When extracting try to use a bkg color that is not in the subject and watch out for your spill over on the subject, it can get bright and be difficult to extract. I really like Topaz Remask for extractions.
Hack is right about the spill of the rim light. I was going to mention that and forgot. I've struggled many times trying to select someone and the bright rim makes it really hard. Especially in the hair.
Well if helps I am planning on shooting either white or gray. Also he is black with really short hair so that part of the extraction Im not too worried. I didnt even think about the fact that if I shoot the umbrella half and half that it would bounce on the black half. I will have to cover the inside to get it to work. Strip boxes and grids are looking better and better. Any objection to just shooting it with a 7" reflector with a 20 or 40 degree grid?
Key Light: 30x60" softbox to camera left metered at f/8
Fill Light: large white reflector to camera right
Rim/Kicker: large gridded strip boxes to camera left and right metered at f/5.6
All this talk of Joel Grimes got me wanting to try something a little more edgy. Went with his typical setup of two rims and a key light, except I decided to go with a loop light pattern rather than his typical butterfly lighting. BTW, used a fan to blow the hair but I'm not exactly sure if I should leave the wild hairs or clone them out.
3-Light Setup
Key Light: 2x2' soft box to camera left metered at f/8
Fill Light: large white reflector to camera right
Rim/Kicker: large gridded strip boxes to camera left and right metered at f/5.6
Not sure how strong of a fan you used, but it looks like only the small wispy hairs are blowing and not the main body of hair. Perhaps crank the fan up a notch or two?
Thanks guys. I had the fan turned up higher but it was bugging her eyes so I turned it down. I'll try to reposition it next time to see if she's more comfortable.
Key Light: AB800 with 7" reflector & 10° grid metered at f/8
Rim/Kicker: AB400s in gridded strip boxes camera right & left metered at f/5.6
D700: 1/250 @ f/8 ISO 100 | 70-200mm f/2.8: 110mm
For some reason the size is showing artifacts on the background. Not there when viewed at full-size. Also, I shot this with a 30° grid on the key light.
I agree Hack. One of the nice products of this project with trying to many light patterns on the same person. She told me this morning, she doesn't like how she looks with the "dark lighting setups".
Do the same set up but with a box for the main and keep in on the floor aimed up and the kickers just kissing the sides of her face. Main 1 to 2 stops more than the kickers. See if you like it.
Do the same set up but with a box for the main and keep in on the floor aimed up and the kickers just kissing the sides of her face. Main 1 to 2 stops more than the kickers. See if you like it.
Interesting. Will try. Should I use my large or smaller soft box?
Had to get creative today. My wife has a pretty bad case of conjunctivitis in her left eye. It's totally bloodshot and really swollen. I had it in both eyes a couple of weeks ago so I guess I gave it to her. Just passing on the favor my niece passed on to me. My wife makes 6 people in our family that have gotten it now.
Nevertheless, I had to find a way to shoot her portrait but hide her left eye. A requirement she made for shooting her today. I'm pretty happy with results and her back looks pretty badass!
2-Light Setup
Key Light: AB400 in large gridded strip box set to camera right metered at f/5.6. Bottom half of the box was flagged with a large piece of black foam- core.
Kicker/Rim: AB400 in large gridded strip box set to camera left metered at f/2.8
D700: 1/250 @ f/5.6 ISO 100 | 70-200mm f/2.8: 102mm
I didn't really need to for the shot I posted in landscape but I originally wanted to shoot this in portrait and I was getting more light than I wanted on her lower back. I originally wanted to shoot this in portrait.
Ok, so, if your using alien bees for kickers, is there any reason to buy to 10x36 strip boxes vs. using the 24x36 boxes and flagging them? Just wondering if the bigger boxes would be more generally useful since they are about the same price.
some possibilities......
When you flag a light it does divert the light from hitting the subject but it has to go somewhere so it bounces around and then back possibly.
Sometimes you don't have enough room on the side for a bigger box.
There are times when you want a harsher shadow so you might want to use a smaller strip box. Various sizes are just part of your arsenal.
Flagging material is alot cheaper than buying new kicker boxes.
Hmm... Good question Hack. Is it a trick question?
Couple things come to mind, although I'm not quite sure either is correct. First, the kickers are gridded so the light is much more concentrated coming out of the box. As such, I would assume the light is a bit harder. The key was not gridded so the light is feathered a bit more, make for softer highlights. Another thing is that the key was pointing at the top of the hat, so it's a tad diffused down on the face.
Lastly, although I'm just basing this on observation and nothing scientific, the light hitting the sides of her face could appear to be brighter because of the angle of the surface to the camera. Maybe something to do with light refraction on oblique angles... I noticed that highlights on edges always appear shinier/brighter than on flat surfaces.
I've had them for about 2 years now and they work great. No complaints on the materials. The only small nit I have is that they are the easiest boxes to break down and reassemble. At least not like my Paul C Buff boxes with the umbrella-style collapsibility (is that a word?). But I don't break them down so it's absolutely a moot point for me.
