Lighting advice please! - DPChallenge Forums

01/12/2010 02:43:09 PM · #1

I have probably my toughest photo assignment to date tomorrow.
It's a volunteer job but that's probably why I was able to get it. This is also why I have no shame in asking for advice ;) It is a learning thing for me.

Models;
A medal-winning swimmer, her baby, her father, her coach.
I know they want a shot with everyone as well as a shot with swimmer + coach + medals.

Location:
Indoor swimming pool with freezing snow outside (gives quite a bit of reflection of natural light but not enough to use on its own)..
Much of the light is artificial, but the window provides quite a bit of light when near it.

no flash

normal bounced flash at 1/80 sec, f4, ISO 320 with 50mm lens

I am concerned about white balance as well as reflections in the water.

-- I'm not sure whether using a polarizer is worth doing since it will force me to make up for any lost light.
-- I'm also not sure about trying to gel my flash with a green tint since the light is mixed and inconsistent.
-- All I'm working with here is 1 SB600 to bring out the faces ... Should I rent a bigger light source??

Again, this is volunteer and for learning - and last minute I know ... but there are some great minds here and I'd love to hear what people think would make for a nice result. THanks!
Tate

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/12/2010 02:57:59 PM · #2

This is the place I could possibly rent a larger light from:
Dodd rental

littlegett

Canon EOS-20D

01/12/2010 03:00:03 PM · #3

What mood are you trying to capture? If you want full-on commercial appeal, you are gonna want to rent a couple lights. At least one main and one backlight. For background you may want a light depending on what mood you want again. Lighting is dependent on what you are trying to say.

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

01/12/2010 03:06:38 PM · #4

Can you make use of the large window shown in the wide shot? Use it as fill light for your group and use your SB600 for key/side light for drama. YOu could shoot the shot you want with the framing you like, then take your sb600 off camera and walk around flashing it(manual mode) to light the background or provide some spots of contrast. Then overlay the two images. Or you could composite light each person and add them into the final shot... Those are my two ideas. :)

albc28

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

01/12/2010 03:12:50 PM · #5

It looks to me like you have enough light. Here are a few things to consider. One from the angle of the pictures you have, I'd guess you were standing in taking the photos. You can kneel down to get a better angle on the shots...and that would still keep water in the picture, but you wouldn't be looking down on the water so you wouldn't have the reflections in the water.

When using flash, remember to meter for the background and let your flash fill the subject. You can keep your white balance on auto and switch later or put it on flash now. I'd becareful using a shutter speed of 1/80. That's right around the threshhold of where your hand can stay steady enough to keep focus...its easier with a chair, but when you have subtle movement from breathing and your subject do also, you risk slight blur. Obviously it can be done, but I'd try to go with at least 1/100.

01/12/2010 04:12:53 PM · #6

Some great input so far. THanks!

Anthony, I'll try to keep the shutter at 1/100 or better and perhaps pump the ISO a bit. The d300 is known to handle higher ISOs well but I always fear going over 400. As far as angle, I seem to get reflections at pretty much any angle unless I strategically avoid the bright light reflections but I guess if I make the angle more extreme and interesting, that would take attention from that. I'll plan on cloning those out in post when I can.

Mark, I'd love to use that window - and now that I think about it, I could open the other small window blinds on the same side to add some more light. This shoot seems to be about finding the sweet spots for composition and light.

I guess I'm still debating whether I should bother getter some nice big soft light-source or just work as I used to doing - it may actually be easier just using a reflector and the sb800, since I used to that.

