Lighting help for graffiti portraits

07/27/2008 10:33:26 PM · #1

Hey Guys!

A friend tipped me off to a cool abandoned building with a ton of beautiful graffiti. I went and took some shots of the location and I want to take some model shots here. The question that I have is how can I get the most of the lighting. As you can see from the pics, the rooms (old carports perhaps?) pretty much cut out any direct sunlight from shining in. I don't have any type of lighting equipment (except for the on camera flash), so usually for portraits I just shoot in the evening to give some type of dynamic lighting. I was thinking maybe I could make some type of DIY reflector to get some light into the rooms, but don't really have any experience at all with this.

Anyway, here are the pics, let me know what you think. Thanks!

07/28/2008 08:08:25 PM · #2

Any ideas????

trevytrev

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

07/28/2008 08:43:02 PM · #3

Hard to tell by the pics what to do but I would suggest using your 50 1.8 and try some reflectors for the natural light, maybe some big whiteboard for the darker side of the model to fill a bit. You might be able to push the ISO a along with opening your lens up without having to resort to flash. Not great advice but l figured I would throw it out there, good luck.

zackdezon

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

07/28/2008 08:46:12 PM · #4

I recently did some headshots at a graffiti'd location, and what I did was place my model in the shade against a wall, but near some direct sunlight so I could catch it with my reflector and light him up. Reflectors are your friends, man.

briantammy

Olympus PEN E-P3

Konica Minolta MF 85mm f/1.7

07/28/2008 09:08:38 PM · #5

what might work is to take a little piece of mirror, say 2x2 inches, and tape it to your camera so that it directs the flash up or to the side and have someone hold a white reflective surface where the flash hits putting it on the model. i haven't tried it but it should work. some times you gotta make do.

ryand

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

07/28/2008 09:26:13 PM · #6

using a diy reflector, just to reflect the natural lighting can have a huge effect on the lighting of the picture. One way would be to have a piece of cardboard that you tape aluminum foil to and then crinkle the foil a lot so that it isn't a harsh reflection. Another way is to use a piece of that foam insulation board, thats pretty vague, but thats as good as i can do for describing that one.

Hope that helps,

Ryan

07/28/2008 09:32:19 PM · #7

Thanks for the replies guys! I'm definitely going to make a reflector, I've been wanting to buy a couple of them, but just can't bring myself to pay so much for so little.
I'm also eying making one of these.

pineapple

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

07/28/2008 09:38:54 PM · #8

By the time you have messed with all sorts of DIY methods, buying a couple of reflectors from Amvona.com (for example)will seem cheap. How about buying a 580ex mark I as well or a cheaper Canon flash. You need mobile flash in that situation....

07/28/2008 09:56:21 PM · #9

Originally posted by pineapple:

Yea, I think eventually I will end up buying a strobe; I really enjoy portrait photography. I guess the only thing stopping me is just that it seems like no one ever wants to model so I fear that it'll end up sitting in a box somewhere.

trevytrev

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

07/28/2008 09:58:54 PM · #10

Originally posted by CaseyAllen:

Originally posted by pineapple:
By the time you have messed with all sorts of DIY methods, buying a couple of reflectors from Amvona.com (for example)will seem cheap. How about buying a 580ex mark I as well or a cheaper Canon flash. You need mobile flash in that situation....

Yea, I think eventually I will end up buying a strobe; I really enjoy portrait photography. I guess the only thing stopping me is just that it seems like no one ever wants to model so I fear that it'll end up sitting in a box somewhere.

Self portrait! great thing is that you will be available when ever you have time:)

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

07/28/2008 10:32:22 PM · #11

Originally posted by trevytrev:

Self portrait! great thing is that you will be available when ever you have time:)

Hmm, good point!

zackdezon

Nikon D300

07/28/2008 11:22:00 PM · #12

Not to hijack the thread, but how does one focus in a SP? The idea's intrigued me, but the question of focus has tripped me up a bit. Any techniques?

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

07/29/2008 08:37:07 AM · #13

Originally posted by zackdezon:

Not to hijack the thread, but how does one focus in a SP? The idea's intrigued me, but the question of focus has tripped me up a bit. Any techniques?

You could put a stand in for yourself (any object would work really), and manual focus on it before you get in the picture. Of course if you had a remote trigger that would make it easier...

muckpond

Nikon D200

07/29/2008 09:18:33 AM · #14

i'd start by waiting for a slightly overcast day so that you don't have such harsh shadowing. then you can just use a longer exposure and you might get what you're looking for cheap. clouds = mother nature's diffuser = free.