Same crab, different lighting - thoughts???

[SeaYoda]

This crab actually sat still for me to move the strobe around to try some different lighting. What are your thoughts?

 

[AndyT]

#1 - the lighting has brought out the stunning colours in the subject.

#2 may have worked for me if only the front portion of the crab was lit and the background was darker.

 

[Larry C]

Lighting on #1 is perfect. More dramatic lighting on #2 with stronger shadows brings out detail in the face that stands out compared to #1, but all the color is lost. It's almost like a B & W shot. #1 is the much stronger picture. If you wanted more drama, maybe more shadow contrast could be added in post processing.

 

[solisti]

Could you try converting both to black and white versions? It would be interesting to see how they match then. Now I definitely like first more.

 

[Diver Dennis]

First one looks natural with more of a studio type light, the second, well... looks like bad strobe placement to be honest...

 

[SeaYoda]

The second one has limited use IMO. Lost a lot of color. It was fun to try something different.

 

[Fastmarc]

To me, #2 doesn't do much.
The lighting does make the colours less appealing.
Also, the crab's shadow draws my eyes away from the subject.

 

[Diver Dennis]

The second one has limited use IMO. Lost a lot of color. It was fun to try something different.

And I certainly meant no offense. I do the same thing Yoda, trying different settings and strobe positioning. Some of my shots while doing that are so bad it's comical actually but you never know what might work.

 

[RonFrank]

I like #1, surprise, surprise!

 

[SeaYoda]

And I certainly meant no offense. I do the same thing Yoda, trying different settings and strobe positioning. Some of my shots while doing that are so bad it's comical actually but you never know what might work.

No offense taken at all.

The crab staying in almost the same position made the comparison of the two strobe angles perfect for me. The difference the lighting makes goes from day to night . If the crab would have stayed for one more shot I would have raised the strobe a little (somewhere between one and two) and the effect would be totally different (maybe good or bad). I liked number one from the start and was not impressed with number two. I was looking for that strange person who liked something about number two that I was not focusing on. I often can use that insight when thinking about a future shot. The difference between the two shots that makes us like number one is a great learning tool as well. Now that everyone knows what I think about the shots maybe they will feel free to chime in about the good and bad of both strobe positions.