more time spent post processing. Is
there a way to reconcile this by simply setting up the lighting in
the appropriate manner? or is PP the only solution?

Click to expand...

A single strobe is bound to create more shadow, unless it is a secondary light source (ie used with daylight). It will naturally bring out more detail, unless some degree of fill lighting (reflector or secondary light) is used. You can partially soften the light by modifying it with a reflector, umbrella or softbox. The positioning of the strobe will also affect its harshness and how it brings out the features of the face. Saying that, I always have to do some PP, even with professional models and make-up, as studio lighting and my cameras can bring out every inperfection. Natural daylight is much, much more diffused and as a result is more forgiving.

foRRREVerz said:

The strobes were shot either on camera... or off camera placed to
my right. I used the LSII for the on camera shots and a large
softbox for the AB-B800.

Click to expand...

Move the softbox closer to soften the light. A larger softbox will give softer light without the hotspots from close proximity lighting with a small softbox.

foRRREVerz said:

Any helpful insight and tips on how to improve my lighting
technique and ultimately obtain more consistent skin tones would be
wonderfully appreciated =)
Kind Regards,
-Hien

Click to expand...

Keep posting, keep reading, ask for feedback and practice lots!

Regards
Chris

--

You should take care, if the issue occurs when Strobe's Power-output is dialed at lower levels.

Some models have a single big Capacitor getting a sort of 'dimmer', to work out lower levels; others have a 'battery' with more Capacitors and a dial taking on how many ones the given power-level requires.
This last design wants to be more accurate and consistent (constant).

The lower the level is dialed, the strobe tends to change its light's colour cast into lower a Colour Temperature; as well as the power-level itself may not remain the same on a shoot after an others.

This is why, professional models, just because professional ones, were supplied with a dial able to only: 1/1 - 1/2 - 1/4 - 1/8 of Power.

what mode are you setting the camera? Auto white balance will swing the balance around in responce to what it sees in the sensor. One lady shot a whole real estate corp sales force and had skin tones all over the place, mostly the women who wore strong colored power suits and when the sensor saw a big area of GREEN, or blue or whatever, it threw the color balance way the other way.

auto exposure will do similar things.

so if you are shooting a series of shots under similar light conditions then put into M and read your light levels with a meter.

flash is a specular light source, that is, it will have reflections that hit the top of the exposure scale, HINT: if you see glare off the glasses you can't see through, what do you think is happening to the skin texture. Each bit of texture will get a sparkly blocked up highlight, and a corresponding shadow.
--

moderator of the z-prophoto, photohistory, and kodakpro mailing lists at yahoogroups.com

If you want to nail skin tones with any camera you need to take a manual white balance measurement each time the light changes. I see lighting changing with each shot in your gallery so it's no wonder that the tones are inconsistent. Watch for color casts off of objects that are catching spill from your flash as well.
-Kent