One thing I like about them is that they pretty long. Longer than most of the strip boxes I researched when I was shopping for them.
Thats what I am looking for is really long strip boxes and I notices yours were really long. The link you sent me is that for both the softbox and grid? Thanks for the info Alex! Also did you mean they are or arent the easiest to break down and reassemble? I plan on taking these puppies on the road!
Comments
www.cameraone.biz
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
3-Light Setup
Key Light: 30x60" softbox to camera left metered at f/8
Fill Light: large white reflector to camera right
Rim/Kicker: large gridded strip boxes to camera left and right metered at f/5.6
D700: 1/250 @ f/8 ISO 100 | 70-200mm f/2.8: 86mm
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
All this talk of Joel Grimes got me wanting to try something a little more edgy. Went with his typical setup of two rims and a key light, except I decided to go with a loop light pattern rather than his typical butterfly lighting. BTW, used a fan to blow the hair but I'm not exactly sure if I should leave the wild hairs or clone them out.
3-Light Setup
Key Light: 2x2' soft box to camera left metered at f/8
Fill Light: large white reflector to camera right
Rim/Kicker: large gridded strip boxes to camera left and right metered at f/5.6
D700: 1/250 @ f/8 ISO 100 | 70-200mm f/2.8: 82mm
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
www.cameraone.biz
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
3-Light Setup
Key Light: AB800 with 7" reflector & 10° grid metered at f/8
Rim/Kicker: AB400s in gridded strip boxes camera right & left metered at f/5.6
D700: 1/250 @ f/8 ISO 100 | 70-200mm f/2.8: 110mm
For some reason the size is showing artifacts on the background. Not there when viewed at full-size. Also, I shot this with a 30° grid on the key light.
D700: 1/250 @ f/8 ISO 100 | 70-200mm f/2.8: 90mm
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
www.cameraone.biz
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
www.cameraone.biz
Interesting. Will try. Should I use my large or smaller soft box?
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
www.cameraone.biz
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
2-Light Setup
Key Light: AB800 in 2x2' soft box on boom on camera left metered at f/8
Fill Light: AB400 in large gridded strip box on camera right metered at f/5.6
D700: 1/250 @ f/7.1 ISO 100 | 70-200mm f/2.8: 140mm
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
Had to get creative today. My wife has a pretty bad case of conjunctivitis in her left eye. It's totally bloodshot and really swollen. I had it in both eyes a couple of weeks ago so I guess I gave it to her. Just passing on the favor my niece passed on to me. My wife makes 6 people in our family that have gotten it now.
Nevertheless, I had to find a way to shoot her portrait but hide her left eye. A requirement she made for shooting her today. I'm pretty happy with results and her back looks pretty badass!
2-Light Setup
Key Light: AB400 in large gridded strip box set to camera right metered at f/5.6. Bottom half of the box was flagged with a large piece of black foam- core.
Kicker/Rim: AB400 in large gridded strip box set to camera left metered at f/2.8
D700: 1/250 @ f/5.6 ISO 100 | 70-200mm f/2.8: 102mm
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
www.cameraone.biz
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
3-Light Setup:
Key Light: AB800 in 2x2' soft box metered at f/5.6
Kickers: 2 AB400s in large gridded strip boxes metered at f/5.6
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
When you flag a light it does divert the light from hitting the subject but it has to go somewhere so it bounces around and then back possibly.
Sometimes you don't have enough room on the side for a bigger box.
There are times when you want a harsher shadow so you might want to use a smaller strip box. Various sizes are just part of your arsenal.
Flagging material is alot cheaper than buying new kicker boxes.
www.cameraone.biz
www.cameraone.biz
Couple things come to mind, although I'm not quite sure either is correct. First, the kickers are gridded so the light is much more concentrated coming out of the box. As such, I would assume the light is a bit harder. The key was not gridded so the light is feathered a bit more, make for softer highlights. Another thing is that the key was pointing at the top of the hat, so it's a tad diffused down on the face.
Lastly, although I'm just basing this on observation and nothing scientific, the light hitting the sides of her face could appear to be brighter because of the angle of the surface to the camera. Maybe something to do with light refraction on oblique angles... I noticed that highlights on edges always appear shinier/brighter than on flat surfaces.
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site
www.cameraone.biz
My strip boxes are off-brand that I ordered through Amazon. I believe it's this one right here:
LINK EDITED
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005G5VZ6C/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've had them for about 2 years now and they work great. No complaints on the materials. The only small nit I have is that they are the easiest boxes to break down and reassemble. At least not like my Paul C Buff boxes with the umbrella-style collapsibility (is that a word?). But I don't break them down so it's absolutely a moot point for me.
One thing I like about them is that they pretty long. Longer than most of the strip boxes I researched when I was shopping for them.
Moderator of the People and Go Figure forums
My Smug Site