Teaching a lighting class

david1701

david1701

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Hi guys,

For my sins I am teaching an intro to lighting class for the uni photo society (along with the pres, I am vice - see blackjack and hooker related posts).

Anyone here teach this kinda stuff who feels like being helpful ;)

I've been rewatching the onelight dvd and the strobist dvds to garner hints from those guys teaching styles. I have also been taking shots with simple / complex lighting and set up pics to go with.

I'll try to teach a basic version of everything I know, which is how modifiers work, how various settings apply to flash and ambient exposure, how the ISL applies to using flashes, how it all works with a single light, how to add in a second or third light, how to use a reflector - what the diff panels do ect, maybe how to work with white vs black backgrounds depending one whether I have a collapsible BG by then

Seeing as its a uni I think I can blag a room with a load of space and a projector in it but will sort that out nearer the time.

thinking a bit of classroom type stuff followed by some demonstration followed by some playing around

What do people think of this, from having taught classes, having been to lighting classes, to what you would want from a lighting class

Cheers,
David

(nb not in the next 2 months at least)
 
There is a bloke on here called Len Carter, he knows everything.

I think he runs photolearn or something.
 
Can't advise you on what to teach as still learning all that stuff myself, but I would advise not trying to squeeze too much in. If the students haven't done any kind of lighting before, throwing a whole load of info at them at once will only cause confusion and possibly put them off venturing into the area again, keep it informative but straightforward and chuck your practical session in the middle, not at the end, give you chance to talk with them all afterwards about what they did and they can ask questions about it.

edit: sorry, the word 'interesting' should also be in that passage somewhere ;)
 
This is the approach I use, it seems to work for me.

1. Point out that studio lighting is just bringing the daylight indoors and that any type of light that occurs outdoors can be created indoors, and very easily - large softboxes used close = overcast day, small distant light source = sunlight etc etc. The idea behind this is to get people thinking about light, not just thinking about lighting equipment.
2. Place subject (anything) near wall. Walk around pointing flashhead with modelling lamp switch on at it, ask people to see how sharply defined the shadows are at a distance, see how they change as the light gets closer. Do the same with a softbox. This practical exercise proves that (1) is correct.
3. Remind people that there is only 1 sun outdoors so there is only 1 sun indoors. More than 1 light should only be used if necessary to mitigate problems caused by the first light - in other words try to talk people out of the beginner mistake of using however many lights they happen to have available.
4. Light a live model with a single light placed at various angles/heights, pointing out that some positions create problems, some solve them. Some enhance beauty, some just create a fat face... Explain why.
5. Add a reflector if needed to mitigate shadows.
6. Get students to try experiment, talking through it as they go, to force them to think rather than just move lights around.

Above all, KISS
 
Yv said:
edit: sorry, the word 'interesting' should also be in that passage somewhere ;)
Click to expand...

thats a good shout Yv

Cheers Gary that makes a lot of sense. I'm not 100% on the plan as of yet for teaching stuff so it might be best to do an introduction to lighting then after a while do a more involved one to keep people on board and getting the best out of it.

Quite exited about this its gonna be an interesting new experience
 
so we've heard from the experts what do people that go to (or want to go to) lighting classes want from an intro course ?
 
I think the first time I went to a small studio light lesson, I was amazed at how much difference a light makes. Having only ever had a pop up flash before, I could see the benefits of extra lighting.

The thing that puts most people off lighting I think is the expense.

I would give a little start to try and show ways of some sort of strobist stuff to try and keep costs down. Show them examples of some strobists works compared to high end fashion. There is a difference but there is also a difference between an uneducated shooter and one who knows how to use what they have to their advantage.

Try not to over complicate things and speak in as much laymans English as you can.

Diagrams are brilliant to show set ups.

If you google Kevin Kertz you will find a fatastic lighting diagram tool to use in Photoshop.

Lastly tell the students that lighting is their friend.
 
the lights I will be using for some of it are the societies lights (all but the speedlights are mine :D) which reduces the cost a bit though what we lack are proper modifiers (my kingdom for a grid - soft light is no fun)

I'll be pushing the strobist approach as, well it rocks.

KISS is a recurring theme :D

I'll be doing more v simple shots with diagrams so I have something to go with simple themes, and tell everyone to RSS strobist :D
 
The one thing to watch out for is a smartass in the crowd who knows it all and he will have you grovellling. It happens every time. My advice is catch a sudden dose of swine flu.
 
classcams said:
The one thing to watch out for is a smartass in the crowd who knows it all and he will have you grovellling. It happens every time. My advice is catch a sudden dose of swine flu.
Click to expand...

