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.
62
votes
1answer
5k views
In portrait photography, what is 'broad' lighting? What is 'short' lighting?
What are 'broad' and 'short' lighting when it comes to studio portraiture, and when should I use each?
4
votes
1answer
182 views
What is the meaning of “Blue Hour” and its differences from “Golden Hour?”
What does "Blue Hour" exactly mean? What time in the day can I capture this "Blue Hour" and how long is it? Also, what are its differences from the "Golden Hour"?
2
votes
3answers
95 views
How do I get even, bright light for photographing pages from books and magazines?
I am using my camera to digitalize some pages of magazines or books. Sometimes I get great results sometimes the page background is not "white enough" on the picture sometimes the page is illuminated ...
1
vote
1answer
262 views
Looking for lighting for 3-light setup
I want to dive head first into lighting my studio shots while having some flexibility for outdoor and long distance use.
I have a Nikon d7000 and sb700 now.
I want to be able to use my sb700 as one ...
2
votes
5answers
95 views
How does light quality vary between fluorescent (CFL) and incandescent?
I have two sets of soft boxes. One has incandescent bulbs (3,200k) and the other uses compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL @ 5,500K).
I'm trying to sort out some of my understandings regarding the light ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
How to use old flash units with Digital SLR?
I got some old flash units (e.g. Metz 30bct-3) that I won on eBay along with some older slr cameras. The flash units are in good condition. I thought of using them with my Canon 600D but heard about ...
9
votes
4answers
699 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
123 views
How do I take photographs of scientific laser products?
I have been asked to take some product photos of various scientific lasers.
Most of them will just be simple shots of the boxes on a white background but I will also have to do an 'action' shot a bit ...
8
votes
1answer
477 views
How was the Blade Runner replicant eye reflection effect done?
I'm trying to recreate the Blade Runner eye reflection effect found in these examples:
The closest I've seen is with a flash where the light bounces off in the eye and causes a bright red or ...
4
votes
2answers
92 views
Does the diameter of openings on photographic lighting grids affect brightness?
I was kind of thinking about different grid options considering the depth vs diameter of individual openings and get to a interesting point (at least for me :-) ). Let's consider a very simple home ...
-5
votes
3answers
104 views
What must I buy to take amazing product photos?
I'm looking to do some very high quality professional looking shots for my collection of various items. They are not big items, imagine camera collection or lens collection etc. What must I buy to be ...
8
votes
2answers
226 views
Does this RGB-patterned reflector have benefits for digital photography?
B2Pro has announced a parabolic umbrella reflector for photographic lighting. The surface of the umbrella is printed with a hexagonal array of red, green, and blue spots:
The manufacturer makes the ...
4
votes
3answers
187 views
Why does harsh light give darker shadows?
Why does harsh light give darker shadows? I thought a shadow area is where the light is unable to reach, so shouldn't the shadow areas have the same darkness regardless of the strength of the light?
0
votes
2answers
136 views
How do i set up lighting to photograph a bunch of shoes for a website?
I have a couple of shoes I need to shoot- what would be the most effective way to set up my lights to get well lit products. Many of the shoes are highly reflective which adds an additional challenge ...
3
votes
4answers
129 views
How does one do light painting with in focus subject? Maybe a composite?
I understand and have tried some rudimentary light painting, but I'm still not sure how one might achieve something like the photos here: http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/18221422 Is this ...
8
votes
2answers
480 views
How can I recreate this glowing light effect?
How to have a glowing light ray effect outside some object like in this photo
Edit
Using photoshop to get this effect ?
19
votes
3answers
7k views
What is butterfly lighting, and when do I use it?
I often hear the term 'Butterfly Lighting' used when discussing high-fashion and glamor photography. How do I set up Butterfly Lighting, and when do I use it?
8
votes
1answer
188 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 ...
13
votes
3answers
639 views
How do cheap macro ring flashes perform?
When I last checked years ago, the price of a typical Ring flash unit was approximately $500. Nowadays there are still ring flashes for approx. $500 like Pentax AF160FC, Pentax AF-140C, Canon MR-14EX, ...
2
votes
3answers
159 views
What are techniques for enhancing visibility of photos under natural, outdoor daylight?
I'm trying to find techniques for making photos more visible under daylight (i.e., when daylight reflects off the photo displayed on a screen or print). Does anyone know of any photo editing ...
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 ...
10
votes
4answers
203 views
Having difficulty lighting various reflective product packaging- use dulling spray?
Beginning photographer, first post- I'm trying to merchandize and shoot a product composition with a lot of beef jerky packages. The crinkly reflective packaging is proving really difficult to light. ...
