Rim Lighting in a seamless white setup...where are you Mr Whitehouse

[EdinburghGary]

Guys,

Is it possible to RIM light a subject by over exposing the BG slightly more than required for a clean 255? Or is it always better to rim light using, well erm...rim lights ?

I'm really looking to bring dimension to the various layers in my family groups, I thought about really subtle and low powered side lighting, but have to experiment more.... Basically, can I add depth to my studio shots? Not saying I will do it for all shoots, but I want to be able to....

Dave Hill does it in an insanely insane kind of nutty barmy nutcase kind of way. I just want to hint at such lighting...

G.

 

[JasonRS]

I'm pretty sure there's some mention of that, or similar in this by Robert Seale

http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/04/lighting-it-up-in-austin-with-robert-seale-1.html


You're more likely to get wrap instead of rim light though I would have thought.

 

[EdinburghGary]

Jason, I'd be keen to explore this - I have loads of flash guns kicking about and can easily side light using them - but if the BG can do the same trick, well - I'll use it!

G.

 

[Mark.A]

I'm pretty sure I've seen it done this way before Gary, can't remember where offhand. Simplest way to find out for sure is try it.

 

[JasonRS]

Rim lights tend to be directional in my mind, which you're not going to get from just turning up the background a bit.

But, you could easily pop the speedlights onto a vertical rail in each corners at the side of the BG, and then snoot / zoom / grid them to give you rim / hair lights.

If you want full length rim lighting, how about the speedlights in strip boxes? IIRC that's what's used in the video above for rim lighting


Or....build some V-Flats and fire the speedlights into those at each side. Small, light collapsible and cheap!!!

 

[EdinburghGary]

Cheers Jason, food for thought. Practice time soon!

 

[Tyke Tiler]

It is I, Eclair!

Blimey, now that is a Q mate. I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't work, as long as the rims were very neatly controlled then the risk of wrap shouldn't be an issue.
If the rims got a little lost or if there were any other undesirable effects, you could drop the exposure down on the BG lights, have a slightly off white BG as opposed to a blown one, or at least sample a grey :shrug:

You'll need some fags or cutters to prevent flare though, for real tasty rims that is.

Best thing = Give it go. I'd love to see the results

Now where's my sweet lovin?