Lighting

reyvee61 · January 7, 2011

I was inspired recently by a post made here earlier to experiment with continuous lighting (Rod Evans). I have modeling lamps on the Elinchrom's so I used those and my daughter to see what I can do. What I find interesting about this is the fact that you get to see the light and the effects of moving it (the light source) immediately so it really gives you an opportunity to dial it in.

I went for low key initially for my first experiments

The room was fairly dark with no window light so I could rely on the light sources to shape...

f/2.8 50MM 400ISO at 1/60 exposure.
Processed in LR3 with a slightly modified preset from Wonderland called B&W Natural 1

Her hair was a mess so I had her put a hat on...
Any C&C welcome of course

I used a 24" soft-box directly to her left at about 1/4 power (100wt incandescent) at about 6" distance and positioned her midways to the soft-box.
The smaller 18" soft-box was at half power but diffused further by a large scrim 4x4 ft at about 1ft from her right. The smaller box was pointed towards the wall behind her and positioned to catch her hair. When I put the scrim between her at the box the light expanded to her right-side face as well...

Not sure I'm thrilled how the shadows shaped her face but I'll be experimenting a lot more wit placement.

Qarik · January 7, 2011

great image..I would have prefered the main light angled more and not so much to the side, to bring up the shadows some on her right cheek

reyvee61 · January 7, 2011

Thanks
Agreed, after seeing Charles' diagram, I now understand the 45 degree angle thing

briandelion · January 7, 2011

Great start. Shadows shaping aside, I think it still looks dimensional and your daughters expression is really engaging. I LOVE the hat!

reyvee61 · January 7, 2011

Ha, thanks....
She was in the middle of writing a paper when I pulled her away for a few minutes...she humored me and quickly went back to writing.

reyvee61 · January 8, 2011

Ok, moved the light around a bit.
Mainly the key light was move to a 45 degree angle to her left and the kicker moved behind her to barely catch her hat. I use the scrim strictly as a reflector on her right.
I'm happier with the shape of light and shadow here.
C&C welcome as always

zoomer · January 8, 2011

I don't know anything about lighting....having said that.
I think if she turned her face just a tad further left and her shoulders as well (don't like square)....then flip the light to the opposite of where they are...you would have short light on the left side of her face and it would be perfect.

As is I like this photo a lot...but you were wanting info so....

I don't hate the lighting in the first shot....just different ways to get to the same place. To me the book diagrams are a starting point, in the real world, if it looks good shoot it.

Hackbone · January 8, 2011

Try to keep your subject to the back edge of the softbox. Lighting is different there than mid way or even forward edge.

reyvee61 · January 9, 2011

Hackbone wrote: »

Try to keep your subject to the back edge of the softbox. Lighting is different there than mid way or even forward edge.

Thanks you two, it's been quite a bit of fun experimenting thus far. I've taken into account some advice here as well as what I've learned from a lighting book I have.

I shot my niece today on her sweet sixteen though she was not prepared as she was on her way to Disneyland but we got a couple of quick shots anyway.

I decided to dial in the WB manually since I was not happy with the preset for incandescent light. I settled for 2500k

adbsgicom · January 9, 2011

Nicely done, Rey!

In the second one, the light is very mottled on the shadow side of her face (I can sort of see the same pattern in the first one, but the angle minimizes it). What is the source of that?

reyvee61 · January 9, 2011

Thanks Andrew,
I noticed that on all of the pics and I think it was caused by the large scrim I was using to reflect the key light. Not really sure but next time I will move it in much closer to my subject.

NeilL · January 10, 2011

Rey, I think the two blue-background images are near-excellent. Just that the key is maybe a little low, something about the eyes and the shadows on the face? And 2500K does seem a bit extreme?

I applaud your experimentation, it's instructive. Thanks. But I begin to think that the results are looking like what you would get with natural window lighting, maybe not quite as good. So the question arises, why not just do that?

You know, I'd love to have a studio like the old, old fashioned studios which painters still choose to work in, which have roofs and walls opened to the most wonderful light imaginable. Has the studio lighting and gear industry, like the food industry, convinced us that artificial is better?!

Not being critical of you. Just thinking out loud.

Neil

Seneca · January 10, 2011

Beautiful colors...and I see you added just a touch of hair light. Wonderfully done.

reyvee61 · January 11, 2011

NeilL wrote: »

Rey, I think the two blue-background images are near-excellent. Just that the key is maybe a little low, something about the eyes and the shadows on the face? And 2500K does seem a bit extreme?<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/eek7.gif" border="0" alt="" >

I applaud your experimentation, it's instructive. Thanks. But I begin to think that the results are looking like what you would get with natural window lighting, maybe not quite as good. So the question arises, why not just do that?

