Out of practice - any help would be great.

[BamaFru]

Ok, I have been neglecting my camera for way too long. I needed help before but now I need REAL pointers.

I'm having issues with my lighting and I have totally forgotten most of my technical stuff.

Here is what I am getting. Ok but seems too flat to me. I didn't really plan this shot, but I would like to recreate only sharper...blah blah.

Any help would be wonderful.
http://gallery.photographyreview.com...cat=500&page=1

[Asylum Steve]

Well, it is a real nice shot, but if your main concern is depth, I can give you a few suggestions.

One, lose the black bg. Deep, rich black instanly sucks up any subject to bg depth in a shot. A medium toned bg, whether gray or a color, would be better. Yes, it takes more light and more thought, but if you make sure to light the bg unevenly, you almost always get some interesting tonality to it and some additional depth to the shot.

Two, the basic light on your subject is too even. Sure, it's nice, but too balanced. Gives the pic that "photo studio at the mall" effect ala Glamorshots. Now I'm not suggesting harsh shadows on her face, but more of a wider ratio of key to fill. Maybe 3:1 to again add some tonality and depth to the shot.

I'm not at all fond of hairlights, so take this with a grain. IMO, there's nothing wrong with backlighting, but I think it looks better as rim lighting. IOW, aim the other light so it's more behind her and lighting one side of her entire body, not just her head. That, too will add depth...

[BamaFru]

Oh I like the rim lighting tip! I will try that most certainly. Alas, the backdrop is a bit of a problem at the moment. My hubbie put in a rail system in my "studio" but I only have black and white for now. (I'm buttering him up ;) ) I see what you mean about the black BG.

Please explain:
"Now I'm not suggesting harsh shadows on her face, but more of a wider ratio of key to fill. Maybe 3:1 to again add some tonality and depth to the shot."

Did I mention I'm rusty?


Thanks for the imput! Need imput.

[Asylum Steve]

Alas, the backdrop is a bit of a problem at the moment. My hubbie put in a rail system in my "studio" but I only have black and white for now.
Please explain:
"Now I'm not suggesting harsh shadows on her face, but more of a wider ratio of key to fill. Maybe 3:1 to again add some tonality and depth to the shot."

Well, white will fall to gray if it isn't brightly lit, so you may have some wiggle room here. I guess it depends on the size of your shooting space. Also, placing a white bg at an angle to the camera will cause a graduation of tones on it from lighter to darker. Sometimes that looks good.

A lighting ratio is the strength of one light on your subject in relationship to a second one. If you're lighting your subject with two lights of equal strength, that's considered a 1:1 ratio.

I couldn't tell from your original shot if you lit her face with one or two lights. If it's two, you simply want to change to illumination of one so that it's less than the other. If it's not too much less, you will get shadows on her face (modeling), but they will be soft shadows, which creates depth.

Now if you only used one light, you should try moving it more to the side of her so you get more directional lighting on her face. In this case the shadows will be harsher, so you have to "fill" in the dark areas by using another light or a reflector on the opposite side to bounce a bit of extra light in there. Even a large piece of foamcore will do...

[BamaFru]

Ah. Got the ratio. I had 2 hot lights on either side of her and the hairlight. They have two levels - on or off. Anyway, I have some wiggle room but not much the room is 10'2"x12'4". I only have a few options with angles due to door ways. Luckily the rail circles around about 2 feet on either side so I might be able to adjust. We may add to this to cover the front window at some point. Maybe I can get my lights suspended next so I have a little more floor space.

I will experiment with angles. This was good info, THANKS!

[Asylum Steve]

Thanks for showing the setup. I've asked posters to include that whenever possible. Guess I'd better finally get that FAQ/posting guidelines up, eh?

There are two things you can do to try to accomplish what I suggested. One is to move both hot lights to the same side. That will be your key. Then use a reflector on the other side to fill the shadows a bit.

The other thing is to keep the setup the way it is now, but modify one of the hot lights so less illumination reaches the subject. Any kind of darker translucent fabric in front of it will cut down on the output. Fiberglass screen material is good.

Either of these techniques will force the light to be uneven (in a good way) to create a ratio and add depth to the shot...

[BamaFru]

I will definately try all of these things. I may even try to paint my wall a brown or gray to have the 3rd background option or cut and dye part of my white backdrop. I'm leaning towards painting until I can purchase more backdrops...bucket of paint much cheaper.

The lighting tips will be very helpful to me! I do have a few ideas on diffusing the lights - will let you know how that all turns out.

If I can get my daughter to cooperate, I may even try this weekend.

[photophorous]

I don't know if you have Hobby Lobby where you are, but you probably have something similar. They have many different colors of 42" wide muslin that sells for about $4 a yard. I know that's not very wide, but for about $12 per color it might be a cheap alternative for head & shoulder shots.

I've been trying to learn about lighting and I found this thread and your photo helpful.

Thanks to you and Steve.

Paul

[Sebastian]

Consider paper, 30-some bucks for a roll goes a long way.

[BamaFru]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I will continue to experiment. Hobby lobby is a blessed 10 miles away...along with MANY fabric stores...eBay is closer!

Here I changed the hair light to an attempt at a rim light with white background (wrinkled white muslin).

Unfortunately, my daughter is otherwise occupied so my new victim was somewhat cooperative. My set up was the same except the hairlight/rimlight. I know he's a little blown out but WOW what a difference the background makes!

I will keep trudging on...I've been commissioned for high school portraits (on the cheap) and want to be ready.