ScottL

Some tips for Studio Lighting

Well, I have been reading and reading and reading various books on lighting. I will try to give a little summary of some (I think) helpful tips.

Tip (1) Using Colored Backrounds

Working with colored backrounds or sweeps (Sweeps meaning under the subject) it is important to watch that the backround does not reflect back into the models face.

If you are shooting only upper body, or head shots, it is wise to have the model stand on a neutral colored platform. And only use the background as a backdrop and not a sweep as well.

Being the floor can also act as a reflector for light, if a model were standing on a colored floor (Sweep) it is possible to have that color kicked back up into the models face leaving an undesired color cast.



Tip (2) Photographing Polished Surfaces

When photographing a subject with a polished surface, you are actually photographing it's reflections rather than the object itself. So what you want to do is use white card, and black card to create reflections.

Use the white card in areas where you want highlights, and use black board where you want shadows.

A photo tent is also useful. Always remember to put either a white cards between the opening in the tent, and you, your camera, and the backround of where ever you are shooting. A good idea is to take a black, or white card, cut a circle in it that is big enough to fit around the edge of your lens and put it over your lens. Make sure it is big enough to block any reflections of you or anything else.

This illustration below was done with crappy MS Paint just to show what I am talking about. So excuse the quality. If ever I take a photo of the set up. I will post it here.



With this setup, you should get some nice results when shooting reflective material.



Tip (3) A little trick to adding a little something in your subject.

A small trick I feel needs mentioning is using little mirrors around still life/product shots.

Sometimes when using alot of lighting, we are still missing something. We are missing shades, shadows, and different highlights on certain areas of the subject. There is a little something you can do to move lighting around things.

So lets say you are photographing a vase full of beautiful roses. But you cannot get that extra something. Like maybe a single ray of light to hit a certain area (Like water droplets). Try using those shaving mirrors or make up mirrors. You know, those swivel ones. You can arrange these in various areas around your subject and swivel them to point in the area that you want it to hit. These mirrors will pick up light and reflect it back to where it is pointed. (Just make sure they are out of the frame when shooting.)

More to come at a later date, hopefully some of this was helpful.

If you have a question about a certain subject, feel free to post. If I know it, I will post about it, if I don't I will research it. It will help me learn as well.

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