You know, I'd love to have a studio like the old, old fashioned studios which painters still choose to work in, which have roofs and walls opened to the most wonderful light imaginable. Has the studio lighting and gear industry, like the food industry, convinced us that artificial is better?!<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="" >

Not being critical of you. Just thinking out loud.<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif" border="0" alt="" >

Neil

Normally I would just use window light but on this day it was very gloomy outside and the amount of light was poor at best. In So Cal you rarely have to worry about that but it's good to know just in case.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I do appreciate your critique and it feels good to know that I'm making progress.<o:p></o:p>
It would be nice to have a nice studio like the one you described though.<o:p></o:p>
One thing I heard recently from a well know photographer was to practice looking at ambient light everywhere you go. Pay attention to how shadows are cast and the ratios of light to shadow.
I'm going to practice doing that....<o:p></o:p>

reyvee61 · January 11, 2011

Seneca wrote: »

Beautiful colors...and I see you added just a touch of hair light. Wonderfully done.

Thank you.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Neil mentioned the color temp I chose but that's where I got the best results with the tungsten lighting I used.<o:p></o:p>

Hackbone · January 11, 2011

reyvee61 wrote: »

Thank you.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Neil mentioned the color temp I chose but that's where I got the best results with the tungsten lighting I used.<o:p></o:p>

If your shooting raw it really doesn't matter what light source your using. You can adjust it in raw and then process. There is a very good fashion photogrpaher in I think Kansas that only uses light bulbs and reflectors from Ace Hardware and you would not believe the results he gets.

NeilL · January 11, 2011

Hackbone wrote: »

If your shooting raw it really doesn't matter what light source your using. You can adjust it in raw and then process. There is a very good fashion photogrpaher in I think Kansas that only uses light bulbs and reflectors from Ace Hardware and you would not believe the results he gets.

Look? Look?

Neil

reyvee61 · January 11, 2011

Hackbone wrote: »

If your shooting raw it really doesn't matter what light source your using. You can adjust it in raw and then process. There is a very good fashion photogrpaher in I think Kansas that only uses light bulbs and reflectors from Ace Hardware and you would not believe the results he gets.

I've always been told that but I have a difficult time adjusting some types of lighting such as those energy saving twist bulbs.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
When I shoot under those or halogen I use the camera feature that allows you to shoot a white wall to make adjustments.<o:p></o:p>
When I first started tinkering with artificial lighting I purchased a few more of those inexpensive work lights like the ones I use in my garage but boy do those get hot!<o:p></o:p>
Plus, at 1000watts per fixture I couldn't bring myself to being so wasteful of energy.<o:p></o:p>
I've seen this guy on Flickr that does incredible work with those halogens.....<o:p></o:p>
I finally took it upon myself to learn my color temps so I'm going to tinker some more....

reyvee61 · January 11, 2011

NeilL wrote: »

Look? Look?

Neil

Where? Where?

adbsgicom · January 12, 2011

reyvee61 wrote: »

I've always been told that but I have a difficult time adjusting some types of lighting such as those energy saving twist bulbs.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Get a grey card target. Provides at least the starting point (i.e., you might want things to look warmer or cooler than neutral).

Hackbone · January 12, 2011

Check out Brian's site and remember not all of it but alot is done with regular old 100 watt tungsten bulbs.
http://www.eyeworksphotography.com/portfolio.htm

Hackbone · January 12, 2011

Just to prove a point check out my new light!!!!! Unfortunately I was rushed for time and I asked my session if she would mine participating in an experiment. The first of her is right out of camera and the rest were corrected for color temp. Again this was quickly done but you can take a nice photo with a light bulb. Now I did broad light her which is a no no but I was too tired at the end of the day to move the darn light and was not happy that she wanted the hair in her eyes.

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NeilL · January 13, 2011

Hackbone wrote: »

Check out Brian's site and remember not all of it but alot is done with regular old 100 watt tungsten bulbs.
http://www.eyeworksphotography.com/portfolio.htm

Thanks Charles, this sent me on a couple hours pleasant and instructional detours!

Neil

zoomer · January 13, 2011

I like the hair in her eyes

.
Is there a way to use a lightbulb with a set up like that into an umbrella to soften the light?

Hackbone · January 13, 2011

zoomer wrote: »

I like the hair in her eyes .
Is there a way to use a lightbulb with a set up like that into an umbrella to soften the light?

Anything you can think of will work but conisder your iso and shutter speed. Build a 4x8 frame out of pvc pipe and put the light behind it. Search Dean Collins Tinker Tubes.

reyvee61 · January 13, 2011

adbsgicom wrote: »

Get a grey card target. Provides at least the starting point (i.e., you might want things to look warmer or cooler than neutral).

One is on it's way as I write.

reyvee61 · January 13, 2011

Hackbone wrote: »

Check out Brian's site and remember not all of it but alot is done with regular old 100 watt tungsten bulbs.
http://www.eyeworksphotography.com/portfolio.htm

Thanks for the link...
Here is that guy on Flickr that uses the 5 dollar halogen lights....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/izuky_studio/page21/

Some of his work is a bit racy so if your at work take caution.....

On the link you posted....
Incredible stuff by the way...wow!

reyvee61 · January 13, 2011

Charles thanks for sharing that..
Great results with just one shop light.

I can see that cool light thingy in the first shot too.....

What color temp did you settle on?

reyvee61 · January 13, 2011

NeilL wrote: »

Thanks Charles, this sent me on a couple hours pleasant and instructional detours!

Neil

Ditto

Hackbone · January 13, 2011

I tend to find myself about 5200 most of the time.

Lighting

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