Where can I learn about lighting?

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Kevin
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I have a D90 / SB600 but never seem to get it right when taking portraits - where can I learn the basics? Books, videos, online guides etc. At the moment I seem to end up with huge shadows even when using the flash off-camera.

Any help gratefully received!

Cheers.
 
Strobist, YouTube,Joe McNally books are good, and this forum is pretty darn helpful for beginners.
 
Thanks for those - I never think to look at YouTube! Will have a search and investigate Strobist.
 
You're welcome- hope you find what you're looking for :D

Les :thumbs:
 
Hi Kevin,

You could get many lighting tips by looking at the free videos on the Lencarta site, where Garry Edwards shows how to light and also from the site prophotolife with several lighting sets for portraiture and still life.

Hope this helps

Malcolm
 
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A couple of points...

Firstly, don't view shadows as something to be avoided, they should be created - because their purpose it to create depth and interest and to NOT light certain parts of your subject - but your problem seems to be knowing how they're created so that you can control them...

There's a lot of free stuff on Youtube but frankly not all of it is good. Your safest bet is probably to work your way through the Strobist 101 section, there's some good basic info on there.
 
The huge shadow you mention will be create as the light source is small relative to the subject. Changing the angle will only move the shadow, not soften it. Things to consider when controlling shadows:

size of light source: the larger the softer the shadow transition. The smaller the harder the transition

intensity of light source (power),

angle - to control where the shadow falls

light to subject distance - which affects relative size of light source to subject)

subject to background distance - to stop unintentionally lighting things you don't want to light

There are many tools to help you achieve these, but you need to understand what light is, and how it behaves. Strobist website as mentioned will help you. Also, Light Science and Magic is a fantastic book to make you understand light. Welcome to the world of lighting. It's an interesting place!
 
Strobist 101 and 102 for sure.
 
One of the best Joe McNally quotes ever:

"if you want to make something look interesting, don't light all of it"

Get yourself a copy of his book "Hotshoe Diaries" which is chock full of useful info and techniques. As well as looking at Strobist 101/102 etc.
 
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