How many flashes do you think are needed to light up this backdrop?

dubcat

dubcat

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,310
Name
Amir
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi -

I have this backdrop http://www.photodeals.co.uk/product....tps_redirect=Y

Currently I only have two flashes. One for key (with a reflector across from it) and the other for the backdrop. Realistically how many flashes do you think would be needed to light up that backdrop for a full length body shot and get it white enough to make a hi key picture? I don't mind doing some PP in lightroom with the exposure brush.

Cheers,
Dub
 
link's broken.

For white seamless, you do really need 2 on rear, 1 as key, ideally one more to throw around for fill or hair, though reflector does the trick nicely for fill.

The more lights you have, the less bad words will be coming out of your mouth... but you could probably manage.... 3 shoots.....? before you give in and buy a third light, the PP will just be pain :P
 
The photodeals backdrop needs three, I worked with two on it for a few months but since going with three, my PP time has been cut drastically. Two on the background, one on the subject. I tend to go f/16 on the back, f/8 on the subject, that's worked better for me than a one stop difference.
 
ok. looks like i need to invest in a third flash then :( Had really been hoping to avoid that and I get the sense that I should have just bought mains powered lights in the first place :)

I use ETTLii so should i set the rear ones up manually then in that case? On my single attempt to use the backdrop to date i just played around with ratios... is that a valid way to do it?

Cheers,
Dub
 
By the way - the two on the back - where are they and how are they positioned/angled?
 
dubcat said:
By the way - the two on the back - where are they and how are they positioned/angled?
Click to expand...

I'll take a picture next time I have it setup, mine are positioned either side of the bg (but not encroaching into the bg if that makes sense) with the flash hitting it fairly central from both sides. I assume you have a light meter, as this is an absolute must.
 
Dman, are you using them bare? it sounds almost like you're having to really nuke it (f16 + f8 is a huuuge difference) to get a larger hotspot area - you considered bouncing them off reflector brollies? really very effective way of lighting the rear nice and evenly, so you can make it more like 1 stop difference, get less flare around the model. Cheap too =)
 
itsdavedotnet said:
Dman, are you using them bare? it sounds almost like you're having to really nuke it (f16 + f8 is a huuuge difference) to get a larger hotspot area - you considered bouncing them off reflector brollies? really very effective way of lighting the rear nice and evenly, so you can make it more like 1 stop difference, get less flare around the model. Cheap too =)
Click to expand...

Just using the spill kills on the bg, the problem I have is that a lot of the time I'm working in very small areas so it's easier to keep it simple. I did try reflector brollies but found I got a lot more spill on the subject. It doesn't work too badly though, here's a couple of recent ones, one of my daughter and one from a shoot I did.

16gy4pu.jpg


2hfnjao.jpg


At f/11 on the bg, I have a fair bit of mopping up to do in pp.
 
I don't have a light meter. I was just kinda using the fact that my camera shows when white is blown out by flashing the blown out parts on the display. Is a light meter absolutely essential? This is turning in to a more and more expensive proposition by the minute :)
 
I started off without one, but can now say 100% that a light meter is an essential bit of kit when doing something with a set up like this.
 
what is the cheapest one that is worth having?
 
Anything by Sekonic really, I bought a L-408 off ebay for about £100 but I think the L-308 or L-358 are cheaper and more popular, around £60 second hand maybe?
 
I sure wouldn't call it essential... it makes it easier to just walk across and go 'pop, pop, pop' and know that it's all even... but it is certainly more than possible to set up (and very quickly) without a light meter, once you're in the habit of it... it helps, but isn't essential if you shoot digital. YMMV I guess.

I usually shoot tethered in studio mind, so can also see stuff on a bigger screen than the camera rear screen, which helps...
 
itsdavedotnet said:
I sure wouldn't call it essential... it makes it easier to just walk across and go 'pop, pop, pop' and know that it's all even... but it is certainly more than possible to set up (and very quickly) without a light meter, once you're in the habit of it... it helps, but isn't essential if you shoot digital. YMMV I guess.
Click to expand...

I'd agree up until a point, but as soon as you start getting paid for it, which I assume the OP is looking to do, you need to make sure you nail it as best you can without taking chances. Too much light on the subject, spill or flare isn't easy at all to pull back in post processing. Plus the image on the LCD will give you the camera's own interpretation of the final image so if shooting RAW, it can be misleading.
 
Hmm - i don't see any on the flea bay for a reasonable amount. The ones that are there for below £100 have plenty of people competing for them. I think I am going to start tethering my PC for now and see how that goes. I will keep an eye out for a light meter but won't jump in to it just yet.

From what you guys have written so far my priority needs to be to buy a second flash. Currently I have two speedlights. I need to decide weather i get a 3rd speedlight (FITP has some cheaper than Canon ones) or do i just buy myself a pair of studio lights and use a combination of my two speedlights (key + fill/hair) along with the two studio lights for lighting the backdrop.

As far as getting paid - I don't even have close to enough skill for that. I want to end up there (I really REALLY want to end up recouping my investment in photography) but I have a lot of books to read and experience to gain on areas like posing and composition before I get there.

Cheers,
Dub
 
dubcat said:
Hmm - i don't see any on the flea bay for a reasonable amount. The ones that are there for below £100 have plenty of people competing for them. I think I am going to start tethering my PC for now and see how that goes. I will keep an eye out for a light meter but won't jump in to it just yet.

From what you guys have written so far my priority needs to be to buy a second flash. Currently I have two speedlights. I need to decide weather i get a 3rd speedlight (FITP has some cheaper than Canon ones) or do i just buy myself a pair of studio lights and use a combination of my two speedlights (key + fill/hair) along with the two studio lights for lighting the backdrop.

As far as getting paid - I don't even have close to enough skill for that. I want to end up there (I really REALLY want to end up recouping my investment in photography) but I have a lot of books to read and experience to gain on areas like posing and composition before I get there.

Cheers,
Dub
Click to expand...

I didn't realise you were using Speedlights. I personally would always recommend a studio lighting setup for this type of background, I have two Elementals 250w heads on the bg and a LEncarta head with softbox for the subject.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top