| Author | Thread |
|
|
03/30/2004 08:54:33 PM · #1 |
how do you diffuse HOT HOT HOT lights? like the 500 watt work lamp ones. Those things get hot, and any paper, too close will easily catch fire. How do you diffuse them?
|
|
|
|
03/30/2004 09:00:58 PM · #2 |
Rather than try to paste something over the light, reflect the light off of something white. Remember, the more diffuse you want the light, the larger the "source" must appear when viewed from the subject position.
Purely diffuse light comes from all directions.
Try pointing the worklight directly upward if you have a white ceiling that is not too high. Alternatively, aim the lamp at the subject from about 6-8 feet away, and hang a white translucent cloth about 3 feet in front of the lamp.
With either of these methods, you will of course lose some intensity, and will need to compensate exposure.
|
|
|
|
03/30/2004 09:07:19 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Rather than try to paste something over the light, reflect the light off of something white. Remember, the more diffuse you want the light, the larger the "source" must appear when viewed from the subject position.
Purely diffuse light comes from all directions.
Try pointing the worklight directly upward if you have a white ceiling that is not too high. Alternatively, aim the lamp at the subject from about 6-8 feet away, and hang a white translucent cloth about 3 feet in front of the lamp.
With either of these methods, you will of course lose some intensity, and will need to compensate exposure. |
ok, is there any other ways? like some sort of piece of plastic you can stick like over the light? Like a big omni bounce?
|
|
|
|
03/30/2004 09:58:53 PM · #4 |
Ya gotta let the light spread out before it hits the diffuser, which means you don't stick your diffusing material right on the light, rather, you want it a couple feet in front of the lamp. A thin piece of white plastic sheet (think kitchen garbage bag material) is perfect.
Keeping it in front of the lamp by 2 feet solves the heat issue as well as producing a more diffuse light source.
Experiment!
|
|
|
|
03/30/2004 11:13:23 PM · #5 |
Go to a film/theatrical lighting suppliers - or phone one - and ask about what we in the UK call 'heavy frost' - basically varying opaque types of lighting gel (uncoloured), and of course designed for 1000W sources or brighter. Here, at least, you'll be surprised how inexpensive it is.
You'll need to make yourself some kind of frame to hold it with, but that shouldn't be hard.
E
Message edited by author 2004-03-30 23:14:03.
|
|
|
|
03/30/2004 11:16:03 PM · #6 |
I've used a white bed sheet before, with pretty good luck.
|
|
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: 09/03/2025 12:57:49 PM EDT.
