portrait light

lynnma · January 16, 2005

I'm having a real lot of trouble with light.. I only have one speedlight with a lumiquest ultrasoft on it.. I tried to use some white reflecters but I don't think I know how to get them to bounce correctly .. I got better results facing the speedlight at the ceiling (which is very high and not very white) as I was getting horrible shadows.. I'm think I should get some umbrellas .. what do you guys think... my good friend poses for test shots.. this was this eve with some ambient artificial light which I did'nt want really but I had to have on to see...

what about this umbrella here

TristanP · January 17, 2005

Here's what I use:

Photogenic Eclipse in white (32" and 45"). They're nice in that you can take off the black cover and shoot through it like a cheap softbox.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=42526&is=REG

Umbrella bracket
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=298709&is=REG

6' lightstand
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=50417&is=REG

Easy to setup and use, pretty inexpensive.

lynnma · January 17, 2005

TristanP wrote:

Here's what I use:

Photogenic Eclipse in white (32" and 45"). They're nice in that you can take off the black cover and shoot through it like a cheap softbox.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=42526&is=REG

Umbrella bracket
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=298709&is=REG

6' lightstand
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=50417&is=REG

Easy to setup and use, pretty inexpensive.

Hi Tristan. thanks for reply.. I was hoping to get it from Amazon.com as thats where I have a gift certificate for... could you have another look at that and tell me what you think?? Thanks...

wxwax · January 17, 2005

Lynn, pardon my ignorance... if you put the flash on a stand, how do you get it to fire?

lynnma · January 17, 2005

wxwax wrote:

Lynn, pardon my ignorance... if you put the flash on a stand, how do you get it to fire?

Sid I'm floundering around here in deep mud.. I have this one speedlite 420ex right? I have an off camera shoe so I can move the flash around..I try using white boards to bounce light to where I want it, I try all sorts of strange and wonderful contortions to get some kind of depth or shadow (where I want it) and I just don't seem to be able to get even close. I was going to use the white umbrella to bouce the light into and then onto my model...at least it's on a stand and I can position it where I want it..I'm probably going about it all wrong.. I prefer day light but I need to try to learn this.. I'm so limited equipment wise... I have this idea that I can hand hold the flash with a lumiquest on it and gently bounce that into the brolly and onto the side of my models face...HELP.. I'm feeling really lost here...my an umbrella is completely the wrong piece of equipment....

you know me... three steps forward.. five steps back..

TristanP · January 17, 2005

lynnma wrote:

Hi Tristan. thanks for reply.. I was hoping to get it from Amazon.com as thats where I have a gift certificate for... could you have another look at that and tell me what you think?? Thanks...

The setup you originally posted, if I'm reading it right, includes a normal lightbulb socket for the kind of strobes you screw in, like these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=BrBk4lRr65!1741788807?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=50050&is=REG

I don't think it would work for your Speedlite. There's no detail on that particular bracket so I can't tell if your hotshoe would adapt somehow. If you're getting a single umbrella, I think you'd want it to be larger than 30" anyway.

Here's my umbrella from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002E1TUY/qid=1105968991/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1_etk-photo/102-1320101-2330524?v=glance&s=photo&n=502394

Umbrella bracket:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009R93Y/qid=1105969296/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1_etk-photo/102-1320101-2330524?v=glance&s=photo&n=502394

And the lightstand:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002SKCMG/qid=1105969409/sr=1-21/ref=sr_1_21/102-1320101-2330524?v=glance&s=photo

Hope this helps some.

lynnma · January 17, 2005

TristanP wrote:

The setup you originally posted, if I'm reading it right, includes a normal lightbulb socket for the kind of strobes you screw in, like these:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home;jsessionid=BrBk4lRr65!1741788807?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=50050&is=REG

I don't think it would work for your Speedlite. There's no detail on that particular bracket so I can't tell if your hotshoe would adapt somehow. If you're getting a single umbrella, I think you'd want it to be larger than 30" anyway.

