lighting a backdrop.

donkeymusic

donkeymusic

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Carlo
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Hello, relating to a similar post on here, i was looking for some advice based on lighting a larger group.


i rejigged my setup to try and allow more space for the group, i did this by moving my flooring forward creating more distance from the backdrop, however this caused a problem due to the angles of the group which meant that the roll of paper at 2.7 metres wasn't wide enough and I had background behind some of the teenagers creating a nightmare of positioning and editing.

So this leads to my question, the reason i moved them forward was because i couldnt get enough light on the background and needed to bring the background lights forward which reduced the distance for the group to stand therefore moved them forward creating the above problem.

After the shoot, i was looking through the photos and still didn't have enough with an even lit background and i wondered what the best way would be for me to light the background evenly and with the flash head closest to the background? would i just need wider reflectors?

Any help with the above rambled question, would be much appreciated.

thanks

Carlo
 
That's what these are for
 
Garry Edwards said:
That's what these are for
Click to expand...

cheers Garry, was hoping you replied and i had been looking at those reflectors.

What sort of distance would the flash head with the se reflectors have to be from the background?

Also, how soon could i get these delivered?

Thanks
 
The very same reflectors ;) You can just see them in shot in the last pic. This gives you an idea how close to the b/g I set them.

Not allowed to release final images yet :( (some of the dresses are still secret) but the top image shows how they are working.
 
I've never measured the distance and it will depend anyway how much of the background needs to be lit, but they can be pretty close.
 
JonathanRyan said:
The very same reflectors ;) You can just see them in shot in the last pic. This gives you an idea how close to the b/g I set them.

Not allowed to release final images yet :( (some of the dresses are still secret) but the top image shows how they are working.
Click to expand...

Cool that does seem pretty close, what is the spread for height on the back drop?

thanks
 
Pretty good.

Naomi's 5'8" and has 4" heels on. I'm shooting full length and getting a nice spread.
 
Garry, how does a wide angle reflector differ from a standard reflector and a background reflector?

Thanks
 
donkeymusic said:
Garry, how does a wide angle reflector differ from a standard reflector and a background reflector?

Thanks
Click to expand...
It has a wider angle:lol::lol::lol:
Smaller diameter and shorter, to project light at around 90 degrees instead of 55 deg. Doesn't take honeycombs, does spread light over a larger area, but not as evenly as the background reflector.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Check out the last pic here - http://peoplebyryan.com/photoblog/house-of-nicholas-2012
Click to expand...

Just been looking your blog, nice work :)
I'm also thinking of getting some bg reflectors as ive got the smartflash starter kit, I was just wondering what it is you have attached to the reflector are the gels to turn your bg a creamy colour. I've only got a artic white Bg paper at the mo and I like the idea of using gels to alter the colour?
 
GR3Z said:
Just been looking your blog, nice work :)
Click to expand...

Thanks ;)

I'm also thinking of getting some bg reflectors as ive got the smartflash starter kit, I was just wondering what it is you have attached to the reflector are the gels to turn your bg a creamy colour. I've only got a artic white Bg paper at the mo and I like the idea of using gels to alter the colour?
Click to expand...

Those are the diffusers that come with the reflectors. I tape them in place because I found it too fiddly to attach the clamps. The background is "silver birch" - see this thread for some notes on that... http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=364607

However, this on is a white background (actually a hilite) lit with gels - http://peoplebyryan.com/photoblog/one-bird-two-stones
 
just another question regarding the lighting of backgrounds, if i wasn't going for a hi-key look and was using either a pattern or a coloured background. what would i meter the background at?

Thanks
 
donkeymusic said:
just another question regarding the lighting of backgrounds, if i wasn't going for a hi-key look and was using either a pattern or a coloured background. what would i meter the background at?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Good question but no real answer...
If you light it evenly and with the same meter reading as the main subject then it will reproduce with the same level of brightness, but often you will want to deliberately over or underexpose the background to get a different effect, and you may also only want to light part of it.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Good question but no real answer...
If you light it evenly and with the same meter reading as the main subject then it will reproduce with the same level of brightness, but often you will want to deliberately over or underexpose the background to get a different effect, and you may also only want to light part of it.
Click to expand...

Thanks Garry and thanks for the quick delivery
 
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