Green Curves...

[Katy Noelle]

That also works. For me, the easiest way is to set the highlights blinker and see if I have blown highlights. If I have some, it's simply a matter of changing the aperture one stop smaller say from f/8 to f/11.

Mr. Wirefox, there's that mention of blinkies again. I'm still not enlightened. (Jiro, once, I thought that I saw the light.....is the blinkie thing just Nikon? I've tried to find it in my camera manual but - it's a mystery. I have a canon 450D. Maybe, it doesn't have it. Anyone....?)

Willie! I absolutely cannot believe that you've never read Light: Science and Magic!!! All of the books you have read...how did you miss this one? I've been dying to try something like Jeroen has done, here, but I've been too timid. As if the laws of science and nature won't work the same for me.

[jiro]

Mr. Wirefox, there's that mention of blinkies again. I'm still not enlightened. (Jiro, once, I thought that I saw the light.....is the blinkie thing just Nikon? I've tried to find it in my camera manual but - it's a mystery. I have a canon 450D. Maybe, it doesn't have it. Anyone....?)

Willie! I absolutely cannot believe that you've never read Light: Science and Magic!!! All of the books you have read...how did you miss this one? I've been dying to try something like Jeroen has done, here, but I've been too timid. As if the laws of science and nature won't work the same for me.

Check this link out, Katy: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos450d/page8.asp It says here that your 450D has a blinking highlights indicator on the display menu. You might probably have to press the DISPLAY button 3 times to activate the blinking highlights.

As for the book, I have read it but I think I have to re-read it again now that I have a flash to play with.

[Andrew76]

Hey Katy - I'm not sure how the Nikon's work, but the Xsi only shows 'blown highlights' in the display menu when you're viewing a photo that's already been taken, there's no way to tell beforehand on the 450D except for the exposure meter.

[JK6065]

Thanks a lot, Jeroen. Those are awesome shots, Man! I would assume that you used more than one lightsource for this kind of result. I only have one flash unit so far so small steps for me for now. I'll see if I can get hold of that book and also learn from it. Thanks!

Actually with one softbox (like yours) you can get great results. The high key version is done with only one light, and for the low key version you could use an extra fill light, like I did to get the light in the center of the glasses. But also that one could be done with only one light, like Rob did it: http://www.robmarshall.net/Images/Ho...14112452_bdccH.

[Ahmed Shahat]

Very nice photo.

[Katy Noelle]

Hi, Jiro and Andrew! Thanks for the very helpful information! I wasn't going to respond because I haven't had a chance to get up and check my camera and manual, yet. I have a few more things about this that I want to check out for myself.

As for the book, I have read it but I think I have to re-read it again now that I have a flash to play with.

Psst! Jiro! Firstly, it's come! Secondly, it's just silly, but, I thought to myself that you'd probably read it and just didn't remember. I mean knowing how much you read....!!!

[jiro]

Psst! Jiro! Firstly, it's come!

Really? Good for you. Congrats!

Secondly, it's just silly, but, I thought to myself that you'd probably read it and just didn't remember. I mean knowing how much you read....!!!

Yeah, I need a refresher course about the family of lines.

[jiro]

Very nice photo.

Shokran, Ahmed.

[jiro]

Actually with one softbox (like yours) you can get great results. The high key version is done with only one light, and for the low key version you could use an extra fill light, like I did to get the light in the center of the glasses. But also that one could be done with only one light, like Rob did it.

Thanks again, Jeroen. That would be my next experiment.

[JK6065]

I've been dying to try something like Jeroen has done, here, but I've been too timid. As if the laws of science and nature won't work the same for me.

The laws of physics would surely work for you Katy :-). Understanding them is the key. If you have any questions about them, make sure you ask. Maybe I can help.
What I found out to work rather well in understanding direct reflection (and learning to predict when en how this happens) is to change your subject you're going to shoot by a mirror. Than replace the camera with your own eyes and start moving the mirror and the light around (but be sure you do only one of those two at the same time!). You could do also the same with the subject itself, but direct reflection in a mirror is very obvious.