Here's my umbrella from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002E1TUY/qid=1105968991/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1_etk-photo/102-1320101-2330524?v=glance&s=photo&n=502394

Umbrella bracket:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009R93Y/qid=1105969296/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1_etk-photo/102-1320101-2330524?v=glance&s=photo&n=502394

And the lightstand:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002SKCMG/qid=1105969409/sr=1-21/ref=sr_1_21/102-1320101-2330524?v=glance&s=photo

Hope this helps some.

yes it does Tristan.. after big intense discussions with husband of Lynnma who know nothing about photograpy or lighting but who seems to know 10 times more than I do (

hows that).. him says "your never gonna get the lighting you want with one speedlight and an umbrella.. what you need is either more lights, or use the best light there is... daylight and flash fill and use reflecters") I hate him sometimes.. ha ha just kidding...so... having said that... I'm looking at reflecters now.. amazon again.. any advice? I still need a stand that does'nt fall over...

spockling · January 17, 2005

Hey Lynn, have you watched this?

http://www.sportsshooter.com/special_feature/2003_luau_video/5_min_light/index.html

lynnma · January 17, 2005

spockling wrote:

Hey Lynn, have you watched this?

http://www.sportsshooter.com/special_feature/2003_luau_video/5_min_light/index.html

YES THANK YOU THANK YOU.. I've been looking for it again!!!! and I've forgotton most of it.. oh happy happy.. I need to keep this at all times..
thanks again.

wxwax · January 17, 2005

Lynn, check out this thread for more lighting tips and how to's.

pathfinder · January 17, 2005

lynnma wrote:

yes it does Tristan.. after big intense discussions with husband of Lynnma who know nothing about photograpy or lighting but who seems to know 10 times more than I do ( hows that).. him says "your never gonna get the lighting you want with one speedlight and an umbrella.. what you need is either more lights, or use the best light there is... daylight and flash fill and use reflecters") I hate him sometimes.. ha ha just kidding...so... having said that... I'm looking at reflecters now.. amazon again.. any advice? I still need a stand that does'nt fall over...

Lynn, I think your husband is right - It is hard to beat good windowlight with a relfledtor or light flash fill. Cheap, too.
Or buy a cheap off brand flash for off camera use and a light triggered slave for it to use in addition to your 420.

lynnma · January 17, 2005

pathfinder wrote:

Lynn, I think your husband is right - It is hard to beat good windowlight with a relfledtor or light flash fill. Cheap, too.
Or buy a cheap off brand flash for off camera use and a light triggered slave for it to use in addition to your 420.

thanks all.. good advice ... I'm back in my skin again..

lynnma · January 17, 2005

looking at the quick time movie again??? should be mandatory viewing for all novices.. and experts come to that... s'wonderful.. I'd forgotton how great it was.

spockling · January 17, 2005

One More.....

http://super.nova.org/PhotoClass/index.html

wxwax · January 17, 2005

spockling wrote:

One More.....

http://super.nova.org/PhotoClass/index.html

Excellent link.

lynnma · January 17, 2005

spockling wrote:

One More.....

http://super.nova.org/PhotoClass/index.html

thanks spockling... I've just printed all that out.. basic but invaluable.. thanks again..

Ann McRae · January 18, 2005

Big Thanks!
Thank you lynnma for posting this, and to everyone for the great links - part of my 2005 learning is to be lighting and portraiture. It is a big task!

Thanks again - the tips are invaluable.

ann

yvonne · January 18, 2005

pathfinder wrote:

Lynn, I think your husband is right - It is hard to beat good windowlight with a relfledtor or light flash fill. Cheap, too.
Or buy a cheap off brand flash for off camera use and a light triggered slave for it to use in addition to your 420.

Yeah, I'm afraid I have to agree.

It is not possible to get a clean non-shadowed WHITE background, with diffused foreground out of one single light source. By definition, the fact that it is a single light source makes it directional. Yes, you can diffuse, but then you have the shadow. In order to get rid of shadow all together, you either need to move the model a long way away from the background (then it won't be properly white, but at least you won't get the shadow), or you need to light the background separately.

lynnma · January 18, 2005

yvonne wrote:

Yeah, I'm afraid I have to agree.