When they pop up, you ned ot have a line prepared.

something like
"well, if you know that much about the subject, perhaps you would like to come and run an advanced session in a few weeks?"

Will either make him dead embarrassed and shut him up, or he will say yes and get you out of doing the more advanced talk.......
 
david1701 said:
the lights I will be using for some of it are the societies lights (all but the speedlights are mine :D) which reduces the cost a bit though what we lack are proper modifiers (my kingdom for a grid - soft light is no fun)

I'll be pushing the strobist approach as, well it rocks.

KISS is a recurring theme :D

I'll be doing more v simple shots with diagrams so I have something to go with simple themes, and tell everyone to RSS strobist :D
Click to expand...

Hmm...
Unless I'm missing something here, Stobist is much more about using lights than lighting. In other words, if you're teaching lighting you need to teach it with real lights with real modifiers, pointing out that Strobist is an alternative that many people use, rather than referring people to Strobist as a solution - unless of course you're teaching Strobist techniques per se.

If you haven't got/can't get suitable modifiers, I would walk away. I teach with softboxes, umbrellas, beauty dishes, silks, reflectors, honeycombs, fresnel spots, snoots, lighting gels etc and even focussing spots and ringflashes, because each of these tools has a very real role to play when teaching anyone including complete beginners. Without the tools you can't teach how lighting works.
 
I am thinking seriously basic here, using what we have and what can be bought on a student budget most effectively, its not meant to be a proper all singing all dancing lighting course.

I would long term consider going on a proper course with all the mods but not until I am in a position to buy/use all those mods right now I'm neither
 
I did precisely this for my uni photosoc (I'm the chair now...whoops...).

We borrowed a room in the SU with a tv, and just put the AV out from my camera in to the AV port so people could quickly see the results.

Started off with one flash on camera, talked about why single unbounced light from on camera is a bit ugly, talked about basics (aperture controls flash, shutter speed ambient, colour casts, flash power and technologies etc).

Talked about bouncing on camera flash, ceilings, proper use of stofen, etc.

Then took flash off camera, and I had two light stand + brolly setups already set up, started with just the one, got a member to come 'model' while I explained about the factors that change the effect of flash (percived size, power output, etc), what 'softness' of light is (with an example - bare vs brolly, etc).

Explained methods of getting flashes off camera, optical, radio, CLS etc, and benefits of studio lights over speedlights.

Demo'd and explained seperating the subject from the background - making the wall behind the subject white seamless (ish :P ) and black, just by changing light setups.

Then had a bit of a free for all, I have 3 transmitters for my flash radios, so several people could work together, helped people fix problems with their flash, etc, and generally played around with light setups for a bit.

We needed more than the two hour session length really, so better to book the room for an afternoon or something.

HTH
 
Dave I love you, the AV out is a brilliant idea, I was thinking of tethered shooting and all a lappy and aggro but thats perfect.

Basically exactly what I want to do, just ya know let people know that you can use lights and get better results than using the pop up

good shout on booking a whole afternoon I hadn't considered timing
 
Hi all,

Bumping this as we're doing a drop in on general photography week after next and a specific lighting one after that
 
For your demos, drag in the college hotty. An attractive subject makes ALL the difference. Yes, I am serious :D
 
david1701 said:
not a bad idea at all hoppy......... now who do I know thats stunning and would do it for beer
Click to expand...

:lol: if you know someone who's stunning and will do it for beer, why the hell would you be wasting your time giving lessons on photography :lol:
 
TheBigYin said:
:lol: if you know someone who's stunning and will do it for beer, why the hell would you be wasting your time giving lessons on photography :lol:
Click to expand...

:eek:


That caused a serious splutter in my Rooibos bordering on a tidal surge... :suspect:


Immaculate timing BY... :lol:




:p
 
lol@ BY!!

I have to agree with something Garry pointed out.

Strobist is all very well but I think it's actually a lot easier to learn lighting by looking at studio light first. Even if you don't have access to modifiers I would still be very tempted to teach the basis of a one light setup using a studio head.

The reason? One thing that you can do with a studio head that you can't do with a speedlight is look at the modelling light.

The positioning and proximity (and your ISL) is so much easier to observe and therefore teach with a studio light. With a speedlight it is a lot harder to predict the results when you are starting out.

Even using a torch to illustrate the point can be useful. As Garry rightly pointed out, the biggest mistake beginners make is to dive in and use all the lights available. (I know, I've done it!!) :)
 
gonna be doing it a bit of both, teach with the lights owned by the society (studio lights) but with showing that it can be done with portable kit

my problem is I don't really like using studio lights as they are big and cumbersome and speedlights do most of it better most of the time for what I do :S

gotta work on teaching the techniques not my personal preferences let people play and work those out themselves
 
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