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08/07/2006 02:51:06 AM · #251 |
Originally posted by Cutter:
Hey Mike, I respect your stuff so I will gently amend some of your points for his sake. The only problem with killing all your ambient/natural light, (BIG NOTE HERE) when working with sub-standard lighting, is the fact that you can't achieve the correct balance, exposure and shadowing. The reason and main point of natural light inspiration would be Librodo. He uses a ton of natural lighting and he achieves magnificent results. So if albc28 wanted to go with some more dramatic lighting for indoors in conjuction with his "work" lights, then to boost some light, the window could significantly help.
But you bring up a great point about shadow control. But if you don't mind, I will still think of lighting as lighting as well.
(edit to use one of your photos as shadow control/lighting example. To me, this photo couldn't be improved upon. I think it is awesome.)
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Ah, I was speaking of killing ambient strictly from the sense of lighting in studio. If you're working with natural light as your main (or as supplemental) then by all means use it. And yes, Manny does great natural light work.
One thing to consider though is that when you're balancing natural light with artificial, WB becomes crucial. Unless you want your shot to show different color temps from different light sources, you'll need to gel (and even then, natural does change fairly quick especially at sunrise and sunset). Start simple - either use natural or artificial but don't confuse everything by trying to jump directly into both.
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08/07/2006 09:33:28 AM · #252 |
Hmm. I know I'm in some big company here, but this is my humble submission, - a portrait of my 5 year old.
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08/07/2006 05:52:00 PM · #253 |
Originally posted by Sinky:
Hmm. I know I'm in some big company here, but this is my humble submission, - a portrait of my 5 year old.
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Everyone is welcome to chime in and give or request help. Welcome, Jeremy. A nice portrait you posted there. Focus is crisp, bokeh looks great, lighting is soft and exposure looks dead on. Oh and I like the composition too. My only wish is that she were looking either at the camera or a little more in your direction so we could see a bit more of the eyes. Adorable little one! :)
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08/07/2006 05:56:19 PM · #254 |
 This is my submission. I used two construction lamps with white t-shirts over them and a flash. |
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08/07/2006 05:58:32 PM · #255 |
I'm curious about the background colors. Did you shoot these with a white background and then add the color in software?
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08/09/2006 04:05:53 PM · #256 |
Okay here is another stab, this is outside during our company softball game. I played with changing it to black and white using saturations layers in one photo and channel mixer in another. (Yes it's 3 photos of the same picture).
Oh..and all comments good or bad (as long as constructive bad) are welcome.
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08/09/2006 04:09:06 PM · #257 |
Originally posted by micknewton:
I'm curious about the background colors. Did you shoot these with a white background and then add the color in software? |
actually it is weird. I used a grayish/bluish background but then with the flash it naturally created a nice gradient around the models. Then in CS2, I simply slid the hue adjustment this way or that to create the colored background I desired. And then obviously masked out the models from the hue adjustment.
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08/09/2006 06:30:44 PM · #258 |
Originally posted by Cutter:
actually it is weird. I used a grayish/bluish background but then with the flash it naturally created a nice gradient around the models. Then in CS2, I simply slid the hue adjustment this way or that to create the colored background I desired. And then obviously masked out the models from the hue adjustment. |
Hey, that's cool. I'll have to give it a try... if I ever get somebody to pose for me again. :)
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08/09/2006 06:42:02 PM · #259 |
Cool composition. I like your b/w conversion on the middle one, but it looks a bit overexposed on the bottom one. Not a bad shot for a drinking event... I mean company event ;)
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08/14/2006 11:13:03 AM · #260 |
Thank you Cindi...
(felt like this thread needed a bump) |
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08/14/2006 12:20:32 PM · #261 |
I have been watching this thread for quite some time. My head is swimming. I am trying to set up my own home studio with lighting. I made a purchase of the following:
//www.opusprophoto.com/products/lighting_kits/k_series_kits.html#k50088
K50088 Kit
Item Model Number Quantity
Monolight (500 w/s) OPL-K500WS 2
Light Stand (Heavy Duty) OPL-806 2
4 Channel Wireless Flash Trigger System OPL-WTS 1
Soft Box (24"x36") OPL-SB2436 1
Umbrella 46" (Reflective & Shoot-through) OPL-SM46 1
Snoot & Honeycomb & 4 Color Filter Kit OPL-SKO1 1
Barndoor & Honeycomb & 4 Color Filter Kit OPL-S03 1
Wheeled Carry Case OPL-1068 1
I am not sure what to do with all of this!! That probably sounds like the stupidist thing, but.... I do think I am missing one crucial thing.. a light meter. I think this is something from the sounds of it that I really need to set the lights/camera to the correct setting. I think I can get a pretty good idea of how to set up the lights after looking at some of the set ups on this forum and others. But any help/suggestions would be appreciated. Feeling stupid and overwhelmed!
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08/14/2006 02:03:34 PM · #262 |
Hi Carol. Welcome to the thread and to DPC. This is a great place to learn, I hope you're finding it helpful so far.
The lighting kit you bought looks to be a nice starter collection, should get you going nicely. I fought using a light meter for a long time, determined that I could judge exposure/light ratio "by eye" or via trial & error. I was stupid. When I finally broke down and bought a light meter..... wait.. 3 months later when I finally read the manual and tried it out... I'm sooooooooooo sold! One click of the meter and you KNOW your exposures are right. Until you get one though, play around with your lights. Try a really basic lighting set-up (see the diagram posted in this thread way back there) and see what you can do. There are a lot of good lighting books in the bookstores, you might want to grab one and read some of the reasoning behind most lighting techniques so that it all makes more sense to you. I wish I could quote every word of "Learning to Light" by Hicks & Schults in this thread. Its a brilliant book.
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08/14/2006 02:16:45 PM · #263 |
GELS
Tired of your plain white or plain black or gray background? Try a colored gel to brighten things up. Lighting gels are sheets of colored plastic that can be placed over a strobe. They're cheap and can make a dramatic change to your portraits.
Here only the background light is covered with a red gel. The background is black paper.
The rest of that series is here.
Give it a try! :)
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08/14/2006 03:31:12 PM · #264 |
| Thanks, I will just start messing with things and see what I come up with! I guess I just need to do that so I can get some confidence! How did you do that with the gels? I like that! I think I have the equipment to do that, but not sure how to set that up. |
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08/14/2006 04:05:52 PM · #265 |
Here is how gels work:
 This is an Alien Bee strobe with no light modifiers attached (only the silver collar that helps to protect/direct the light.
 This is a blue 'gel'
 Here I have attached the gel to the front of the strobe using the little plastic stick-on clips that came with my lights - but you could use tape as well.
Here is what blue light looks like:
 
