Home Studio Advice

[bigtel]

Sorry for the double post, I posted this question in a set up thread but it might be better suited here as well.

I'm looking for a set up to take to peoples homes etc...

My post...


Hi all,

Love this thread and been coming in and out of it all day!

I'm after some advice if possible. I kinda panic brought a set up a few months ago. Never used it but don't think it's actually up to scratch.

This is what I bought...

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1250W-light-...rb/$T2eC16hHJH0FG1jwUn4TBSFer,5)1g~~60_12.JPG

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1250W-lig...graphy_StudioEquipment_RL&hash=item3f0c36b99d

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Photo-Studio...d5/$(KGrHqMOKpYFHmoBFdYuBR8jd5edig~~60_12.JPG

I'm doing a smash the cake shoot in a couple of weeks and I know the room is poorly lit which we shall be using so lighting will be essential.

Having talked with my friend we agreed a lilac background would suit the girl so I purchased a lilac backdrop to use.

I set it up yesterday to see what I could achieve and these were the results...

More links but I can only add 6 images...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/10633610965_341aefbcf7.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7375/10633611515_9cc32cda69.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/10633618124_cb2615fe10.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/10633611415_09b3dcbe42.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/10633610255_eb09c7e3ed.jpg

The first thing I am doing is getting a dark wood laminate flooring as it clashes with the lilac.

I guess I am disappointed as with natural light I have been able to achieve this with natural lighting...

Having looked at this thread I believe I need some sort of flash studio and I had no idea that the background was needed to have light produced against it!

I have a Nikon SB-700 so it's possible I can use this.

So my question is can somebody recommend a suitable studio set up?

 

[scott76]

Well I bought a starter home studio kit,Interfit 150 mk11 on a recommendation from another Tog.His images look great so maybe have a look as its certainly portable. Can easily be used as a mobile studio.I'm gonna use my kit today for the first time and having seen my m8s results a don't see a problem.this two light kit is roughly £120 second hand or £199 new from We ATM.

 

[bigtel]

Thanks Scott, do you have a link where their images are? Seems a good price. Thanks

 

[HoppyUK]

There are lots of threads on getting started with a home studio. Scroll down a bit

 

[scott76]

Thanks Scott, do you have a link where their images are? Seems a good price. Thanks

Sorry on my phone and wont be near laptop till tomorrow. Have a good look at past quotes as there is plenty suggestions around.I was just giving you mines which is a nice inexpensive starting point

 

[bigtel]

Thanks

It dawned on me at 1.30am yesterday morning while trying to sleep but couldn't stop thinking about all this and the penny dropped.

The type of photography I will be taking is the opposite of wanting a white background to look like a studio set up.

I will want the background which will be vinyl to be noticeable but only slightly with the shallow depth of field etc.

I think I either need to diffuse my current lighting as they are quite bright or maybe look at a softbox when I can add my speedlight to but use it in manual and reduce the power.

That's what I think but not sure if right!

 

[Phil V]

You're right the home studio threads are dominated by white background questions.

But you're wrong to assume the lighting principles are vastly different to what you're trying to achieve.

Notably the difference between hardness and brightness, and lighting backgrounds.

Watch some YouTube videos on lighting and the penny will drop.

 

[bigtel]

Hi Phil, do you mean the videos which show the difference in umbrella vs continuous lighting and the results achieved?

I noticed with the umbrella/flash set up there was more contrast and shadows etc.

 

[Phil V]

Ill see if I can clarify without too much detail, but frankly some proper training is probably the best route for someone completely new to lighting:

The intensity or brightness of light is simply an exposure issue, when we are learning photography we obsess about getting exposure right which leads to us believing that the 'amount' of light is really important. It is important, but it's also one of the things like focus and camera technique that we just take for granted in order to progress.

The important thing about light is it's 'quality' the shape, direction and design of different modifiers give us control over this. In a small space a shoot through umbrella is a really ineffective tool, because lots of the light that hits the umbrella bounces back from it, then bounces off the wall ceiling and floor and hits the subject. I was starting to ramble about other modifiers, but it gets too long...

The other consideration is light fall off (the inverse square law) lighting a subject will not necessarily put enough light on the background or on a group of subjects. But really this is complex (not difficult to understand, just loads of factors to consider, buy 'Light Science and Magic', book a training course, watch lots of lighting videos on Youtube (be aware not all of them are experts, that's why I'd recommend a course).

 

[Garry Edwards]

Phil has hit the nail on the head.
Just to add my twopennyworth though, some of the people running training courses are just as useless as some of the tutorials and videos on the web, so I'd go with his recommendation for Light: Science and Magic - this will give you a good understanding of how light works, and trial and error and a desire to constantly learn and improve will take you on from there.

There are, incidentally, plans to re-introduce the Lencarta lighting workshops, but as everything Lencarta is now located in our new warehouse and as warehouses don't have the luxury of heat, this will be a summer thing only.

 

[bigtel]

Thanks guys I understand what you mean, especially about the confined space and like you say it's important to have the correct amount of light and where as opposed to just having a light source light one area of the shoot.

I'll take a look at that book.

Thanks again.

 

[Phil V]

... like you say it's important to have the correct amount of light ...
Thanks again.

I must be losing my touch, I thought I'd said...

.....The intensity or brightness of light is simply an exposure issue, when we are learning photography we obsess about getting exposure right which leads to us believing that the 'amount' of light is really important. ....

The important thing about light is it's 'quality' the shape, direction and design of different modifiers give us control over this...

But anyway; you're welcome, get the book (it's on my Christmas list) and while you're waiting for it to arrive, look at some of the videos on the Lencarta site, particularly the ones about lighting tricky subjects, it'll give you an insight into how light makes things look a certain way.

 

[Diving Pete]

There are, incidentally, plans to re-introduce the Lencarta lighting workshops, but as everything Lencarta is now located in our new warehouse and as warehouses don't have the luxury of heat, this will be a summer thing only.

You have never worried about models before - must be getting old - lol

 

[Sir SR]

I must be losing my touch, I thought I'd said...


But anyway; you're welcome, get the book (it's on my Christmas list) and while you're waiting for it to arrive, look at some of the videos on the Lencarta site, particularly the ones about lighting tricky subjects, it'll give you an insight into how light makes things look a certain way.

I bought that book recently, thinking I knew a bit about light already, and it is undoubtedly the best book I've read on lighting. Well written and clearly explained. Garry's advice is spot on. Increase knowledge, practice and a desire to get better. That's how I'm going about it anyway!!

S