Hair light options.

SealBeard

SealBeard

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Rob
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Evening all,

I was just thinking about different options for hair lighting solutions when using studio strobe heads.

There is the obvious snood+grid option, and maybe also barndoor+grid that I would think most people use...

Are there any other options that work well, such as softbox/brollies, that do not require a boom arm to position the flash head?

All responses appreciated :)

Rob.
 
Basically you can use anything that's controllable - softboxes, honeycombs, beauty dishes, fresnel spots, focussing spots, reflective umbrellas (but not shoot through)
 
Garry Edwards said:
Basically you can use anything that's controllable - softboxes, honeycombs, beauty dishes, fresnel spots, focussing spots, reflective umbrellas (but not shoot through)
Click to expand...

Thanks Garry (nice to talk to you today by the way :))

On a slightly different note, is there any specific rules to the positioning of the hairlight? obviously its got to light the hair... but I'm guessing its going to generally be a situational thing right?

I'm sure I read it should follow the keylight, and be from behind the subject, but I read that long ago so I could be wrong.
 
Yes, it's situational and subjective like everything else.

Having it above/behind the subject and vaguely pointing towards the keylight makes sense and creates a sense of balance, but there are no real rules.

Broad light sources such as softboxes and umbrellas are generally 'safer' for untrained subjects, because more precise tools require the model to hold a precise position
 
Ah cracking - thanks very much for clarifying all that for me :)
 
Snoot is usually best I think, but I just use a hot-shoe gun zoomed out to max. You can usually position a narrowish beam of light that way. So small you can often hide it behind the subject, or shade it from the lens with a DIY barn-door made of card if it's off to the side.

Not a perfect solution but usually works well enough.
 
HoppyUK said:
Snoot is usually best I think, but I just use a hot-shoe gun zoomed out to max. You can usually position a narrowish beam of light that way. So small you can often hide it behind the subject, or shade it from the lens with a DIY barn-door made of card if it's off to the side.

Not a perfect solution but usually works well enough.
Click to expand...

Thanks Hoppy, I think its time to experiment... now to find a willing victim... *ahem*... I mean model... ;)
 
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