| Author | Thread |
|
|
08/06/2006 02:49:29 AM · #1 |
Hey....
As some of you know I recently set up a studio in my husbands office basement. I have a softbox, an opaque reflector powered with ambient light and strobe and a rear corner umbrella.
I thought the light was pretty good until Joey pointed out that it seemed flat or just 'not right'. We evualuted that it might be lacking in side or backlight. Any more thoughts on what it could be?
Here are a few shots with current lighting arrangement.
All comments or suggestions welcome.
     
Message edited by author 2006-08-07 09:29:23. |
|
|
|
08/06/2006 03:05:49 AM · #2 |
In my opinion their pretty good but a bit of backlighting would definately help. I guess it all depends on the effect you are after!
|
|
|
|
08/06/2006 08:28:47 AM · #3 |
All three of those look good to me just as they are.
Generally, "flat lighting" is where there are no shadows. Meaning the light pretty much came from directly in front of them. Or ... even if it came from the sides, it must have come "equally" from the sides - enough to balance out and cancel any shadows.
The first one obviously has more light on the left side of the image (her right cheek) while the left side is partially in shadow. This is good. It gives her a 3-d look. The effect could be stronger... all you'd have to do is turn up the power of the light on camera left or turn down the fill light. But it depends on what you're going for. I think she looks beautiful just the way you've lit her. Some people prefer a more "dramatic look" and that's what you would change.
The 2nd picture looks good for the girl on the left. The one on the right looks a little flat. The girl on the left was probably blocking some of the light. Try repositioning her.
The 3rd picture looks like it had more light from the right side. It's a little bit straight on - but maybe you had to do that because of the vale? Anyway, you could play with that one a little bit more. Move the vale if you have to...
Message edited by author 2006-08-06 08:30:27.
|
|
|
|
08/06/2006 09:44:52 AM · #4 |
I had to leave for a bit, so I cut short my evaluation. I want to change what I said for the 2nd picture.
On second look, I don't think the girl on the left is blocking the light. I think the issue for the girl on the right is that you have two lights on her and both of them are just about equal in strength. The reason I say that is ... look at the shadows caused by the hair on both sides of her face. You can see the light is coming from both directions and the strength of the shadows appear equal on both sides. The other key is the strengh of the lights in her eyes. You appear to have two catch lights in each eye of equal strength.
I think the real issue for the 2nd image this: light diminishes with the square of the distance. And so the girl on the right was either right in the middle of two lights of equal power, while the girl on the left was closer to one of the lights. Or you had the light on the right turned up a bit too high, but the distance to the girl on the left helped reduce the light.
Here's what I'd do:
1) Keep the light on the left were it is.
2) Pull the light on the right straight back towards the camera. Keep it as close to the camera as possible and use it only as a fill light.
Now you may need to keep the two girls faces closer together so that the light on the left doesn't vary too much between the two girls (distance, again, playing a part in the strength of the light).
Hope this helps.
Message edited by author 2006-08-06 09:46:17.
|
|
|
|
08/06/2006 10:32:24 AM · #5 |
dwterry-
Accurate asessment of whats goin on with the light. I think I understand what I need to do at this point. I remember I kept turning up the light on the right because it kept looking dark to me through the LCD. I do see the importance now of the unbalanced lights. You did'nt mention anything about back light. I think I need one more light in the room at this juncture. I probably need a smaller softbox to keep near me under the camera or off to one side. Everything I have right now is large and hard to navigate around.
I do appreciate your indepth evaluation on my situation. Very helpful indeed.
Thanks so much,
Kelly |
|
|
|
08/06/2006 10:53:56 AM · #6 |
I don't think you really need a hair light for these. It helps. But it becomes much more important when you have a person with dark hair set against a dark background. Then you either need to light up the background, or throw light on their hair - something to separate them from the background. But these are looking fine without either a hair light or a background light. Keep it simple, you're doing fine. :-)
|
|
|
|
08/06/2006 01:08:38 PM · #7 |
Regardless of the balancing between the two lights, there's the quality of the main light to consider as well. Basically you light to model your planes with the main light, then you futz with the fill light to cut down on the harshness of the shadows/modeling effect.
It looks to me, from what I can see surviving of the main light shadows, that this primary light source is being set up MUCH closer to straight-on than I'd personally ever use. I don't think I ever used more than a 45-degree angle for my main light, and frequently as little as 30 degrees or even 15 degrees, for more dramatic lighting; then the fill, to soften it up a little.
It's not that there's no place for even overall lighting, but I find it uninteresting for most portraits. I like to use the light to sculpture things. So this may be what Joey was getting at?
Robt.
|
|
|
|
08/06/2006 01:53:53 PM · #8 |
Yeah, Joey was telling me at the European GTG that alot of the lights were somewhat in front of the models with the photographer shooting through a narrow space between them. I think Anastasias soft boxes are rectangular.
I really don't have a clear understanding of what a general all purpose light set up should be like. I am pretty sure I understand dramatic lighting. (go figure) but its the happydoodle type that confounds me. LOL
Thanks Bear. What you said made perfect sense and I do think my understanding is better from your post. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/04/2025 12:10:16 AM EDT.
