what should i use for ambient lighting in my ad-hoc home studio?

[dubcat]

Hi - i want to put up a studio 'on-demand' in my living room (and when the weather warms up my garage). What should I be using for ambient lighting so that my subjects and me don't get scared in the dark and can actually see what we are doing? If i use the ceiling lights won't they destroy any kind of artistic effect i create with my two (possibly 3) speedlights and reflector?

Can you please recommend which gel i should use for whatever ambient light you recommend please? I have never used them before. I know that CTO is used for tungsten - is that for all tungsten? Seems there is 1/4 cto, full cto, etc - so no idea what to use.

Cheers,
Dub

 

[Jamieconverge]

will the ambient lighting in the room really affect the exposure that much? have you tried taking a shot at the shutter/aperture speeds you'll want to use without the speedlights firing?

i say because whenever im using flashguns indoors i find that at 250th f8the normal 60/100 watt bulbs in the room arent part of the exposure, and id have to go a lot lot slower to have them affect it.

 

[dubcat]

Jamie - ah thanks very much for that. I haven't tried it the way you said. I will give it a shot. Does this mean i do not have to use a Gel?

Cheers,
Dub

 

[karfeef]

yep. at sync speed or a little slower, general ambient light won't do anything to the exposure - so no need to worry about correction gels - just gel for effect if you want to , like on a background light.

 

[dubcat]

Ah that's awesome - my life just got that little bit easier

thanks again chaps,
Dub