Help me sort my light setup for kids wearing glasses

Bhoy_Whunder

Bhoy_Whunder

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Hi Forum,
I have a shoot this Friday evening with 3 small children (my cousins kids). The eldest (3 years old) wears glasses all the time so i dont want to lose that part of his character. I really struggle with reflections on these. :'(

They are wanting a high key white BG setup. I have 3 strobes, 1 large softbox, a large reflector and 2 spill kill/umbrellas. They will be wanting full length with the 3 kids.

Normally I would use the large softbox to the side of me as the key light, two sheets of clear plexi glass on the white floor for reflections and two lights at 45 degrees on the BG with small spill kill and no modifier. Results have been good apart from people wearing glasses. :bonk:

Can anyone tell me where I am going wrong or how to modify this setup?

Thanks

Mark
 
Assuming you have studio heads with modelling lights, it's easy to avoid reflections off glasses.

You may have to move the lights round to a slightly wider angle, or get him to turn his head a little, but light bounces off a surface at the same angle it strikes - like a snooker ball off the cushion. Imagine your lens is the cue ball, then if you were to aim at the lad's specs, it must bounce off at an angle that misses the light.
 
HoppyUK said:
Assuming you have studio heads with modelling lights, it's easy to avoid reflections off glasses.
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Do you ever find the modelling lights aren't quite accurate? I sometimes do with fairly precise lighting using softboxes.

Not much but enough to mess up reflections.

I've always assumed it's because the modelling bulb projects further out that the tube.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Do you ever find the modelling lights aren't quite accurate? I sometimes do with fairly precise lighting using softboxes.

Not much but enough to mess up reflections.

I've always assumed it's because the modelling bulb projects further out that the tube.
Click to expand...

You may not be surprised that I've looked into that ;) :D

Basically, it's something to be aware of but rarely a problem and in this case, if you apply the snooker ball test, so long as the ball completely misses the whole light, it won't show. Caveat is it assumes the front of the lad's glasses is flat and they're probably slighly convex so you'd effectively be bouncing the snooker ball off a curved cushion if that makes sense. So a bit of trial and error.

Modelling bulbs are fine for light positioning, as in this case, but they don't always show the precise character of the light. No problem with a softbox, but a beauty dish for example, with that central deflector close to the bulb/tube may be a bit different with a big sticky-out bulb. Smaller halogen bulbs are better, and much more fun when they go pop :eek:

Closest modelling/flash light I've seen is Profoto, with their small bulb/tube close together and enclosed behind a safety glass. I do like Profoto :love: Broncolor has a similar idea.
 
Why not just pop the lens's out the existing frames or get an old pair of bins (if they won't come out) and butcher them.

End of problem!
 
Steve T said:
Why not just pop the lens's out the existing frames or get an old pair of bins (if they won't come out) and butcher them.
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I've seen that advice s-o-o-o-o-o-o many times and cringed every single time.

1. Pop the lenses out of glasses? Beast of luck getting them back in. Many modern ones are glued in or use very thin wire and tensioning screws. Break them and you'll be down to Specsavers (or a decent optician) for a pair.

2. I wear contacts so most people who don't know me well will never have seen me in glasses. But I only have one pair of glasses and it took weeks to choose them to find a pair I liked. If a photographer suggested I wear something out of their dressing up box so I would (a) be squinting at them and (b) look ridiculous then they may find their own glasses broken.

You wouldn't suggest a client with a shiny head wore a wig to make it easier to manage reflections. At least, you wouldn't try that twice.
 
Plan in advance, tell your cousin to stump up the extra and get the low reflective coatings on the lenses when they buy the glasses. Not too much more, but means the kid won't get everything behind him reflected into his eyes, and will also reduce the reflection when you do your shoots.

I was reccomended them before my wedding and have had them ever since.
 
Use a polarising filter and have the lights at somewhere between 45 and 90 degrees to the camera.
 
As an example (obviously not on a head) but this was a pic of some sunglasses prior to putting in added reflections

aaIMG_9055.jpg


or just a straight self-portrait like the one used in my avatar.
aIMG_9285b_zps2252a544.jpg


Paul
 
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JonathanRyan said:
I've seen that advice s-o-o-o-o-o-o many times and cringed every single time.

1. Pop the lenses out of glasses? Beast of luck getting them back in. Many modern ones are glued in or use very thin wire and tensioning screws. Break them and you'll be down to Specsavers (or a decent optician) for a pair.

2. I wear contacts so most people who don't know me well will never have seen me in glasses. But I only have one pair of glasses and it took weeks to choose them to find a pair I liked. If a photographer suggested I wear something out of their dressing up box so I would (a) be squinting at them and (b) look ridiculous then they may find their own glasses broken.

You wouldn't suggest a client with a shiny head wore a wig to make it easier to manage reflections. At least, you wouldn't try that twice.
Click to expand...

Ok then:thinking:..
What about drawing frames on the kids face with a felt tip :thumbs:
Job done!
 
Post of the day!! Made me genuinely laugh out loud.
 
JonathanRyan said:
I've seen that advice s-o-o-o-o-o-o many times and cringed every single time.

1. Pop the lenses out of glasses? Beast of luck getting them back in. Many modern ones are glued in or use very thin wire and tensioning screws. Break them and you'll be down to Specsavers (or a decent optician) for a pair.

2. I wear contacts so most people who don't know me well will never have seen me in glasses. But I only have one pair of glasses and it took weeks to choose them to find a pair I liked. If a photographer suggested I wear something out of their dressing up box so I would (a) be squinting at them and (b) look ridiculous then they may find their own glasses broken.

You wouldn't suggest a client with a shiny head wore a wig to make it easier to manage reflections. At least, you wouldn't try that twice.
Click to expand...

Make things easier Jonathan, and get a wig with built in glasses :D

paul williams said:
As Richard & Jonathan have said, with correct positioning of the lights it is a non-problem...
Paul
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Well said Paul, and good examples.

Glasses are not a problem if you take just a moment's thought and apply the snooker ball test. Usually no need to adjust anything.

Removing lenses is a non-starter, a polarising filter is very unlikely to work at the angles necessary, and coated glasses will make zero difference (I have them).

The main reason glasses reflections are seen as a problem is it's often seen in snaps taken with the flash on-camera. Again, apply the snooker ball test and the reflection is coming straight back at you.
 
haha thanks for all the replies guys. Ill let you know how I get on. I will bring a big black marker just in case.
 
Just an update after finally getting time to edit!


Edit-5 by Mark McCue, on Flickr

Unfortunately I was told there would be plenty space for all my studio gear which was not the case so had to use a wall. Getting those 3 to sit still was an almost impossible task as well :bonk:

Thanks everyone for the advice, it really helped. :thumbs:
 
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