Any ideas?

[norahbattie]

Hi guys & gals,
I bought twin Bowens 500R kit not that long ago, couldn't really afford the three. I also opted for the studio background support system with a white & black curtain rather than the hi-lite background (only because I know I would be fighting with it to fold it - am only 5ft 1 and not that strong!)
I have been playing with the lighting and am a newbie to lighting, went on a course on Monday and they said it was pretty much trial and error with the settings to get high key images but essentially the light on the background needs to be higher power than the one on the subject.

I am a little pushed for space and I know I should have got the hi-lite but I am getting some spill onto the subject and my white background is not complete white (it has creases from the curtains etc)

Do I increase the background light and get more light onto the subject or is there another way to get the hi key image i want
Thanks
NB

 

[markw08]

Ideally you want a light meter to measure the flash outputs...

Normally you would set the background 1-2 stops brighter than the light on the subject...

If you are getting spill onto the subject you have to move them further away from the background...

If you are short on space maybe a hilite would have been better as you can stand closer to them...

 

[Garry Edwards]

The problems with 'wrap' are related only to the size of the background and the distance between subject and background, so a Hi-Lite will be no help at all.

You should use the least possible amount of overexposure on the background, to minimise flare and other problems, statements that the background needs to be overlit by 1 - 2 stops are just plain wrong, only a half stop is needed. See the video in this thread.
The problem with flare will always exist, to some extent, with an overlit white background unless you have a lot of distance between the front subject and the background, but it will always be worse with a Hi-Lite because the light is pointing straight at the lens instead of being deflected away at an angle. The same applies of course if you use a large softbox (which is what the Hi-Lite is) instead.

 

[markw08]

Sorry maybe i didnt write it clearly...

I didnt mean the Hi lite would solve the spill light...

As i said you need to move the subject further from the background or maybe your background light needs a flag etc to stop the light hitting the subject...

I meant the hi lite is suitable if you have not got the room to get the subject about 6ft from the background...as you can stand about 1ft away...

I normally use 1 maybe 2 stops brighter but i suppose it depends on the effect you want...

 

[FlyTVR]

How many lights are you using to illuminate the backdrop?

 

[norahbattie]

How many lights are you using to illuminate the backdrop?

I am just using one of the lights and then a softbox on the subject at 45 and 45 and a reflector for fill light. I found positioning the reflector to the side of the light on the background cuts out some of the light that is spilling over and works as a "shield"

I would have got a hi-lite but problem is folding it up again and i dont think i could have done this..i struggle with the reflector i have!