 Barefoot Photography by Tina Doane |
Studio Lighting Problem I am not sure how to word this and have it make sense, but here it goes: I want to shoot my portraits at f/5.6 or f/8. But when I set up my lights for that, anything under f/11 is too bright. I have been shooting at f/11, and the lights are set to f/11 (main) and f/16 fill, but I want the backdrop to blur a little. I know I'm doing something wrong, but cant figure it out. Any suggestions?
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
The fill shouldn't be brighter by itself than your main, assuming that's what you did. If you want f/5.6, then if there's any crossover with two lights, the main should be f/4-f/4.5 with the fill at f/2.8-f/3.5 - and the result would be f/5.6. You ought to try one light at f/5.6 and a reflector for fill, instead of another light. See how that looks to you, as a way of starting out. Then if you still want two lights, you have to take in account that depending on the angle, some fill ends up lighting the same areas as your main.
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Jeff Scheerer |
another method you can try is a neutral density filter to ajust the amount of light your camera recieves. or you can try just putting gels over light that should also cut it by a couple stops and give you more creative control
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John A. Lind |
Gregory is definitely pushing you in the right direction . . . to turn down the lights . . . and the numbers he gave for main and fill look good too! [Gregory, you've obviously worked with lights some.] I assume you're using strobes or monolights and that you're able to adjust their power level [???]. Do you have a flash meter? If not, I encourage you to get one. I consider it an essential tool when working with studio strobes/monolights. You don't really need one of the computerized digital readout wonder-meters (which can be quite expensive). For most studio work, a basic flash meter is more than sufficient and a used analog one in excellent condition such as a Gossen Luna Pro F (F = flash meter) won't break the bank. -- John Lind
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William Koplitz |
Inverse square law, just move your lights back.
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Norbert Maile |
Just curious, what are you using for lights? If hot lights, what are the wattages and positioning of the lights? Norbert
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Gena A. Tussey |
I shot at F5.6 for fill, main at F11, shoot at F11 and hair light at F8-8.5. This is the "normal" setting for most studio as in Olan Mills and such. Not to say this is the only way, but I have a nice soft blur up-close and a nice b/g that helps. Also, consider trying an old favorite...take a uv lens and some vasoline or hairgel. Put a rummage sale round sticker in the middle and run very lightly the "gel" over the area not covered by sticker. A careful hand makes a beautiful thing. Then store in a filter container. If you do this you can have a nice illusion with little cost and still shoot with what F stop you are getting. There are really some fun tricks for illusions if you want to know....tenwalker@bellsouth.net But lighting is always best used in layers and different depths to add and take away. Gregory, is 'da man!!!
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Barefoot Photography by Tina Doane |
The are 750 watts. I have an umbrella postioned by the camera, I have a soft box off to the right. I have a sekonic 358 flash meter. If I was going to use just one light and a reflector would you suggest an umbrella or a soft box?
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William Koplitz |
This depends on what you want the highlight or hot spot in the eye to look like. Soft boxes give you a square or rectangle, umbrella's give you, well, it's kind of weird but looks like the inside of an umbrella. Some photographers build their on lights so they can control the hot spot in the eye. Others don't use artificial lighting but rely on natural lighting and white cards. Many Hollywood types of photographs are shot with 3 axis lighting and a white card positioned right under the chin to bring more light into the eyes - you have to be able to see the color. Photography is a reflection of personal taste, or the desires of your client - there are just no right or wrong answers. The best way to learn is to find an image you really like and try to duplicate it technically.
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