How shape light with reflectors on person?
<!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> I want to be able to shape the light on the face and body like in a magazine.
I want to be able to focus the light on pieces of the face or body for artistic look with shadows and light.
I tried a 7inch reflector bowl and 30degree grid that came with my lighting kit and I shot it directly straight at the model's face/body.
The light seemed harsh and I saw these (very bright) hot spots on the face and body which I do not want.
How am I suppose to use the reflectors to shape light onto the body?
Any recommendation on which are best reflector sizes and grids to invest in? benefit of 7inch vs 9 vs 12 inch reflectors for use on person?
Anything to soften the hotspots?
Should I invest in barndoors to shape light?
I want to be able to focus the light on pieces of the face or body for artistic look with shadows and light.
I tried a 7inch reflector bowl and 30degree grid that came with my lighting kit and I shot it directly straight at the model's face/body.
The light seemed harsh and I saw these (very bright) hot spots on the face and body which I do not want.
How am I suppose to use the reflectors to shape light onto the body?
Any recommendation on which are best reflector sizes and grids to invest in? benefit of 7inch vs 9 vs 12 inch reflectors for use on person?
Anything to soften the hotspots?
Should I invest in barndoors to shape light?
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Comments
While it can be used for certain effects (I use similar combo for "thigh rims":-) I wouldn't recommend using it for a face lighting, unless you're looking for some particular - and I must add, rarely seen - effect.
It's next to impossible to tell what you need to use without knowing what exactly you're trying to achieve. However, I don't think barn doors would help you in this particular case.
If you can provide a link to an image you are trying to reproduce I will probably be able to tell you what lighting setup you may need.
HTH
Thanks for reply and telling me the reflector and grid is harsh - that is exactly what i thought I saw.
Here is link to photos that I tried using that setup.
http://photos.sweetdreamsstudio.com/gallery/5487852_tAasJ
I want light to be softer and sharp like in fashion/artsy. What do pros use? Should I get bigger reflector like 9 or 12 inch but then I would lose control of focus? what degree grid?
I want to be able to focus light on parts of face and body without being harsh lighting.
Yeah, with one light and no modifiers I wouldn't expect much different...:-(
Again, please provide the link to the image you WOULD LIKE to mimic, not to one we know didn't work out.
Here is one example that i admire - he uses hard light.
http://www.vizualsynergi.com
I will try to dig up some other artistic/fashion pics.
I don't need anything fancy- just a good start. I don't want to buy reflectors or grids that I don't need or is harsh.
These are choices that I am looking to buy.
http://www.henselusa.com/reflectors.html
How many lights do you own, and what are they?
Most of those pics at vizual synergy require at least 3 if not 5, with stripboxes and large softboxes. Reflectors are *not* what's used there..
How do you know reflectors were not used?
I own hensel lights - 4 lights. I normally use large softboxes but I want to be more focused and control light.
Here is another website I just found that I admire and which I want to do. These have good examples of light and shadow on body.
Notice the first picture how light and shadow is on different parts face and body. I would like to do that too.
http://www.swiftimages.net/portraits/index.html
I would suggest before you buy anything more you play around taking shots of a simple object (like, say, a piece of fruit) with and without something in front of your lights to provide diffusion. This doesn't need to be fancy: a white bedsheet or a thin piece of paper could work. Then experiment with shots where this light source moves from really close to really far away from your subject. Somewhere in those combinations you're going to find what you like. Note that and work with it as you approach lighting your model. If you want to further restrict where your light goes, you can use something to limit its direction. Again, this doesn't need to be fancy: commercial barn doors are great, but black construction paper and tape could work in a bind.
Use you large softbox to create an ambient light (main), and then use your reflector/grid at relatively low power from a close distance to highlight the face (key). Use the other two lights with stripboxes (or umbrellas) to create side highlights (rims)
3d image from the left shows very clearly the guys is using two HUGE octaboxes. I can't spot any image in this gallery that would specifically call for reflector usage. They *may* be used there, but sparily...
If I use large softbox to create ambient light- won't I lose the shadows?
I have an octagon myself but i tire of just lighting up everything and want to be more creative with focused light and shadow. I want to be able to create the first image in swift website.
I've been reading up on grids and tighter the grid the more focused it is like 10degree. The longer the reflector the more focused beam it will be. So I am thinking 20degree medium length long and throw a diffuser over the front would suffice. I read there is rosco tough spun diffuser which suppose to make it less harsh.
Since I don't own the different grids I don't know which one is better. But if you say 7inch and 30 degree is harsh then what would you say is better combination for lighting face and body? 9 inch?
I found this article where it says because of harshness of hard light to throw the hot center farther away so lighting exposure is evened out.
http://www.pdngearguide.com/gearguide/content_display/features/e3ic5a9e83af74a3d0c1280ae91c5fba223
"This happens because that side of the face is both closer to the light, and is also in the center of the hot spot created by the grid. I use the differences in the exposure of the grid spot to throw the light to the far side of the face, thus making the far side slightly brighter and the close side slightly less so. "
I apologize if I sound harsh, but if you want to get good with lighting you need to learn it. You can't just buy a 4-light kit and expect starting lighting centerfolds.
Grids are commonly used for rims because they cut down flare on lights pointed back toward the camera. A 7" reflector with 30 degree grid makes a resonable hair light (which is a kind of rim). I usually prefer something a bit larger than 7", but for some kinds of portriats a small hair light works.
As for what kind of modifer to get, my suggestion is build yourself a couple of V-flats. Go to your local framing store and order 2 sheets of 4'x8' foam core, white on one side and black on the other. Slice them up the middle into two 2 foot wide strips and then use tape to make a hinge so they can fold closed. You can then stand the V-flats up folded with the white side inward and bounce your lights off the inside. They make remarkably versatile modifiers as you can move your lights and change the V angle to control the light. And, as an added bouns, they can also serve as gobos to protect your lens from your rim lights.
2 V-flats, a gridded dish and a medium softbox will get you long way in lighting.
Too late I just bought a medium strip bank with a grid as another toy
ps- I really don't see what I am mixing up that is wrong? I mentioned 10 and 20 degree grids for tighter beam and use diffuser to soften the hot spot. What am I saying wrong?
For my work I almost always want some softness to the light so if I am using something as small as 7", usually I am placing it in close for a dramatic falloff effect while keeping the effective size large enough for some softness to the shadows.