Speedlighting

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leebwfc

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Lee
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Hi guys

im currently doing some portrait stuff and seem to be having some lighting issues, the vinyl piece im using looks nice and white with the two soft boxes im using however when i take a picture it seems darker, would a speedlight sitting at the side of my setup directed at the backdrop only make my backdrop more white and crisp.

your thoughts please
 
I'm confused.
What's lighting the softboxes, is there any other light on the background?

If it's flash in the softboxes. you'll probably need two flashes on the background for a solid white.

There's lots of threads about lighting a white background.

Many people start with white hinking it's easy, whereas it's one of the more difficult.
 
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hi phil they are constant lighting from the soft boxes i dont tend to use a flash as i get too many shadows on the backdrop
 
leebwfc said:
hi phil they are constant lighting from the soft boxes i dont tend to use a flash as i get too many shadows on the backdrop
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Confused?

Flash in softboxes will create the same shadows that continuous lights in softboxes will create.

I'll not go into the reasons why continuous lighting is inadequate for your needs, there's loads of threads here for that.

But in answer to your original question - No, putting flash on the background whilst you're lighting the subject with continuous lighting won't work. Either all flash or all continuous - but a white background really requires lighting.
 
ok tad confused il do some research around the forums thanks phil
 
leebwfc said:
Hi guys

im currently doing some portrait stuff and seem to be having some lighting issues, the vinyl piece im using looks nice and white with the two soft boxes im using however when i take a picture it seems darker, would a speedlight sitting at the side of my setup directed at the backdrop only make my backdrop more white and crisp.

your thoughts please
Click to expand...

It sounds like inverse square law fall-off - a fundamental principle of lighting.

Simply this, ISL says that when the distance is doubled, the brightness is reduced to one quarter - two stops, a lot, and a lot more than it looks to the eye. Eg, subject is 1m from the light, and the background is 1m behind them (total 2m) then it will inevitably appear much darker.

Basic answer, if you want a white background, then it has to be separately lit.
 
HoppyUK said:
It sounds like inverse square law fall-off - a fundamental principle of lighting.

Simply this, ISL says that when the distance is doubled, the brightness is reduced to one quarter - two stops, a lot, and a lot more than it looks to the eye. Eg, subject is 1m from the light, and the background is 1m behind them (total 2m) then it will inevitably appear much darker.

Basic answer, if you want a white background, then it has to be separately lit.
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i follow this, what would be the best way to light it theres so many variations, i know one way to the light the backdrop and that would be with a flame at themoment lol its driving me mad..i dont wanna go out and spend loads at the moment, i have two soft boxes and have the opportunity to have 4, would this be enough, ive read various posts this evening and its driving me crazy, seems too technical

i appreciate your input guys
 
leebwfc said:
i follow this, what would be the best way to light it theres so many variations, i know one way to the light the backdrop and that would be with a flame at themoment lol its driving me mad..i dont wanna go out and spend loads at the moment, i have two soft boxes and have the opportunity to have 4, would this be enough, ive read various posts this evening and its driving me crazy, seems too technical

i appreciate your input guys
Click to expand...

Not too many easy answers I'm afraid. You can reduce ISL fall-off by moving the lights back and reducing the relative distance between subject and background, but you'll still get some darkening of the background at it will make the overall brightness lower. With constant lights, you will already be very marginal on brightness anyway... :(

Try adding extra light to the background, that's the way to go, but given the fundametally low brightness you have to work with you may be throwing good money after bad. Depends on your ambitions really, and if you're happy to push the ISO high and work at lower f/numbers in order to keep the shutter speed workable.

What you really need is flash, preferably studio flash. Starts around £200 for a one light outfit, though if it's the pure white background look you're after, Venture style, then you need three lights (two background, one subject light) and as Phil says, this is one of the trickiest techniques to master. Have a read of this thread http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=455817
 
leebwfc said:
i follow this, what would be the best way to light it theres so many variations, i know one way to the light the backdrop and that would be with a flame at themoment lol its driving me mad..i dont wanna go out and spend loads at the moment, i have two soft boxes and have the opportunity to have 4, would this be enough, ive read various posts this evening and its driving me crazy, seems too technical

i appreciate your input guys
Click to expand...
It's not too technical, you're just painting yourself into a corner.

Can you light portraits with continuous lighting. Yes - but it's not ideal

Can you light a white background and subject - Yes, but really it'll take at least 3 lights, all of the same type (flash or continuous)

You're trying to run before you've got the hang of walking.

My suggestion

Forget the white background and learn how to light the subject. Then learn how to light the subject well, then think about lighting more than one subject, then subjects and backgrounds etc. etc.

White backgrounds don't even look that great - decent environmental portraiture is lots more attractive. And interesting backdrops are simple too and more attractive than flat white vinyl.

The subject is far more important than a white background, but as soon as most photographers want to learn to take control of lighting - they go out and buy a white background:cuckoo:.
 
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