The use of extra lights, often flash units, in order to make up for a lack of light or to gain more creative control over the image.
8
votes
5answers
648 views
What cheap equipment can I use to hold a reflector in place?
Assuming I don't have any friend that help with my photography, what can I do to hold a reflector in position while I shoot? Let's assume that if I'm cheap enough to use a windshield sunshade as a ...
8
votes
6answers
538 views
What's a decent lighting kit for getting started with portraits?
I've done mostly nature photography up to this point but later this month a friend is having a birthday and she just had a daughter so I wanted to take some father/daughter portraits.
So now I'm ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
How to set up lighting for stop-motion photography?
I was recently joking around with some friends about building a small gingerbread town, and taking some macro shots of it. My friends came up with the idea of actually doing it, only instead of just ...
8
votes
2answers
256 views
Is there software which can identify the lighting in an existing photo?
Is there an application that will take a selected region of a photo, and return its estimate of the lighting parameters required to emulate the lighting conditions in the selected region of the photo?
...
8
votes
3answers
330 views
Still-life reconstruction considered plagiarism?
I am really bad at still lifes. That is, I never even attempted making one. So I decided to try and make a photo of freshly baked bread. I stumbled across a few amazing shots on the Internet which I ...
8
votes
2answers
580 views
Why diffuse a softbox?
I just read "Lessons Learned on The Flash Bus Tour" and saw this image. In it, an assistant is holding some sort of white shoot-through diffuser (I got a similar one in my 5-in-one reflector kit) ...
8
votes
3answers
640 views
Which is faster for flashes, radio triggers or optical triggers?
Assuming you have a line of sight to all your flashes and both methods will trigger the flashes with 100% reliability, is it faster to use radio triggers or optical triggers to set them off? Or put in ...
8
votes
1answer
166 views
What time of day provides the best Natural lighting for Macro Photography?
When using natural lighting in macro photography, what times of day provide the light? Specifically for photographing flowers (but they are not my only subject).
Also how is natural lighting used ...
8
votes
1answer
237 views
What continuous light technology gives light most suitable for photo lighting?
I have started to look around for a flashlight (a handheld torch, not speedlight) to selectively light scenes during long exposures, but the wide selection of technologies used in bulbs puzzles me. ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
What is a good softbox for small hotshoe flash?
What are the good softboxes for a small flash like a Canon Speedlite 430EX, for example?
8
votes
1answer
401 views
How do I create “Rim Lighting” in macro photography?
I enjoy macro photography and have heard of using "Rim Lighting" for higher contrast. How do I achieve this effect?
8
votes
2answers
446 views
How can I affect color of a water droplet shot?
Experimenting with water droplets today. Pretty fun! I'd like to ask how can I improve upon it. First of all a picture of the setup:
Water is contained within a plastic bag that is taped to a ...
8
votes
1answer
404 views
How do I compare these two lighting systems?
I'm looking into getting a light system.
I have been reviewing the light packages on the Elinchrom website, and mostly looking at the D-Lite 4 vs the Quadra Ranger. Besides the price, I would like
...
8
votes
1answer
279 views
How do I compare a continuous light panel's brightness vs. flash through a softbox?
I've been following recent developments in light-emitting capacitor technology with interest. This new technology produces a complete-spectrum light (like sunlight or incandescents), instead of the ...
8
votes
4answers
394 views
To take my portrait photography to the next level, should I get a second flashgun or a monolight?
I am a hobbyist and using a Canon 600D with 50mm f/1.8 and 18-135mm lenses.
I bought 430EX-II flashgun, and it works great as off-camera flash with the 600D's built in transmitter. I also have a ...
8
votes
1answer
259 views
What steps do I need to take to deconstruct the lighting of a portrait?
In general, what steps should I take to deconstruct the lighting on a portrait that somebody else took?
Are there certain things I should look for that provide visual clues?
What can I look for ...
8
votes
1answer
308 views
Is the use of coloured lighting in industrial photography a bit… Passée?
I have been asked to do some photography around an aerospace engineering company, they make parts for planes basically.
Having looked at their previous imagery stash, taken i think 2003 ish, the ...
7
votes
4answers
269 views
How do I start using a hotshoe flash?
I've just been given a Sigma EF-500 DG ST flash unit. I've not really had much experience using flash. How can I get started? Are there any good learning resources?
7
votes
5answers
4k views
What's the technical difference between artificial and natural light?
Comments like this one got me wondering...
Assuming two light sources of equal size and relative intensity (let's say as an example monolights and the sun) and assuming that you're shooting raw to ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
How to avoid double chin and glossy skin in portraits?
Two of the most disturbing things I struggle with when shooting portraits are double chin of the model and glossy skin reflecting my flash, even while using diffused light. I normally ask my model to ...
7
votes
3answers
7k views
When and how to use a push-on flash diffuser?
I've bought a cheap flash on eBay and got this fancy flash diffuser as a free gift:
So, what are the effects of a light diffuser like this one? What difference does it make to the resulting photo? ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
Where can I buy used photo studio equipment?
I am looking for a place to find used or inexpensive photography equipment like tripods, light stands, backdrops, ext.
7
votes
4answers
273 views
Light Tent Recommendations?
I'm looking to buy a smallish light tent (1 or 2 feet on a side) and there seems to be quite an array of options. Are there any that are any better than any others? Or should I just go with whatever ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
What is clamshell lighting, and when should it be used?
I've heard of Clamshell Lighting. What is it, and when should it be used?
7
votes
3answers
835 views
Metering - How to account for the light from the flash
I pretty much use Manual mode (in my Nikon D40) and learning quite a lot from it. Though I understand "Metering" for correct exposure, I've trouble understanding it while using Flash (both in-built as ...