And here is the same set-up with a red gel:
 
Just be sure to keep your model well in front of the gel'd light or you'll get multi-colored people. :)
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08/14/2006 04:14:07 PM · #266 |
This may seem like a stupid question...but do you place you background photos behind the back ground or off to the side facing the background from the front??
edit: Had to change word that made it a stupid question (photo = light)
Message edited by author 2006-08-15 08:10:13. |
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08/14/2006 04:17:47 PM · #267 |
Originally posted by albc28:
This may seem like a stupid question...but do you place you background photos behind the back ground or off to the side facing the background from the front?? |
You place the background light either right behind the model but directed toward the backdrop or off to one side facing the backdrop -- still well behind the model. I try to keep my models atleast 5-6 feet away from the backdrop, so that leaves plenty of space to get some light in there.
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08/14/2006 10:39:17 PM · #268 |
| Thanks so much for the info. Hopefully tomorrow I can take some shots and make some posts! I'll try not to be so shy! Great information that you are posting. Helps a lot. Thanks about the gels, can't wait to try that too! |
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08/15/2006 09:54:45 AM · #269 |
Good news..Since I'm having a hard time testing my studio with self portraits I have a friend that is going to model for me and let me truly gage it this this weekend. In exchange she wants a few head shots for her to use (and of course whatever other photos I take of her just for funs sake).
Quick question..not necessarily related to portraits, but since she is a good friend, should i still have her sign a model release?
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08/15/2006 09:57:33 AM · #270 |
Anthony - I would have her sign one. If nothing else so that you can use the shots in your portfolio or on a website.
Carol - can't wait to see your first experiments with your lights. Don't be shy, we don't bite :D
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08/15/2006 06:30:33 PM · #271 |
I would definately ask your friend to sign a model release - just to cover yourself. Its a good habit to get into. Personally I have been surprised how many people are not comfortable having their images on the web.
You can have an issue where the model may be fine with it but their mum/partner/friend isn't, and your model may then change their mind. If this is some time later and you do not have a signed model release the model may not even remember agreeing to you putting them on the web - it wasn't important to them at the time. Getting the model to sign a release makes them think about it and remember that they gave permission.
Of course if someone changes their mind its best to take the images down. The release covers you against accusations that "you never asked me"
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08/17/2006 06:48:14 PM · #272 |
Okay I tried some photos with my lighting.I don't have a flash meter yet. Just tried to "eye" it for now until I get one. Here is a link to my yahoo photo album with them in it. I didn't know where else to post them as I am not a member here. See what you think. It was fun!
//photos.yahoo.com/cabshutterbug
I would like to get a light for background lighting and for hairlight. I think I read somewhere of using a plant light or something to use for background or hairlight, anyone ever heard of this? Or have any other improv ideas? I would also like to know where to get a model release. I would like to set up a web site and would need to have models sign a release for that purpose. |
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08/17/2006 07:07:21 PM · #273 |
| Nice first shoot, Carol! The posing and lighting both look great for your first go. I would definitely suggest bringing your model farther away from the backdrop so that those wrinkles fall out of focus (shorter DOF will help too). A light meter is definitely your next step and I think you'll be off and running! :) |
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08/18/2006 12:25:12 AM · #274 |
Don't know if anyone saw this on the other thread about my new studio lights....But here is my first shoot with my new Paterson Interfit Stellar 600s....I am my own reluctant, yet silly (but occasionally stylin') model..Whatya think? I like aggressive, modern, clean lighting...
  
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08/18/2006 07:34:27 AM · #275 |
Hi Beau! I saw these in the other thread and thought you're doing pretty great considering you just picked up this set of lights. One thing I would point out though...It looks like you have the lights about about 45 degrees to each side of you. This creates a fairly even light on each side of the face, but leaves the front of the face in shadow. While its a fun lighting effect, its not the most flattering lighting style for portraits - especially of older people or people with imperfections. My suggestion: turn one of your lights down by 50% and move it to behind and above the camera. This will allow one side of the face to be a bit brighter and the other side to fall into shadow a bit. Its a flattering look that emphasizes the natural curves of the face. Hope this helps. |
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