Beginner Comments on this lighting.

[Dannyj1984]

So after a recent thread about some lighting for portraits and some great help from @Phil V I bought some bits and pieces, 3 x 300w strobe flash lights, an octabox, a rectangular softbox and a hotshot trigger and receiver for the flashes. (which came with a barn door and some gels which I didn't have a clue what they did until I read up on them) Still not sure if I'll use them but they were free so why not. After reading online I opted for 3 head units over 2 as the three point lighting seems popular and my dad who used to do professional photos albeit mainly weddings said that having a 3rd light (highlight) is beneficial and can also be used to light the background. Set everything up today and took a few test shots at home against a white wall.

Any comments would be appreciated to help tell me what I need to improve. My set up was,


Hairlight 10/60



model


Keylight 30/60 Fill light 15/60

the marks out of 60 are the power settings on the head unit. full power was way too much for my small room.

Ah my little diagram didn't work. I had the highlight behind and to the right aiming at the back of my head, the Key light just to the right and the fill light the same angle and distance on the left side (as if looking from the models viewpoint.


Obviously the first is with my 3rd flash blowing out the background and the second with the flash aiming at the back of my head.
Comments on the lighting only please not the 'model' I am much better suited to being behind the camera but my girlfriend didn't have make up on so refused to be my model once I told her that I was going to put the photos on the internet :') No alterations at all in PP just used to resize the images for the forum.

Many thanks
Danny

 

[Phil V]

Not a bad first attempt, I'll deal with the 2nd image 1st.

The keylight / fill ratio is pleasant, not my kinda thing but it works. The 3rd light isn't doing anything at all, for a hairlight or rim light it needs to be up out of the shot. Directly behind you, whatever it's lighting is hidden from the camera.

On the 1st the background light is well overcooked, to the point it's adding lens flare. You can also see it's burning into your jumper. It needs turning down, and you probably need to increase the distance from subject to background. Like the 2nd though, the key/fill ratio is pleasant. I prefer a higher contrast ratio, but if you're aiming for light and cheery it works as that.

Hope that helps.

 

[Dannyj1984]

Thanks.....practice practice practice now Could be a long evening on Monday
Danny

 

[Garry Edwards]

Yes, a good first attempt, but a couple of observations...
1. Using yourself as a model just makes it impossibly hard, because you can't see what the camera is seeing. If you can't find someone else willing to model, use a still life subject to practice on - in fact, use a still life subjecf for practice regardless of whether you have a choice.
2. You've made the mistake of trying to light to some kind of formulae, it doesn't work.
3. You've assumed that the power setting of the flash helps you with that formulae, it doesn't, because the distance from the modifier is far more relevant to the amount of light reaching the subject than the power setting on the flash. Even the type and size of the modifier is more relevant.
4. You've also assumed that you can have a key light on one side of the subject and a fill light on the other, and you can't. In this case the "fill light" is in fact a second "sun" which is lighting your entire face and making it look fat. Try putting the key light directly in front of where your subject is facing and high up, it's a far more natureral position than off to one side, and generally far more flattering, and place the fill light where a fill light really goes (on axis with the camera lens) although it can also work directly in front of where the subject is facing, where this is diffferent.
5. Stop watching Youtube videos by people who talk about key lights and fill lights, ratios and getting white backgrounds - most of them know far less about it than you do - correct lighting is lighting that produces the effect you want it to.

 

[Dannyj1984]

Thanks Garry,
A lot more practice is needed I think, like you say, and like other forms of photography, it's all subjective and to what you prefer.
Will dig out my gfs big teddy for practicing on I do like the look on the second one with one side slightly shaded compared to the other. I also need to learn more about how to position people etc.

Danny

 

[The23rdman]

What I would add to what Garry and Phil never said is to keep it simple. You need to start with one light, see what you can do with it and then think about adding others.

Use it with different modifiers and at different angles and strengths. When you have a good idea what it can do think about how an extra light would add something. If it doesn't add anything leave it out. Don't run before your can walk.

Edit: for what it's worth, I use one light for 80% of my work these days. Subject engagement and/or story are way more important than fancy lighting.

 

[Phil V]

What I would add to what Garry and Phil never said is to keep it simple. You need to start with one light, see what you can do with it and then think about adding others.

Use it with different modifiers and at different angles and strengths. When you have a good idea what it can do think about how an extra light would add something. If it doesn't add anything leave it out. Don't run before your can walk.

Edit: for what it's worth, I use one light for 80% of my work these days. Subject engagement and/or story are way more important than fancy lighting.

And this^
My eldest is out a a Masquerade ball this evening, and last night I chucked up a popup background and a single gridded softbox, powered by a battery flash, the result I reckon was OK and I'll post a couple tomorrow.

In fact most of my flash work is OCF, everything from a speedlight on a DJ's PA to a Safari2 in a 120cm Octabox.