Modifiers - Hair & Rim Lights

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jonnybloo

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Hi, I have a basic question about lighting (steep learning curve so far!). I have 2x D-Lite 4’s with 66x66cm Softboxes.

One thing I’ve noticed whilst taking shots of my daughter is that I struggle to pinpoint hair / rim lights. There is always a lot of spill.

Now I realise this is something I will improve with practise and is probably also a limitation of working in a small space, however, it did get me thinking what equipment people normally use for hair/rim lights?

Like I say, this is a home setup for shots of my daughter (and friends kids), due to their size I find the softboxes spills light all around them when pointed at them from behind/to one side.

Lighting accessories and their purpose is a little bit of a mystery to me at the moment. I had a quick look and have an idea of what’s available, snoots, grids, honeycombs, reflectors etc

Question is for this type of thing what is best? A lot of people seem to distance themselves from snoots and are they too narrow a light in most cases ? Would a reflector work best or maybe just a grid/honeycomb for the softbox as I presume that directs the light ?

Also can someone explain the basics with reflectors i.e. what effect the different sizes or different degrees have for example:
21cm 50 degree: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-elinchrom-21cm-50-degree-reflector/p1004486
18cm 60 degree plus honeycomb: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...-honeycomb-grid-set-for-d-lite-heads/p1017877

I have one reflector that came with the kit which produces quite a strong light and for my use would probably need diffusing in some way. I want to learn what I have and how best to use and control it before buying anything but was hoping you guys could explain the basic principles behind these modifiers

thank you !
 
To be honest if you are using a 60cm softbox as a hair light then you will get spill. Try making a home made snoot/grid (using black straws seems popular) and you will get a much tighter light spread and find it a lot easier.
 
These articles in the Lencarta Learning Centre explain what the various light shaping tools do.

Basically there are 2 distinct problems with softboxes used from behind or in rimlighting positions - unwanted light spill and flare, caused by light reaching the lens. Both can be prevented to a large extent by using honeycombs, as in these shots (NSFW)

Hair lights have their own problems. If you're shooting a good model who can hold (or revert to) a position then a right honeycomb, say 10 degrees, on a standard reflector will allow very precise positioning. But if it's a fashion shoot where the model is 'dancing on the spot' or if it's Mrs. Brown who wants a portrait of herself, then the chances of the model being in the right spot for the small area lit by the honeycomb are not good - so a lot of people go for a reflective umbrella instead - which can put light where it isn't wanted, for example on the shoulders, although this can be reduced a bit by having the umbrella held in a partially collapsed state, using a clothes peg to hold it in the required position.

Snoot? Fine, fitted with a honeycomb, which is normally included. But by its nature the snoot only throws a very small circle of light, leaving us with the same problem as the tight honeycomb on a standard reflector. And the honeycomb fitted to it is usually quite coarse, so it isn't as effective as a honeycomb as it might be when pointing towards the camera lens.
 
Your 66x66 softboxes would make fine hair lights if used on a boom stand above your subject and feathered back or flagged to prevent flare. For rim lighting a stripbox, ideally with a grid gets my vote. As Garry's said, very tight grids and reflectors make for precise positioning, which can prove awkward if you're working with unexperienced subjects. Consider barndoors rather than gridded reflectors maybe if thats the route you want to go down
 
Thanks for the links and responses.

Garry, the guides you provided have given me a good idea of the diffferent modifiers. Thanks

Hodders: Straws? How do you go about that, do you have any examples?

So for shots of my fidgety baby i would probably rule out a snoot as it seems too precise. A boom arm sounds great but unfortunately its a home setup (low ceiling) so i dont think i would have the height to make the most of it - though i appreciate she is only around 2 foot tall at the moment so it could be lowered !

The reflector that came with the kit is 16cm and 90 degrees i believe. Would the most realistic way of me learning to control this spill be to use a narrower reflector (but not to narrow), say 30-50 degrees ? or again is that too wide to control spill ?

Or are barndoors the answer? Looking at them i would need a 21cm reflector anyway to attach the barndoors. So when it comes to it maybe purchase the 21cm 50 degree, try that with a honeycomb with the future option of adding barndoors?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-elinchrom-21cm-50-degree-reflector/p1004486
 
This boom arm is fine for home use and, unlike the type that fit onto ordinary lighting stands, it's safe.

Barndoors may be the answer for you. Or you could save money just by using a standard reflector and wrapping a bit of cinefoil around it (not elegant but very effective) or, cheaper still, a bit of black paper.

Just bear in mind that although all of these solutions control light spill, they aren't effective at preventing flare if the flash head is pointing towards the camera. That's where honeycombs come in.
 
I agree with Garry. A collapsed brolly is a brilliant hair/rim light if you have the room.
 
Garry Edwards said:
This boom arm is fine for home use and, unlike the type that fit onto ordinary lighting stands, it's safe.

Barndoors may be the answer for you. Or you could save money just by using a standard reflector and wrapping a bit of cinefoil around it (not elegant but very effective) or, cheaper still, a bit of black paper.

Just bear in mind that although all of these solutions control light spill, they aren't effective at preventing flare if the flash head is pointing towards the camera. That's where honeycombs come in.
Click to expand...

What kind of texture is cinefoil ? I presume its not soft and cloth like so can be shaped ? looks a good way of experimenting anyway.

The barndoors do look good, though they would be further down the line costwise as i would need the reflector too.

Thanks for all the suggestions though everyone
 
jonnybloo said:
What kind of texture is cinefoil ? I presume its not soft and cloth like so can be shaped ? looks a good way of experimenting anyway.

The barndoors do look good, though they would be further down the line costwise as i would need the reflector too.

Thanks for all the suggestions though everyone
Click to expand...
Think of Cinefoil as a thick alluminium cooking foil, chemically coated to be black.
But don't cook the turkey in it:)
 
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