First Attempt in Home Studio

T

Tunbridge

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,282
Name
Stephen
Edit My Images
Yes
I recently bought myself a home studio as something new to play with.

I’ve posted my first attempts below. I wasn’t sure if I should post them here or in the critique section but it’s mainly the lighting that I’m after advice on – Mods move if you like. It was difficult to get a 3 year old to stand still (i.e. where I’ve metered the lights) so that was a bit of a challenge trying to get the lighting right.

I’ve watched plenty of youtube videos / read on-line tutorials to get me this far and I think they are OK for a first go, but I’m not expert. I have no aspirations to do this professionally, just wanted a new toy and the chance to get some pics of the kids.

Any advice on how to improve would be appreciated as I get limited time to practice / mess about due to impatient models and the fact the wifes understanding only goes so far when this takes over the house!


Studio-1-2 by Tunbridge Wells, on Flickr


Studio-1-3 by Tunbridge Wells, on Flickr


Studio-1-4 by Tunbridge Wells, on Flickr

Here is the set up, I had the Octobox with Lencarta EP300 as the key, set as ½ power, which metered at f13. I had the other soft box (also with an EP300) for fill at 1/8 power and the background light (SmartFlash 200) set at full power, which metered about f16. I only have one background light and managed to get it reasonably even (I think?) using a Lencarta background reflector – to the right of the background, just in front of the TV stand. I think my main issue is a low white ceiling and a lack of space between the background / subject / camera. The background is white paper (2.75m wide)
Shots were taken at 1/250 sec, f13 with a D7000 & Nikon17-55mm f2.8


Studio-1 by Tunbridge Wells, on Flickr
 
Whilst we're waiting on the experts to arrive....

I've just recently started experimenting with studio lighting and have a hell of a lot to learn before I am qualified to give advice...but, the balance between the lights doesn't seem quite right. Maybe position the octo (right) more face on so it is lifting the shadow on the left side of his face a bit? May also achieve something similar by increasing the left flash to 1/4 power or higher.
 
Thanks Shane, all opinions are valued, expert or not. As you say, it's a major learning curve! I was hoping to go on some sort of training course to get me started with the basics but haven't found one that suits. I was hoping Garry was going to do some more Lencarta ones in Bradford but I've had to make do with watching YouTube which isn't quite the same!
I think I need to find a more reliable subject to practice on which will not move while I mess with settings!
 
What backdrop you use? I've got some cheap white muslin cloths, not too keen on them to behonest.
 
I think you've done a lot more than just "OK" for a first attempt.
I can see a couple of problems.
1. Although you've avoided the usual fault of overexposing the background and destroying fine details in the process, it's simply too large an area to light evenly with just one light, even when the light is fitted with a background reflector. It really needs 2 lights, but then you would have the problem of space. You can sort that out easily enough in PP but it would be nice to be able to avoid the problem in the first place. White backgrounds are quite a challenge in a small space.

2. FWIW I don't agree with shane, although that's just a matter of opinion. I don't try to get "even" lighting, and with kids, with interesting expressions and perfect skin, it isn't needed anyway. But it does seem to me that you've put your lights where there was room for them, rather than where they did the job best.Fine for your kids, not ideal if you photograph adults.
I was hoping to go on some sort of training course to get me started with the basics but haven't found one that suits. I was hoping Garry was going to do some more Lencarta ones in Bradford
Click to expand...
Nothing has been decided on that yet, but it's likely that I will be doing something in a different format.
 
I did a bit of research and the conclusion I found was that paper would suit me best. I'm using the 2.72 x 11m Lastolite Paper Roll on a WexPro 3m Heavy Duty Support.
 
i will look into the Lastolite paper roll, was thinking about buying them but wasn't too sure is it my thing. Looks like is exactly what I'm looking for.

At the moment i'm using some cheap muslin white cloths which is ok but not the stuff i want.
 
These photos are a million times better than my first attempts at portrait photography and I'd say you should be well pleased with them.

Also, I can't help wondering if improvements to a photo are subject to the law of diminishing returns, i.e. initial improvements are easy to implement and achieve quite a lot but as we go on trying to make a good photo even better then the improvements become harder to do and acheive less and less as we go on.

Anyway, if I'd taken those photos, I'd be delighted. Well done!
 
Garry Edwards said:
I think you've done a lot more than just "OK" for a first attempt.
I can see a couple of problems.
1. Although you've avoided the usual fault of overexposing the background and destroying fine details in the process, it's simply too large an area to light evenly with just one light, even when the light is fitted with a background reflector. It really needs 2 lights, but then you would have the problem of space. You can sort that out easily enough in PP but it would be nice to be able to avoid the problem in the first place. White backgrounds are quite a challenge in a small space.

2. FWIW I don't agree with shane, although that's just a matter of opinion. I don't try to get "even" lighting, and with kids, with interesting expressions and perfect skin, it isn't needed anyway. But it does seem to me that you've put your lights where there was room for them, rather than where they did the job best.Fine for your kids, not ideal if you photograph adults.
Nothing has been decided on that yet, but it's likely that I will be doing something in a different format.
Click to expand...

Thanks Garry, I was hoping you would comment. I had feared that I was trying to achieve too much on the background with just one light. The background reflector certainly helped but I may try and pick up another flash some time in the future. I would much rather get the lighting right as I try to do the minimum PP.

