October Light: Quality of Light Side Challenge

09/19/2007 04:36:51 PM · #1

I'd like to propose a monthly side challenge where we study Quality of Light. I find that many entries in challenges fall short because of lighting and not subject matter. As I have improved my photographs I have found that although I find new subjects of interest, consistently finding interesting lighting and angles to the light bring the best results to my work. The same subject photographed at different times of day will yield wildly different results. This challenge would allow for all kinds of shots, working in the studio with lighting kits for still life and portraits, landscapes, street photography, sports all kinds. It would give us an excuse to study different lighting scenarios such as single light source, back lighting, raking light, volumetric light, using flash photography as fill light, as well as natural light from all angles, low light, night photography where different light sources interact to give interesting colors, the play of light and shadows, using reflectors for fill light. There are many more! Light IMO is the almost always what will make or break a photograph. So who's with me?

October Side challenge:Quality of Light
Editing:whatever, but quality light is key
Upload shots when you can, everyday would be nice and will help you learn the most IMO, but not realistic for many of us.(Even though I am suggesting this challenge for October it is going to be one of my busiest months and may not get to post a lot of shots.)

Comments Section of your photo:Please explain where the light sources are, time of day, maybe even how you metered your shot, If you used external flashes how you set them up, anything to help others understand what you did or try and help you. :)

I currently have no good links to Quality of light links(I haven't really looked, yet) but since it is a little less then two weeks away I thought that this thread could be used to to see who is interested and and discuss different techniques and links to good studies of light.

Who is in:

iamwoman

raziel

BeckyT

yanko

notesinstones

Budya

Quigley

sfalice

ursula

dsterner

ErikV

RKT

mpeters

banmorn

Prism

wavelength

mungik

nikuser

Nusbaum

colorcarnival
[user]philup[/user]

raziel

Seanachai

annpatt.

kellian

sevilduvarci

Gordon

sibeling

Bear_Music

hihosilver

lovethelight

mia67

brat

aguapreta

ShannonLee

metatate

jaysonmc

geoffb

NikonJeb

MEPHISTO

CNovack

ephln

option

shalrath

posthumous
[user]Louis[/user]

Disclaimer to the list: If you reply to this thread you want to be involved, you are in simple as that :). I may miss you on the list, but I'll try and get everyone on it. I'll start a new thread on the October 1st, with this list. Even if you don't "sign up" here feel free to join in anyway. :)

Message edited by author 2007-09-30 03:16:14.

Retroesque

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

09/19/2007 04:42:08 PM · #2

Joe - PERFECT!

I need to make lighting my friend - I'm IN!

Lisa

darnok

Nikon D850

09/19/2007 04:45:23 PM · #3

I would like to participate, but since next month is going to be rough with varsity I will not be able to get a photo each day. I say don't focus it around getting a photo every day, but trying use each lighting technique so to speak.

09/19/2007 04:51:28 PM · #4

Originally posted by Raziel:

Originally posted by jdannels:

Upload shots when you can, everyday would be nice and will help you learn the most IMO, but not realistic for many of us.(Even though I am suggesting this challenge for October it is going to be one of my busiest months and may not get to post a lot of shots.)

I am in the same boat as you, busy :)
I'll put you on the list.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 16-35 f/4 ED VR

09/19/2007 04:54:06 PM · #5

Originally posted by iamwoman:

I need to make lighting my friend - I'm IN!

Lisa

Yeah, glad you joined!

darnok

Nikon D850

09/19/2007 05:04:42 PM · #6

An excellent resource for quality lighting is Strobist, especially for those on a budget.

BeckyT

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

09/19/2007 05:26:10 PM · #7

Count me in. I am always wanting to learn more about lighting. Can't promise I will get one in everyday but I sure will try. Good thing this is starting in October because I am busy trying to do the September B/W side challenge. Looking forward to seeing everyones photos.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

09/19/2007 06:39:17 PM · #8

A few links so far I'll try to add more when I find them.
Learning Thread-Landscape Photography-from DPC, taught by

Bear_Music and helped out by many other excellent Landscape Photogs. In the first page of the post Bear gives a very good example of types of light in Landscapes, if you take the time to read through the thread there is a ton of knowledge to be had.

