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03/13/2004 10:33:59 PM · #1 |
I am trying to improve my lighting skills, especially for still life and portrait shots.
I have my portrait "guinea pig" coming over tomorrow, so I set up my "studio" tonight. I used these flowers for some trial runs to see if I could control the light and shadows.
The first shot is simply 500 watt quartz lighting set slightly at an angle to the subject. This was to try a more dramatic effect.
The second shot is the same set up, only using my HVL1000 flash, not on the camera but slightly to the left of the subject to try to even out the shadows more.
I would appreciate any comments on how to improve, what's maybe done right? I'm still going to be playing around. The best way to learn I think is to just do it.
flowers, dramatic lighting
flowers, even lighting
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03/13/2004 10:56:43 PM · #2 |
| Hi...I like the way both shots came out as far as tone and color go, but I also think both shots look very flat against the black background. Maybe move the lights more at angle for side lighting instead of the front lighting and also vary their distance to the subject to get the fullness you may want in your subject. Hope that helps. |
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03/13/2004 11:17:17 PM · #3 |
For most portrait lighting, the even lighting is too flat. Your dramtic is a little too dramatic. Some fill is neede on the opposite side of your main light. You can achieve this by using something as asimple as a piece of poster board (White is preferable). You can vary your lighting ratio with the distance the poster board is from your subject. Reflect the light from your main light onto your subject to create detail in the shadow area of the face.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you with your lighting. Portrait lighting is kind of my specialty.
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03/13/2004 11:28:37 PM · #4 |
I made a softbox for my 1000 flash when I was using my 717. I used that white construction type board from walmart (68 cents I think). I made the equiv of a box the length of the flash at 0 degrees and I put tin foil on the inside on the 3 non-front walls + top. This worked very well for me.
You can also buy one that doesn't look like shit I'm sure, but I actualy prefered my el-cheopo one compared to a friends that I tried.
Message edited by author 2004-03-13 23:29:20.
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03/13/2004 11:33:33 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Russell2566:
I made a softbox for my 1000 flash when I was using my 717. I used that white construction type board from walmart (68 cents I think). I made the equiv of a box the length of the flash at 0 degrees and I put tin foil on the inside on the 3 non-front walls + top. This worked very well for me.
You can also buy one that doesn't look like shit I'm sure, but I actualy prefered my el-cheopo one compared to a friends that I tried. |
how exactly did you do this?
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03/13/2004 11:43:41 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by lightpro1:
For most portrait lighting, the even lighting is too flat. Your dramtic is a little too dramatic. Some fill is neede on the opposite side of your main light. You can achieve this by using something as asimple as a piece of poster board (White is preferable). You can vary your lighting ratio with the distance the poster board is from your subject. Reflect the light from your main light onto your subject to create detail in the shadow area of the face.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you with your lighting. Portrait lighting is kind of my specialty. |
Thanks to everyone for great suggestions. I do have the poster board ready to go, but I just didn't use it for these shots. I did on later ones and it took away some of the glare on the leaves and looked better. I didn't use it on the left side of the photo though...good suggestion.
In regards to the "flat" look...I tried some lighing on the backdrop, but never did get what I wanted. It was usually too bright at the bottom near the light (I used a single 500 watt unit). I tried backing it up but ran into shadow problems. Any suggestions for lighting up the back to separate the subject from the backdrop a bit?
The soft box for the flash sounds interesting. I'd like to see a photo of it if you have it still around?
Message edited by author 2004-03-13 23:45:59.
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03/14/2004 01:01:35 AM · #7 |
| How close was your backdrop to your subject? I think you should have a a good distance between the two...say about 6 feet and then lighting the background evenly would come easier. If you have the lights, try lighting the backdrop with two lights each from either side. Also, you may want to try accent light from the back on your real human model to give some highlights to the rear of her/his head to further seperate subject and backdrop. |
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