What have I done??

Mondo74 · 22 Mar 2011

Nothing like trying to run before I can walk! I've often threatened to try get into portraiture (hoping to eventually part fund my expensive habit of buying toys).

I've hired a studio and coerced a friend into modelling for me so I'm getting there. My trouble is, there will be nobody at the studio to show me the ropes and I have zero experience of off studio lighting. I have watched some videos on You Tube etc. (I find Gavin Hoey's stuff easy going) but I think I could do with a book to bring along with me.

I'm (possibly naively) thinking that I'll be able to work out the lights themselves without too much issue bit I'd like examples of lighting setups for different scenarios. Reviews of books I've seen vary hugely depending on the skill level of the reader. Since I'm a complete dummy in this field, I thought DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY LIGHTING FOR DUMMIES might work but I can't find it in shops to have a look and can't find any reviews online. Does anyone have this? Any other books I should be thinking of?

Any advice appreciated.

cobra_lite · 22 Mar 2011

All depends what look you're after.
My advice is to look hard at the images that interest you and try and reverse-engineer the lighting set-ups from the shadows and most importantly the catchlights in the eyes - if you're lucky you can work out what type of light-modifiers were used and the placement of the lights in relation to the model.

Then go play.

vaizki · 22 Mar 2011

Nothing like just diving in is there

If you have at least a flashgun at home, learn to shoot with flash in Manual mode. Camera on Manual exposure and flash on manual power that is. That should get your head in the right gear to understand why everything is going pear shaped in the studio

And Google for some portrait setups, the web is full of them including lighting diagrams.

Mondo74 · 22 Mar 2011

Thanks for replies. I have 3 Speedlites but I've never thought of using them in manual to (kinda) simulate setting up studio lighting. - The simple ideas ate the best.

garryg163 · 23 Mar 2011

If you hire a studio, make sure they supply a Flashmeter.

If you are new to this then a note about exposures using studio flash:

1. Shutter speeds are not part of your exposure calculation. (Unless <1/30th and/or using high ISO)
2. Work your exposure from the Main or "Key" Light. If this gives you f11 then any other lights should be pushing out = or less than this.
3. LOOK !! Check where your shadows fall (Using modelling bulbs as a guide) and how hard or soft they are. Usually best done with any ambient (Room) lights being off
4. If your shadows are too harsh then use another light to "Fill In" the shadows.
5. Assuming your Key light reads f11: a fill light pushing out f8 would give a soft 1:2 ratio, f5.6 = 1:4, f4 = 1:8. The bigger the difference between the numbers the higher the contrast of the shot you are producing.
6. Add additional lights for hair/background etc but best to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) on the first few goes

Hope that helps.

Gaz

Mondo74 · 23 Mar 2011

Thanks Gaz. I've just about got my head round the whole shutter speed thing. (bizarre concept having only shot landscapes before but I see how the physics work) A flash meter is supplied by the studio and I've had a rake about online to get an idea how to work it.

I'm beginning to wonder if self taught is the way to go but I'll have a play and see how it goes. Thankfully my model is a good friend with the patience of a saint.

All going well I'll have at least a couple of shots to put into the crit section for ritual slating.

hairboy · 23 Mar 2011

Diving in at the deep end, eh? It really isn't all that difficult. Go to Strobist website and read Lighting 101. It will teach you all you need to know to get you started, and even a VERY competent lighting photographer.

Flash meter isn't necessary. Don't get caught up in the numbers of it all. Instead, set up 1 light at a time, see what it is doing, then once you have relatively happy with what it's doing, set up another. For key light, frontal light will give it even and flat light. Put it at an angle, and it will give you contrast. Remember, lighting is about what you DON'T light, as much as what you DO light. Shadow will give it depth. Don't try to light everything, which is exactly what most rookies do. Many good portraits are done with 1 light and a reflector. Experiment with 1 light as much as you can at different angles before introducing another light. That'll teach you a lot.

Good luck.

Mondo74 · 29 Mar 2011

Thanks for all the advice guys.

Had my first ever studio shoot today. Since there was nobody there to show me the ropes I spent the first half hour or so finding out how everything worked and then got shooting. I can see where I've gone wrong on most of my shots but it's a start I guess.

Posted here if anyone wants to rip them to bits!!

Garry Edwards · 29 Mar 2011

I think you've done pretty well for a first attempt, I especially like 1, 2 & 6.

As you can see, fairly harsh lighting can work well - but not when the victim is smiling, smiles make people look older and need softer lighting - and softer lighting can lose the mood.

So basically you have a choice of no smile with harder lighting and a sexy look, or a nice bright smile and a distinctly un-sexy look

Mondo74 · 30 Mar 2011

Garry Edwards said:
smiles make people look older

And here was me thinking she looks quite good for 45 :lol:

Thanks for the comments. For now I think it's just a case of keep on having a go to build my knowledge and abilities. I think my choice of background was poor considering the black clothes my model was wearing but I didn't want to have to worry about lighting a white background.

Garry Edwards · 30 Mar 2011

Mondo74 said:
And here was me thinking she looks quite good for 45

Thanks for the comments. For now I think it's just a case of keep on having a go to build my knowledge and abilities. I think my choice of background was poor considering the black clothes my model was wearing but I didn't want to have to worry about lighting a white background.

Well, I think she looks great for 45 but that isn't what I was talking about...
Big smiles look great in real life. I read somewhere that everyone (except Tony Blair) looks 3 times as sexy when they smile, but that doesn't work with still photography, where people just look 'nice', not sexy.

The problem is simple. Hard lighting helps to define the shape of the face and draw attention to it, but it also emphasises lines and creases in the face. Smiles create huge creases which, with hard lighting, show up as deep shadows in the wrong places.

That's why fashion and cosmetics models never smile in their photos.

Black on black? It can be an excellent choice, it makes for dramatic lighting that draws attention tothe face and the shape of the body.

As I said before, I think you've done a pretty good job for a first attempt.