It is not possible to get a clean non-shadowed WHITE background, with diffused foreground out of one single light source. By definition, the fact that it is a single light source makes it directional. Yes, you can diffuse, but then you have the shadow. In order to get rid of shadow all together, you either need to move the model a long way away from the background (then it won't be properly white, but at least you won't get the shadow), or you need to light the background separately.

I've been reading up since this terrible attempt.. I was hoping no one would drag it up to the forefront again

I'ts good in a way... lets me see a starting point.. I can only get better right??? there are sooo many things wrong with this attempt that it should be used as a "what not to do" shot.. I'm off and running now and expect to do much much better things.. (I hope)

the links and help have been really great and very very useful.

ginger_55 · January 18, 2005

Lynn, so many links, so much info.......... I am waiting for you to figure it out, then I will "copy" you to the extent and when I can afford. One thing is that I don't have a "model", so kind of silly, but it is a challenge.

Bill was so grouchy last night re the lighting, I have figured out that he knows nothing, and he was embarrassed. For about 2/3 of his employment where he works, they have set rules as to where the lights go. I would love to call him up and ask if he actually knows anything about the lighting, but I don't know how to phrase it, so I will probably drop it with him.

They also have set poses. Along with a feminine head tilt and a masculine head tilt. I won't take his photo if he even tries a head tilt. Too cute for me.

I have never tried formal portraits, so I just have noticed articles in passing, and none recently. I hope you post your efforts so I can follow what you are doing........ In a while you will be ready to post a tutorial.

ginger

Bill likes his photo taken, so he will pose, he just keeps changing til it is acceptable to me. This is the best, I think, that I have gotten. It was at Magnolia Gardens as the sun went down. It is different from "weary bill". And notice, no head tilt......... hey for fun, I could make it black and white, the lighting is not classical by any means, lol. It is a color shot, but what the heck.

It is 29 degrees here, no snow, just blue skys, the birds are all with Harry, I am inside.

lynnma · January 18, 2005

ginger_55 wrote:

Lynn, so many links, so much info.......... I am waiting for you to figure it out, then I will "copy" you to the extent and when I can afford. One thing is that I don't have a "model", so kind of silly, but it is a challenge.

Bill was so grouchy last night re the lighting, I have figured out that he knows nothing, and he was embarrassed. For about 2/3 of his employment where he works, they have set rules as to where the lights go. I would love to call him up and ask if he actually knows anything about the lighting, but I don't know how to phrase it, so I will probably drop it with him.

They also have set poses. Along with a feminine head tilt and a masculine head tilt. I won't take his photo if he even tries a head tilt. Too cute for me.

I have never tried formal portraits, so I just have noticed articles in passing, and none recently. I hope you post your efforts so I can follow what you are doing........ In a while you will be ready to post a tutorial.

ginger

Bill likes his photo taken, so he will pose, he just keeps changing til it is acceptable to me. This is the best, I think, that I have gotten. It was at Magnolia Gardens as the sun went down. It is different from "weary bill". And notice, no head tilt......... hey for fun, I could make it black and white, the lighting is not classical by any means, lol. It is a color shot, but what the heck.

It is 29 degrees here, no snow, just blue skys, the birds are all with Harry, I am inside.

My husband gets all cranky if I ask him to model so I bought a teddy bear from Walmart to practice on.. I've bought a nice new Lastolite reflector and have a stand and light holder coming...all the things I've learned (have I tho?) are whirling around in my head so I'm going to get the bear out and see...
It's very very cold here in New England... minus 6 degrees F this morning and still only 10...brrrrrr

Thiago Sigrist · January 19, 2005

Hi Lynn!
Looking at those shots, it seems to me the lighting is quite 'flat'... That means, the model's face is perhaps too evenly lit. The problem with this is that our eyes are mean fellas, they like contrast! So it appears that the most interesting portraits, lighting-wise, are those which present uneven lighting, eg, when one side of the face is lighter than the other.

The ways to achieve such things usually involve multiple lights (the main light and fill lights), stuff like that. The tutorials cover those far better than I could here... :-)

However, there are more than a few things that look great on your pictures. Particularly on the first picture, the model's pose is extremely pleasing, and I really like the catchlights in her eyes.

Good stuff, Lynn! I really can't wait to see more! :-)
Take care!

-- thiago

portrait light

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