Lighting iridescent sequins

juggler said:
The angles which caught the iridescence tended not to show the shape of the tail, or if I altered the lighting to match and catch the iridescence and shape then it started to get very flat and lost a lot of the drama. Given much more time and space I think I could have done better but this was the best I managed in this set.
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Not terribly surprised really. That's why I suggesting keeping compositing images as an option. As you noted, given more time/space/lighting it's probably possible to do pretty well in one shot. But it's probably a lot easier to do in 3-5 shots with a better "ideal" result.
 
sk66 said:
Not terribly surprised really. That's why I suggesting keeping compositing images as an option. As you noted, given more time/space/lighting it's probably possible to do pretty well in one shot. But it's probably a lot easier to do in 3-5 shots with a better "ideal" result.
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I did try - briefly - but to have made it work convincingly I'd have needed to fix the tail in a precise position; lining things up in post defeated my patience. It didn't occur to me to fix the tail at the time of the shoot, partly because I just forgot and partly because it wouldn't have been possible with the other set we shot.
 
juggler said:
It didn't occur to me to fix the tail at the time of the shoot, partly because I just forgot and partly because it wouldn't have been possible with the other set we shot.
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That's probably my biggest issue... I get focused on what I'm trying to do and forget to consider other options (i.e compositing).
 
Stunning image, stunning costume. You have both made an image that is quite amazing. Well done to you both.

How long did your shoot run for?

Would adding in some sort of micro/mini light here and there, maybe hidden in the set help at all with the iridescence?
I suppose colour matching could be an issue, but underwater or near water you get lots of reflections of light and nearby colours, so maybe it would not matter.

Thank you so much for posting your image, as its great to see the result of so many technical problems.
 
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MidnightUK said:
Stunning image, stunning costume. You have both made an image that is quite amazing. Well done to you both.

How long did your shoot run for?

Would adding in some sort of micro/mini light here and there, maybe hidden in the set help at all with the iridescence?
I suppose colour matching could be an issue, but underwater or near water you get lots of reflections of light and nearby colours, so maybe it would not matter.

Thank you so much for posting your image, as its great to see the result of so many technical problems.
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Thank you! We did this and another set in 4 hours. As it happens there were a couple of speedlites - snooted with Pringles tubes - to pick out some details.
 
juggler said:
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In fact the iridescence is a highly local phenomenon - you can see it and photograph it - up close from almost any angle without the aid of any fancy polarisation, but on a larger scale it tends to get a bit lost except from flat areas and the angles need to be spot on. I haven't really managed here with the exception of the thighs.

I struggled to show it while meeting the other elements of the brief. The angles which caught the iridescence tended not to show the shape of the tail, or if I altered the lighting to match and catch the iridescence and shape then it started to get very flat and lost a lot of the drama. Given much more time and space I think I could have done better but this was the best I managed in this set.<snip>
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How about adding some specula highlights in post? Cheating I know, and hard to do large areas convincingly, but easy to add a few bright sparkles here and there to make the point?
 
HoppyUK said:
How about adding some specula highlights in post? Cheating I know, and hard to do large areas convincingly, but easy to add a few bright sparkles here and there to make the point?
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I might give it a try, thanks for the suggestion.

fwiw this is one from the other set..

Unfortunately the flag which was keeping the coloured side light off the skin was misplaced in this shot. The model has a better expression and pose in this one though. Again, it could be altered in post but I don't see it as a significant issue.


Dave II by Simon Carter, on Flickr
 
Nice bit of twinkle on that one, especially around her tummy/thighs. Spot on I'd say :thumbs:

I just tried adding some tiny highlights to a pic with the radial filter in Lightroom. Looked okay. Cloning would be another easy option. Would look good if you don't over-do it. Prolly 101 other ways in Photoshop :)
 
4 hours seems very efficient for such a difficult subject.

It must be really hard coping with wearing that costume, however beautiful it looks. As the photographer I think you got the more comfortable deal :-)

I hope you feel able/willing to post some other informative shoots in the future - this one has been very enjoyable and interesting to follow. Thank you.
 
MidnightUK said:
4 hours seems very efficient for such a difficult subject.

It must be really hard coping with wearing that costume, however beautiful it looks. As the photographer I think you got the more comfortable deal :)

I hope you feel able/willing to post some other informative shoots in the future - this one has been very enjoyable and interesting to follow. Thank you.
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Thanks! I had some good assistants without whom it would have taken a lot longer.
The costume comes into its own in the water, but that's another shoot :)
On dry land - or in the air - it's rather heavy.

I should mention the lighting - it probably wasn't the most efficient use of light sources.

#1 was a gridded stripbox horizontally on a boom arm, just above and marginally behind the tail but pointing forwards a little. There was a large silver reflector below, and a small silver reflector camera right. The key on the face was a Pringles-tube snooted speedlite, and there was another similarly snooted speedlite aimed at her lap. The light which took longest to get right was the gridded & gelled background light, I was really struggling for space to get it how I wanted it.

#2 was a feathered stripbox on the tail camera left and a small beauty dish with a sock above that for the face. There was another feathered stripbox camera right at lower power, and a flagged & gelled light doing double duty on the background and as a rim light. There was probably a large silver reflector on the floor below and quite possibly a large white flat beside the camera position. ISTR that I had to erect a flag to stop lens flare, too.
 
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