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

01/12/2010 04:23:17 PM · #7

I'm looking for professional-looking images - but I'm limited to what I've been given ... shoot it here, and do it for free! This is for the Diabetes association in my area so it should have mass appeal but obviously the production value isn't going to be Chase Jarvis or anything =)

Originally posted by littlegett:

citymars

Nikon D700

01/12/2010 04:32:49 PM · #8

Can I jump in for a clarification / new question? If there are mixed light sources, does one use Auto WB, or is it better to take a reading off a gray card? Does it make a difference if a flash is added?

littlegett

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/12/2010 04:43:05 PM · #9

Originally posted by citymars:

Various light sources are always going to be an issue with white balance. Sure in post you can mix colours to give it a particular feel. Depending on how skilled in post someone is can often times depict the available light. Meaning, even if they use a common house lamp and natural lighting they can make it feel 'balanced' though can be difficult at times.

This is one reason I suggested using/renting the strobes. You will be able to get crisp clean well lit images any time of the day. In post you can cool them down if need be to give a more natural look, or maintain a warmness which is often found in more commercial.

Now, I suppose, the question is, how much do you want to put into this shoot? Sure you can rent the strobes and eat the cost. You know you will get strong clean images that way.

Or, you can scout the location again, all day long, take notes to how the sun comes in through all the windows as well as the lighting fixtures. What about turning off the main lights and using only the light coming in from the windows? If you move the subjects closer to the windows you will have plenty of light and minimal reflections on the water... However it will also darken in, depending again on how/where the second window is, and what it does to the background lighting... Which it may turn out very cool.

Downside is you are doing this tomorrow so you have to work quick. Downside is without nice strobe you cannot get cool shots of them on the start boards (while you stand in the water) Or something fun like that. The lighting it seems is only allowing for specific type of shots. Just don't do direct front flashing.... Like on the chair there, it just doesn't look that great imo.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

01/12/2010 05:38:12 PM · #10

Don't discount the use of reflectors. Even with 1 light a reflector will help.

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

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

01/12/2010 05:42:45 PM · #11

Well, you have some good glass as well as a good camera (and your port shows you have great skill, too!), and the 24-70 2.8 and 50 1.4 should work very well here, I think. I assume from your OP that you are not shooting a swimming event, but the swimmer, coach, etc at the pool in a more environmental portrait mode. If so, I would use a tripod, and your good glass with aperture set for a fairly shallow depth of field. Shutter speed set for a pleasing exposure of the pool, etc, and then fill flash with an umbrella to light the models. If the fill is subtle, it could almost seem like natural/available light, but you can play with that and make it more dramatic as suits you. If you have a second speedlight available, a rim light from 45 degrees off the models back shoulder (opposite your main speedlight) can provide a nice separation from the background, too, and can be as subtle (or not) as you like.

That is how I would start if going in cold to this, and it would likely change some when actually underway. Since you seem to have access to the location, taking a friend ahead of time and playing with some shots, angles, and lights could really be worthwile (and fun--no pressure then)

Good luck and hope to see some shots later on :-)

ETA: ditto on reflectors :-) (-:

Message edited by author 2010-01-12 17:43:27.

01/13/2010 01:35:01 PM · #12

I would like to thank everyone for their advice. And special thanks to my buddy

justamistere who ended up helping me with the shoot. It went great!

And as usual, I relied on my 50mm. Plus

justamistere had a new "toy" from Quantum that put my sb600 to shame!
I will post photos very soon.

I neglected to bring along release forms, so I need to get that done while the memory is fresh.

Along that line, anyone see an issue with a Getty release form? â�¦ I do some stock for Getty but usually not people I don't know. I probably won't use them as stock, but I definitely want to post them to my web page and use them for marketing purposes â�¦ and heck, maybe Getty for one or two.

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

01/15/2010 10:52:11 AM · #13

For those interested, I have posted the images for the client they are very happy with them. I wanted to share them here as well. YES - I still need to remove some reflections and clean-up skin as well as adjust color a bit, but these are so the designer can select specific images to be used in the design - because I don't want to edit images we're not using =) !

one2one

Olympus E-5

01/15/2010 10:59:01 AM · #14

Nice work Tate. Lighting, comp, everything. Would love to see a finished one when you're done.