2 Catchlights

Keltic Ice Man

Keltic Ice Man

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Allan
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I have 4 lights, 2 on a white background, then my main light to my left (through a softbox) and a fill light to my right of camera (through a white brolly). I find that I keep getting 2 catchlights in kids eyes. Other than photoshop how do I position the lights to stop this?

Thanks

Allan
 
I think the short answer is that the lights must be placed wherever the produce the result you want, and don't worry about the catchlghts.

Having said that, one light each side isn't exactly ideal for lighting kids (or anyone else) because kids have perfect skin and don't benefit from flat lighting. And if you really do want to use 2 lights, you could put the fill light in the true fill light position, where the catchlight probably won't be separate from the catchlight from the key light, instead of having it on the opposite side
 
Keltic Ice Man said:
Hi Garry, thats lost me :)

Would flat lighting not be when the light is square on to the subject?, rather than coming from the side?

Do you have a diagram of a good setup that might be useful for doing kids?

Thanks

Allan
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Allan,

Flat lighting is lighting that doesn't cast shadows, e.g. the natural light outdoors when no sun is visible - boring, Lighting that is coming from two opposite directions lights the face more or less equally so the lighting is flat. It is also unnatural, because there is only one sun in the real world so there shouldn't be two in the studio.

I don't do diagrams or setups, I light for the individual subject - but a good starting point might be to place a light directly in front of the subject at a high level (which will sculpt the face very well provided that the subject isn't looking down too much) If you feel that the shadows are too harsh you could put a reflector below the camera, to direct spare light up into the shadow areas. If you really feel that you need a second light, use a fill light at low power. A fill light is a light that goes on the same axis as the lens (around, immediately above, immediately below the lens or behnd the camera) because only a light very close to the lens can produce a true fill, i.e. can illuminate all of the subject as seen by the lens.

That's the long answer. The short answer is to use one light, place it wherever it produces the effect you want and only introduce a reflector or a second light if it is needed to mitigate unacceptable shadows. And throw away any books that tell you to place a light each side of the subject;)

Edit: Flat lighting is lighting with low contrast, regardless of where the lights are placed. One of those silly jargon terms that confuses people.
 
significantly dropping the power on the fill will reduce the notice-ability of the catch light and give a more interesting light
 
Thank you folks very useful advice

Garry especially - Thank you for taking the time for the long answer - I really do appreciate it. I had totally misunderstood the term flat lighting, as at college the lecturer always used this term for lighting in front. I have found using relectors to be really difficult with small children as they move around so quickly and so much but will give it all a try again.

Allan
 
Allan,
Photography lecturers who talk about lighting are often in the same class as politicians who talk about integrity and police officers who talk about the law:)

I agree that the small pop up reflectors are difficult with small children, but you could use a large sheet of white card, polystyrene etc. Obviously it has to be placed opposite the light so that it picks up any 'spare' light that passes by the subject. If your key light is high and central then the reflector would typically lay on the floor immediately in front of the camera, tilted up a bit. Well worth trying. Or you could use a ring flash at low power (it's in exactly the right place for fill) or a large softbox or umbrella immediately behind you, as in this video
 
Try using a large reflector instead of a fill light
 
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