7
votes
1answer
629 views
Portrait photography of children (Christmas)
I floated an offer to my family to photograph my neices and nephews for Christmas. Now, we're doing this with plenty of time for them to get professional work done if mine don't really come out great, ...
7
votes
1answer
373 views
How can I light someone to make him look evil or Machiavellian?
What would be the best way to use light to make someone's face look evil, creepy or Machiavellian?
7
votes
2answers
418 views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of grids vs. snoots for light control?
Both are, in general, used to control the area that's lit.
What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of both? When would you prefer one over the other?
7
votes
3answers
266 views
Camera with good linear light response for photometric accuracy?
I want to photograph rooms and spaces indoors, and covered areas outdoors, and get good measurements of illumination. Light sources will be sun, sky, and artificial. Another use is to photograph ...
7
votes
2answers
692 views
How to create a sparkle in the eyes of a portrait shot?
In this photograph I have been told, that the eyes are looking like "black pools", which I do realize now.
What should be an ideal placement of ONE artificial light source (lamp/flash), so that ...
7
votes
1answer
333 views
What lighting and pre- or post-processing is required for a high key image?
The definition of high key photographs is thoroughly answered by @mattdm. What I understood is that a light toned subject is the most important requirement to take a high key image. However, it seems ...
7
votes
2answers
369 views
What shutter speeds should I use for cars in motion and slow-sync flash?
I'm an amateur with a Canon EOS 400D/Rebel xti.
I know that any given shot requires it's own recipe for shutter speed, ISO and aperture, and I'm aware of the triad of those three.
I typically shoot ...
7
votes
1answer
118 views
Is there a way to get a good sillhouette without a window?
I'm taking maternity photos for a friend tomorrow (first "real" photo shoot!) and I'm hoping to do some sillhouettes, but as far as I know she doesn't have a window that would work well for one. Is ...
7
votes
2answers
149 views
Is it OK to use different kinds of strobes together?
I currently have 2 Vivitar 285 strobes.
These are working very nicely for me.
I would like to buy 2 more strobes, and I would be quite happy with the Vivitars, but I would also like to consider ...
7
votes
2answers
263 views
How can I make effective use of single portable strobe with direct lighting for an event?
I've been tasked with some event photography this weekend. Although the event will be held inside, the color of the walls prevents me from using bounce flash, so I have to use direct flash with a ...
7
votes
1answer
528 views
Photoshoot lighting on a shoestring budget?
I've just about used every cent I can afford on my DSLR and an extra lens and a tripod and a friend of mine suggested I come along and do a casual photo shoot of two bands that are staying at her ...
6
votes
4answers
437 views
In low light, does it make sense to use a normal house light bulb instead of a flash?
Actually, yesterday I shot a photograph indoors with a tubelight (on the wall) and a flash on. The results were "too" boring. The flash had robbed away all the natural looks of the scene.
Does ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
What should I consider when choosing continuous lighting vs. strobes for studio photography?
If one were to want to get started with studio photography (I'm thinking things like portraits, headshots, perhaps pets, etc) what would be the considerations in choosing whether to go with continuous ...
6
votes
5answers
581 views
What white balance settings do I need to capture the cast of a coloured streetlight?
I want take a photo of a scene lit by a yellow-orange street light. Unlike many of the questions here, I don't want to balance the colours in the scene, rather I want the areas lit by that light to ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
How to photograph live stage shows?
Whenever I try to take pictures of actors in a stage show, the colors always end up looking wrong. I assume it's something to do with the abnormal lighting—we don't have peach, blue, green, and amber ...
6
votes
4answers
565 views
What should be considered for employee photos to put on company's website?
I work in the entertainment industry and am looking to produce friendly looking images of our employees (sales managers, customer support people, and so on) to put on our company's website.
What ...
6
votes
3answers
461 views
When shooting a scene with a LCD or Plasma TV in it, is there a way to avoid a blueish tint on the screen?
I've been searching but I can't find relevant info. I'm actually filming, but figured the problem's still there in photography. I also don't know where else to ask.
Does anyone know what can be done? ...
6
votes
5answers
608 views
How do you light the background for chroma key work?
How do you use flashes to achieve an even, well-lit background when photographing a subject against a green or blue chromakey background? One flash, two? What position? What about light modifiers, ...
6
votes
2answers
730 views
DIY Lighting for Macro Photography
I am using a simple reversal ring to mess around with macro photography at my home. My question is this what is the best way to light shots for macro photography?
A Few Notes:
I am photographing ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
What is a loop lighting pattern?
I've seen several references to a loop lighting pattern, often in the context of portraiture lighting.
What is meant by the term?
6
votes
4answers
800 views
How do you set the power for a flash in manual mode?
How do you calculate the flash power fraction, assuming you want to keep constant the other variables of ISO, aperture, and distance from subject to flash?
The Guide Number formula for a flash ...
6
votes
4answers
324 views
Is there a product which provides super-bright continuous light in a small package?
I met a friend of a friend last night who used to be a pro photographer. He had this gimmick that he said was kinda home-made by some shop owner in Singapore. I wish I took a pic of it, but I forgot. ...
6
votes
4answers
5k views
How do I light a photo booth with a single flash and an umbrella?
I run a photobooth for a friend at a party for a side job and last night we came across a predicament. We only were able to use one flash on a tripod, instead of the usual two, along with the camera ...
6
votes
2answers
266 views
What do I need to make a photo in French Noir?
What do I need to make a photo in French Noir style?
Maybe I am not naming the style correctly, but the examples should give an idea of what I mean.
Can somebody explain what technique and ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Advantages of a ring-flash in portrait and wedding photography
I've seen lots of people talk about and work with ring-flashes, or using ring-flash adapters for their speedlites. Some use them in single flash setups, both on-camera and off-camera, other use them ...
