Lessons on Light

[Marie Hass]

Since I am home on short term disability, I have had plenty of time to work with my mentor on learning lighting skills. Today's lesson was light ratios and the incidences of light.

In all three images, I used only my square softbox with a 100W LED light inside.

This first image I angled a white project board as my background so the most light from the softbox would reflect off of it.

This second image I angled a black project board as my background so the most light from the softbox would reflect off of it. It created a lovely grey background.

This third image I placed a black project board at an angle in the foreground as well as the other black piece vertical in the the background so not much light from the softbox would reflect off of it.

Please c&c.

PS. I was not sure where to post this, so Mods? if you think this post should be moved elsewhere?

Marie

[Geoff F]

They all work; but with the dark backgrounds the shadow areas on the flower are fractionally on the dark side.

[NorthernFocus]

Really a nice demonstration of technique. Nicely done.

[Mike Buckley]

I wasn't aware that softboxes are made that accept an LED light. Very interesting!

Isn't discovering the characteristics of light and putting them to practical use both enlightening and fun?!

Notice a couple other characteristics of the light being reflected by your background material...

In the last two photos, the background is mottled, unlike the bright background in the first photo. That's probably because of a slight texture in the dark project board that may not exist in the white one. (There may be other explanations.) If you want a smooth background while using the same board, you will need to use a larger aperture and/or move the background farther away from the subject so it becomes sufficiently out of focus.

In the second photo, the top left area is a little darker than the rest of the background. In the third photo, the bottom left area is darker. You can use the very same lighting setups that you used to create these images to create gradients that you might find more appealing than backgrounds that are evenly lit.

Whatever you decide regarding these characteristics for a particular image, be sure that the background is as you like it and that you understand why. Similarly, if the background is not as you like it, use the principles you're learning to change it to whatever you prefer.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done, good examples of the effects of bouncing reflections and light.

[selig1656]

Nice comparison illustrated and thank you for sharing.

[Marie Hass]

Dear Mike,

Sometimes I can get very creative! I created a frame for my head on my soft box and wired my LED light into it. I works beautifully.

I did end up with a gradient, and I do understand why. It is not what I wanted, and a better photography table is on my wish list. I am using a white plastic table from Walmart and I can only work from the front.

Also on my wish list are photographic paper backdrops just so I don't get that mottling.

So for now, I am acquiring things piecemeal as my budget affords.

Thank you for your observations and words of encouragement. They mean a lot.

Marie

[Mike Buckley]

Also on my wish list are photographic paper backdrops just so I don't get that mottling.

Consider buying a sheet of translucent vellum instead of white paper. It's practically indestructible. It's surface is consistent. It can serve as a medium to bright background when reflecting light. It can serve as a bright background when shining light through it toward the subject and camera. It can be placed in front of a light source to diffuse the light. Very flexible!

EDIT: It can also be used as a reflector.

[Marie Hass]

Geoff,

They all work; but with the dark backgrounds the shadow areas on the flower are fractionally on the dark side.

These pictures are pretty much SOOC. The settings did not change for any of these pictures. The color of the foamboard was the only thing I changed.

To me, all of this is so exciting! Through the above scenarios, I learned to apply the concept that white is additive and black is subtractive to photography.

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Hi,Dan!

Thank you. Glad I could share.

Marie

[JR1]

Nice but the watermark spoils it

[Marie Hass]

the watermark spoils it

How so, Jeremy? Do you have any suggestions?

Marie

[Marie Hass]

John and Raymond,

Thank you. It was my turn to give back by sharing what I learned.

Marie

[Dave Humphries]

An interesting and educational exercise Marie, thanks for sharing.

My first thought seeing them (before reading the post and what you were doing/why) - was that the subject illumination is rather too 'from above' - perhaps a sheet of white paper, placed below the lens, to act as a reflector to provide some fill from below and in to each side bloom, would have helped.

Just a thought, Dave

[JR1]

How so, Jeremy? Do you have any suggestions?

Marie

No the shots are nice, sharp, contrasty, etc the watermark just spoils it

[Marie Hass]

LOLs, Jeremy,

I was referring to the watermark. Would you recommend a grey? a white? smaller size? Should I have used a watermark at all?

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Dear Dave,

Thank you for commenting! At this point, I have not created a system to hold flags or reflectors. That is next.

I am on a very tight budget and need to be creative.

Any ideas?

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Consider buying a sheet of translucent vellum

Dear Mike,

I will check into it and move it closer to the top of my want list.

Marie

[JR1]

LOLs, Jeremy,

I was referring to the watermark. Would you recommend a grey? a white? smaller size? Should I have used a watermark at all?

Marie

No watermark, pointless, easily removed so serves no purpose, things are only watermarked to show ownership on the whole

[Mike Buckley]

No watermark, pointless, easily removed so serves no purpose

Exactly.