lastolite hilite background - how much PP, bleed, etc?

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tfboy

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Thinking about getting a hilite background - will be going to focus tomorrow so will have a look around.

For those who have one, is it possible to get 100% blown out backgrounds with minimal to no wrap on the subject placed a foot or two in front?

Looking at the videos on youtube from Mark Cleghorn, there's a lot of wrap around - the kids video for example.

I'm hoping that with careful metering, it would be possible to have a blown high key with minimal wrap reducing editing work later.

So, can anyone shed any light from experience (pun intended :D)

edited to add: did a shoot yesterday at a clients, with the lounge wall used as a background with an bxri500 + softbox. Whilst it works, it's a bit limited and there's loads of spill making the key light more difficult to control. So I'm looking at something to make my life a bit easier :)

Thanks!
 
Thanks Andy :)

Do you have a meter to help setting it up? Any ratios you can share? I'm hoping that 1.5 - 2 stops is enough
 
The hilite was at f16.5, a strobe at either side metered at f16 and when bothe switched on gave f16.5

Subject lit at f11 and she was about 2 feet from the hilite. Key light was a 120 octo and fill was a shoot through brolly.
 
'Wrap' usually refers to the reflection of the background reflected off the subjects's face and hair.

It's a function of the width of the background, and the distance the subject is from it. Not really anything to do with whether you use a HiLite or not, although since with a HiLite it's usually possible top position the subject very close to it, to save space as much as anything, then you're going to get more wrap that way.
 
HoppyUK said:
'Wrap' usually refers to the reflection of the background reflected off the subjects's face and hair.

It's a function of the width of the background, and the distance the subject is from it. Not really anything to do with whether you use a HiLite or not, although since with a HiLite it's usually possible top position the subject very close to it, to save space as much as anything, then you're going to get more wrap that way.
Click to expand...
Hence my question ;)

I suppose I'm really asking how close can the subject be to a hilite with it set up so that it *just* blows out the whites minimising the wrap effect on the subject.

I'm guessing it's easier to produce good results in a confined space using a hilite than it is when blasting a white/magnolia-coloured wall with a softbox or other modifier to blow out the whites.

I can see the benefit of the hilite giving good, uniform light, and with it being so uniform, one can control exactly how much brightness is produced, so that you're just peaking to get pure white. Point is can that be achieved with a subject just a foot or two away. If you're minising the contrast between background and subject, you're going to minise the amount of wrap you get, or at least that what I think.

The vids show massive amounts of wrap, but I'm hoping that's because the flashes are blasting so much whiteness that it's produced the wrap around the kids' faces. However, I guess those shots could also have been PPed, although that would have been a bit naughty ;)

Sorry, probably repeating myself! :D
 
tfboy said:
Hence my question ;)

I suppose I'm really asking how close can the subject be to a hilite with it set up so that it *just* blows out the whites minimising the wrap effect on the subject.

I'm guessing it's easier to produce good results in a confined space using a hilite than it is when blasting a white/magnolia-coloured wall with a softbox or other modifier to blow out the whites.

I can see the benefit of the hilite giving good, uniform light, and with it being so uniform, one can control exactly how much brightness is produced, so that you're just peaking to get pure white. Point is can that be achieved with a subject just a foot or two away. If you're minising the contrast between background and subject, you're going to minise the amount of wrap you get, or at least that what I think.

The vids show massive amounts of wrap, but I'm hoping that's because the flashes are blasting so much whiteness that it's produced the wrap around the kids' faces. However, I guess those shots could also have been PPed, although that would have been a bit naughty ;)

Sorry, probably repeating myself! :D
Click to expand...

You can have your subject actually touching the HiLite if you want.

It's not a matter of exposure levels - you can moderate that with a normal background in exactly the same way as a HiLite. But with a normal background, obviously you need space between the subject and the background to get the light in.

That's not necessary with the HiLite, and the upside there is that you save a lot of floor space in cramped areas. That's why I want one; if I had the space I think a regular paper background is actually better, but you need a lot more space. HiLite saves both length and width.
 
In my experience, getting the right light on a normal background is a hell of a lot tougher, not just in terms of having the space, but also you're controlling where it goes so much and so in typical lounges in people's homes, it's spilling onto the adjacent wall and contributing in ways you don't want it to. But then again, it's more than likely that it is possible and I'm just doing it wrong :D

Thing is, with the hilite, the light is coming forward only, there's limited bouncing off walls and stuff, or at least that's how I see it. And the uniform light makes it easier to get the exposure just right.

I'm hoping there's no decent deal on at focus tomorrow or I might come home with one :D
 
I love it. 1 - 1.5 stops extra exposure should give you a decent white. You don't want to blast with too much as you can get those burnt shoulders/arms if you are not careful.

Floor is another matter :)

I love mine. Have a look at my gallery all white/black backgrounds were shot with the hilite. Black ones just have the lastolite cover over it.
 
tfboy said:
In my experience, getting the right light on a normal background is a hell of a lot tougher, not just in terms of having the space, but also you're controlling where it goes so much and so in typical lounges in people's homes, it's spilling onto the adjacent wall and contributing in ways you don't want it to. But then again, it's more than likely that it is possible and I'm just doing it wrong :D

Thing is, with the hilite, the light is coming forward only, there's limited bouncing off walls and stuff, or at least that's how I see it. And the uniform light makes it easier to get the exposure just right.

I'm hoping there's no decent deal on at focus tomorrow or I might come home with one :D
Click to expand...

Yes, you're dead right :) I should have added you not only need a lot more space with a regular background, you also need a properly blacked out studio and lights that shine exactly where you want them, and nowhere else.

That is not the reality of the average front room set up, so a HiLite is certainly much easier, and more controllable in that situation.
 
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