Can you elaborate on your point regarding the positions of my lights not being ideal for photographing adults please?

Oh and keep me informed if you are planning on running any courses.
 
badboy1984 said:
i will look into the Lastolite paper roll, was thinking about buying them but wasn't too sure is it my thing. Looks like is exactly what I'm looking for.

At the moment i'm using some cheap muslin white cloths which is ok but not the stuff i want.
Click to expand...

The reviews I read on Muslin suggested there was a lot of ironing involved to get rid of creases and as I would have to fold them up after each use that would be an issue for me. Vinyl was another option but paper looked more costly and from what I've read can still crease.
 
Garry Edwards said:
FWIW I don't agree with shane...
Click to expand...

That's me well and truly put in my place then.

:D

P.S. Garry, for the benefit of myself and others who are learning, would you mind elaborating on this... "But it does seem to me that you've put your lights where there was room for them, rather than where they did the job best.Fine for your kids, not ideal if you photograph adults." Cheers!
 
Last edited:
DrGed said:
These photos are a million times better than my first attempts at portrait photography and I'd say you should be well pleased with them.

Also, I can't help wondering if improvements to a photo are subject to the law of diminishing returns, i.e. initial improvements are easy to implement and achieve quite a lot but as we go on trying to make a good photo even better then the improvements become harder to do and acheive less and less as we go on.

Anyway, if I'd taken those photos, I'd be delighted. Well done!
Click to expand...

Thanks Ged, I appreciate the comments and agree with the diminishing returns. I'm always going to restricted by the space available I guess but I'm a perfectionist and like a challenge!
 
driver_wedge said:
That's me well and truly put in my place then.

:D

P.S. Garry, for the benefit of myself and others who are learning, would you mind elaborating on this... "But it does seem to me that you've put your lights where there was room for them, rather than where they did the job best.Fine for your kids, not ideal if you photograph adults." Cheers!
Click to expand...
No, I'm not putting you in your place, just expressing a different opinion, and all opinions are equally valid, I don't have a monopoly.

This is much too big a subject for a forum post, but my whole attitude to lighting people is pretty much summed up here - watch the video, which is of a talk I gave at the TP convention in Blackpool.

Basically, my approach is this:
There are no rights or wrongs, as long as there is a known and defined purpose.
What I mean by this is that the first job of the photographer is to define (or understand, if it's a pro shot) just why the shot is being taken and what the purpose of it is, because the purpose defines the approach.

Kids are just kids.I love them to bits and it's really all about their expressions - you can use almost any kind of lighting, different lighting will produce different effects but it's hard to get a bad result.

An 18 year old girl, as another example, can be her dad's little girl, a student, someone out clubbing, a sexy girlfriend, and the choice of lighting (and pose etc) will define which of these she is in the photo.

Fast forward 10 years, she can be all of the above plus a mother, an employee, an expert on something or other, and again all of these are defined by lighting and pose.

So, lighting controls the emotions of the people who view the photo.But it does far more, it also enhances (or not) the qualities of the face, and minimises (or not) bad skin, poor bone structure and so on.

So, in a nutshell, just sticking the lights wherever there happens to be space for them works well enough for kids, but doesn't work well for adults whose features are less than perfect, or who may have put on a bit more weight than they're happy with. If you want to make (a woman) look young and sexy then a good starting point is to have a single light, high and central to the face. Create shadows that emphasise the qualities of her face. Don't just have light hitting her from all directions, that will broaden the face and age her.

Good photographers tend to use hard lighting to exaggerate qualities and soft lighting to hide faults. Often, there is a combination of both very hard and very soft light, that's where the skill lies, and where the knowledge becomes important.

What I'm talking about here is sculpting with light, rather than just creating enough light to produce a nice bright picture. That's what I try to do, and teach.
 
great post, and great feedback from Garry.

A great, but very in depth book, that i am reading at the moment 'the art of photography' really elaborates on Garrys point re what you are trying to acheive from an image. What are you saying, what are the emotions that you want to get across and how does an image / scene make you feel. Well worth a read to understand and recognide a decision process. Its not directly aimed at portrait togs but i think it applies to all photography. It wont tell you where to put your lights, but it will tell you how to start thinking in terms of what you want to say by an image / subject.

The shots are great BTW. My inlaws had some done at a very reputable highstreet baby store.......i was fuming. My toddler is blonde so what did they do...stuck him against a white background and blasted him with light to the point of blowing the hair detail......

Yours a better and for a first attempt you should be pleased!!!:thumbs::thumbs:

Just my tuppenths worth
 
Thanks Garry, great informative post as always. I've got a lot of learning to do but the information available on this form is excellent.

And thanks Greg. Part of the reason I invested in the home studio was after getting some professional photos done of the kids. The photos were ok but not brilliant. I figured with a bit of practice and the right gear I could do just as good a job and that's the aim. I'll check that book out, the more learning resources the better. Cheers.
 
Garry Edwards said:
No, I'm not putting you in your place, just expressing a different opinion, and all opinions are equally valid, I don't have a monopoly.
Click to expand...

No worries Garry. I was just trying to make a joke out of it. My opinion, of course, was subjective in that it was based on an end product that appeals to my eye.

Thanks for the explanation. I think it has created even more questions than answers, but that's for another day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top