Rangerfinder magazine: It current issue online is about mastering light. Semi-inspiration for this challenge.

One Light Setups: From fredmiranda.com thread This thread is a fairly amazing body of work where users all show examples and set up of single off camera strobe or flash. (and there not all examples of black background tpe studios, they are all different.)

BeckyT I added you to the list :)

notesinstones

Nikon D200

09/19/2007 07:35:27 PM · #9

Hey Joe, You can count me in too. I've been doing a lot of experimenting lately and this will fit right in.

I also HIGHLY recommend Light: Science and Magic by Fil Hunter and Paul Fuqua to anyone who is looking for a book to launch a better understanding of lighting. I finally got my grubby paws on a copy and while I thought I knew a lot, this book filled in many gaps in my knowledge that I didn't know I had.

ursula

Fujifilm X-T2

Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

09/19/2007 07:37:39 PM · #10

I would like to take part in this one, very much! October will be sort of busy, so it would be on and off, but it sounds like a good project. I just got a couple lights for studio (older used but in good condition, 2 Normann LH2000 lampheads with a couple different reflectors, a Normann P800 battery type thing, and a couple other things), and I'd like to expand my horizons from natural light and occasional flash to other light sources.

Message edited by author 2007-09-19 19:43:46.

Budya

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/19/2007 07:45:53 PM · #11

I'd like to join too. I just got the latest Rangefinder and have been admiring the cover shot. :)

09/19/2007 07:46:18 PM · #12

Originally posted by ursula:

I would like to take part in this one, very much! October will be sort of busy, so it would be on and off, but it sounds like a good project. I just got a couple lights for studio (used and old, but they seem to be fine and work well), and I'd like to expand my horizons from natural light and occasional flash to other light sources.

Welcome

ursula and

notesinstones. I will probably use some studio/lighting setups but I also would like to see people working with natural light as well. I'd like to see studio setup photos right along with a sunset/landscape, to an everyday object caught with interesting shadows/light. I think October is a good month for the challenge as it will be fall in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring down under, which should make for some great outdoor photography. Also blurry photos are more than invited. :)

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

09/19/2007 07:47:09 PM · #13

Sign me up!

Quigley

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/19/2007 07:59:22 PM · #14

October is a busy month for us in our industry but if I don't soon make light my friend I'm going to loose my mind so PLEASE COUNT ME IN.

This site is super I'm learning loads. There is such a sense of community and people are so willing to help others. Thank you.

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

09/19/2007 08:12:00 PM · #15

I've been wondering what I'd keep busy with, photographically, in October. And looks as if I've just found it. Sign me in, Joe, please.

dsterner

Canon EOS-40D

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

09/19/2007 08:17:37 PM · #16

I might be the weakest link here for technical understanding, but I stand to gain so much from jumping in and learning. I might have some silly elementary questions and I fumble with the acronyms used on the site, but can I play along?

ursula

Fujifilm X-T2

Fujifilm XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

09/19/2007 08:20:20 PM · #17

You forgot to add me to the list :(

09/19/2007 08:20:23 PM · #18

Originally posted by dsterner:

Absolutely! I learned alot of what I know from here, I'll help when I can. :)

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

09/19/2007 08:22:07 PM · #19

Originally posted by ursula:

You forgot to add me to the list :(

oops, fixed it :)
ETA:added a disclaimer about the user list to hopefully cover some of my boneheadedness ;o)

Message edited by author 2007-09-19 20:32:01.

dsterner

Canon EOS-40D

09/19/2007 08:25:29 PM · #20

YIKES...I'm playing with some heavy hitters! Good for me heh? Thanks for posting me ~~grin~~

ErikV

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

09/19/2007 09:15:02 PM · #21

This should enlighten me! Count me in. Thanks.

Retroesque

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 for Canon

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

09/19/2007 09:26:03 PM · #22

Originally posted by dsterner:

YIKES...I'm playing with some heavy hitters! Good for me heh? Thanks for posting me ~~grin~~

I thought we were a bunch of 'light-weights' - SMILE

RKT

Canon EOS-60D

09/19/2007 09:29:40 PM · #23

Sounds cool...I'll be out of town for part of the month but would still like to play, so add me to the list Joe.