studio background + colour from lighting!

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Maxam

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Hi There,

I have this idea but I am not sure if it's possible.
So... comments please :D

I have aquired some 16 million colour LED light cans (designed for use in discos etc). Using a DMX controller I can get pretty much any desired colour.

They are pretty strong but being LED they are cool the touch always. Lovely piece of kit.

How would I light a white background with them for a portrait shoot.
Would I have to do anything special....??

Usually when I shoot on a white background I use a 2:1 setup and the result are lovely. But if I have colour from a light, surely the 2:1 setup would LOSE the colour from LED cans?????

See where I am going with this??
 
I've never used LED but I'm pretty confident that it will be a major form of lighting in the future.

You'll have to experient. One pointer though, use a grey background, not a white one, otherwise the colours on the background will be very pastel.

I'd be very interested in seeing your results...
 
Yes, I think you would be better off with a grey/black background to make the colours stronger! They will be quite washy on a white one :)
 
Garry Edwards said:
I've never used LED but I'm pretty confident that it will be a major form of lighting in the future.

You'll have to experient. One pointer though, use a grey background, not a white one, otherwise the colours on the background will be very pastel.

I'd be very interested in seeing your results...
Click to expand...

Hi Garry,
Thanks for that! Good advice about a grey background too - didn't even think about that!

Do you think I should have a backlight on the background at all???
Or just use the cans for background illumination, take a meter reading and set the softbox flash head to 2:1?????

(my head hurts)
 
I would say use white and under expose to get the saturation right.

web_7717.jpg
 
pxl8 said:
I would say use white and under expose to get the saturation right.
Click to expand...

Looks Like I am going to have to experiment a bit!!!
I'll see about posting the test shots (maybe with a model) when i've done them!
 
Maxam said:
Hi Garry,
Thanks for that! Good advice about a grey background too - didn't even think about that!

Do you think I should have a backlight on the background at all???
Or just use the cans for background illumination, take a meter reading and set the softbox flash head to 2:1?????

(my head hurts)
Click to expand...
As I said, you'll have to experiment. If you use some level of other lighting on the background it will mitigate the effect of your LED lights. Whether that's good or bad will depend on what you want. Personally I'd try it without and then with.
Bear in mind (obviously) that the aperture will affect the flash exposure and that both aperture and shutter speed will affect the LED lighting. Depending on the aperture used for the flash and the brightness or otherwise of the LEDs, you may need long shutter speeds.
 
I'm planning on experimenting this week with the LED light cans, so i'll let you see results as soon as I have done so!

btw Garry.... I've just bought a Lencarta 3 Head Set off ebay for my "portable" kit!!!
Saw you put your name by it. Oh and nice vid!
 
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