More Lighting Issues

joel222 · 16 Jan 2013

Everytime I take shots using white muslin as a background I'm always dissapointed with the final images. When I don't have a backdrop set up I think the images are better quality. Could someone please help me out on what the problem could be.

This image was taken today, just on the stairs, and with the flash set just at the power setting that didn't cause the blinkies on the camera lcd.

These images were also taken today in front of a white backdrop, also with the flash set at the highest power without causing the blinkies. I know that the light on the backdrop is un-even but I'm not to fussed about that at the minute. As you can see tho it doesn't look as good as the top image, IQ wise.

musicalbloke · 16 Jan 2013

When you're taking pictures with the backdrop, how many flashes are you using?

joel222 · 16 Jan 2013

musicalbloke said:
When you're taking pictures with the backdrop, how many flashes are you using?

One on the subject with reflecror for fill and two on the backdrop.

Danzaroonie · 16 Jan 2013

Looks like you need to aim the rear flashes up slightly ....the bottom area looks white but not the top....u might find you have to add a little pp after to fill in the gaps.(exposure brush or levels)

Garry Edwards · 16 Jan 2013

You have an overall loss of contrast because of flare from the umbrella, pushing unwanted light back into the lens, the lighting is very flat because you've used a shoot through umbrella that has spilled light everywhere and there's a colour cast for the same reason.

If you must use a shoot through, try having her looking straight towards the camera and get the umbrella up as high as you can and above your own head, to avoid the flare problem - and use a decent lens hood.

With your white background shots, you're getting a small amount of flare from the background too. That doesn't happen with a black background.

joel222 · 16 Jan 2013

Garry Edwards said:
You have an overall loss of contrast because of flare from the umbrella, pushing unwanted light back into the lens, the lighting is very flat because you've used a shoot through umbrella that has spilled light everywhere and there's a colour cast for the same reason.

If you must use a shoot through, try having her looking straight towards the camera and get the umbrella up as high as you can and above your own head, to avoid the flare problem - and use a decent lens hood.

With your white background shots, you're getting a small amount of flare from the background too. That doesn't happen with a black background.

Sorry I don't understand the bit about the colour cast?

Would you say that a soft box would be more suitable for these shots, if yes, would you use brollies for any portraits?

I understand about the flare from the white bg, and that they are frowned upon by a lot of people on here, but it's what I've bought first and I'd like to learn to get good pics using it before I move onto black or grey.

Garry Edwards · 16 Jan 2013

Sorry I don't understand the bit about the colour cast?

The colours are wrong because of light reflected from the walls

Would you say that a soft box would be more suitable for these shots

Yes

would you use brollies for any portraits?

Reflective umbrellas are far more directional and so cause far less problems. They can'[t be placed as close as a softbox or shoot through, but that doesn't matter when photographing kids with perfect skin m- they don't usually need soft lighting.; Shoot throughs are OK in really large spaces with high ceilings, or for on-axis fill.

I understand about the flare from the white bg, and that they are frowned upon by a lot of people on here, but it's what I've bought first and I'd like to learn to get good pics using it

Personally I have nothing against chavgrounds as long as it's done well, but it rarely is - and it isn't easy to do well in a home studio.

and I'd like to learn to get good pics using it before I move onto black or grey.

It would be much better to learn about lighting before you move onto a chavground and destroy the lighting

bryan elliott · 17 Jan 2013

A softbox will give you more control over your key light,

joel222 · 17 Jan 2013

Thanks for the replies, as always great advice.

HoppyUK · 17 Jan 2013

The main problems I'm seeing are flare, over-exposure and bleaching of highlights.

Flare from shoot-through - use a good, deep lens hood. Remove any UV/protection filter. Shade the lens so that no light is shining directly on the lens - with a piece of card, or your hand if needs be.
Flare from the background - screen off all white outside the actual image area with black card/paper. Move back and use a longer lens to reduce the area of white behind the subject further.

Get the exposure right, and colour balance. Are those JPEGs straight from the camera? Check in-camera pre-sets and reduce contrast. Better still, shoot Raw and pull down the highlights in post processing and control contrast and saturation better that way.

PS White backgrounds are not easy

joel222 · 18 Jan 2013

Garry Edwards said:
use a decent lens hood.

What would you recommend as a decent lens hood. A petal shape or round, or is there any other factors I need to consider. The lens is a canon 15-85mm.

Garry Edwards · 18 Jan 2013

joel222 said:
Garry Edwards said:

use a decent lens hood.

What would you recommend as a decent lens hood. A petal shape or round, or is there any other factors I need to consider. The lens is a canon 15-85mm.

Click to expand...

The perfect lens hood is a rectangular one (same shape as your sensor) that only just fails to intrude into the image area. The petal ones designed for zoom lenses are useless except at the shortest focal length.

The cheap rubber round ones are a good compromise.