3
votes
2answers
184 views
How to avoid shadows under the eyes when using bounce flash?
How can I avoid shadows under the eyes when I am bouncing flash? The first picture below, using bounced flash, came out horrible. The second picture, using direct flash, has no shadows under the eyes.
...
12
votes
4answers
952 views
Why do we use flash in photography?
Why do we use flashes in photography, instead of simple light bulbs etc. to illuminate the scene? Why are specially made flashes used?
16
votes
3answers
2k views
How to photograph people with a prominent (wide, big) nose?
One of my friends wants me to take pictures of her but she is very self-conscious about her nose (which is relatively wide, Monty Python anyone?).
She wants me to take pictures in such a way as to ...
5
votes
2answers
253 views
What is term for the opposite of “Dragging the Shutter”?
My first helpful experiments with flash started after taking a seminar with Scott Kelby on the subject. I don't recall him mentioning dragging the shutter (but he may have). But, I do recall him ...
18
votes
4answers
1k views
How do mountains affect lighting at sunrise and sunset?
I just got back from a trip in the Rockies. The tall and close mountains mean that the sun sets earlier than flatter places at the same latitude -- perhaps by an hour or so. The same applies to ...
4
votes
2answers
164 views
What do I need to make a photo in Silver Age Poetry style?
What do I need to make a photo in Silver Age poetry 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 ...
47
votes
4answers
28k views
What is Rembrandt lighting, and when do I use It?
I often hear studio photographers talk about 'Rembrandt Lighting' when they're setting up lights and doing studio portrait photography. What is Rembrandt Lighting, and when do I use it?
15
votes
6answers
1k views
Why is the Fluorescent filter for a flash green?
I just bought a Nikon SB-910 speedlight.
The filter that comes with it to use under fluorescent lighting it green, why is this? because certainly to my eye there is not a hint of green under normal ...
1
vote
3answers
232 views
How to mount a torch to camera?
I want to mount a torch to my camera body in the Flash hot-shoe.
I'm thinking about hacking up a mix of a rifle-scope accessory (to hold the torch, a led-lenser P7) and a ball head that fits in the ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Canon 5D Mark III - problems with fluorescent light
This is brand new Canon 5D Mark III. There's green light banding when taking photo or video in the environment with fluorescent light. The first Canon 5D Mark III was returned to the shop. And this is ...
1
vote
1answer
122 views
What is the right way to photograph in the gym?
I need to photograph an instructor in the gym for a gallery of some lifting exercises (will be used in an application and on the web).
I want to look pretty dramatic and powerful, though instructive ...
6
votes
2answers
273 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 ...
1
vote
2answers
221 views
Product Photography without a Light Tent?
I am going to be doing some product photography but I am running into an issue. This issue is achieving the proper lighting. My ideal setup would be a light tent with a few lights and my issues would ...
1
vote
3answers
810 views
How do I get a “Film” look with a digital camera?
What can I do, in terms of lightning, to make Digital look like Film? By that I mean a "dreamy" sort of look.
Does it has to do with the color temperature? the setup?
60
votes
5answers
8k views
Do fluorescent lighting and shutter speed create a problem with color cast?
I took a bunch of photos at my son's martial arts club using a D90 with a 50mm F1.8. The club is lit with overhead fluorescent lighting, and I was getting some weird results where some shots are ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
What's the best way to get thumbnail portrait shots for a company intranet? [duplicate]
I'm after a fool-proof way I can get some thumbnails of people for a corporate intranet.
We've had professional shots done for most, but as new people are starting we're taking shots (with an ...
4
votes
2answers
155 views
Lights for Illuminating Large areas?
I'm frequently underground in caves and recently while going on a trip to Thailand I experienced some of the most massive caverns I've ever had the opportunity to photograph. Unfortunately, I was ill ...
4
votes
4answers
411 views
Is there a fundamental difference between emitted light and reflected light?
In the context of practical implications for photography, is there a general difference in the qualities of emitted vs. reflected light (other than emitted light being brighter in many situations)?
I ...
4
votes
1answer
137 views
How do you shoot lighting designs in a studio?
I've been contacted by a lighting design company who want photographs of some new designs they have, against a white background in a studio. These are lights that would normally be fitted to ...
7
votes
1answer
386 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?
9
votes
4answers
738 views
How to avoid tired eyes in a portrait?
I noticed some portraits I took had heavy shadows under eyes:
It turned out the model had experienced some sleep deprivation, though the eyes didn't look that bad in real life. I suspect lighting ...
8
votes
3answers
344 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 ...
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.
12
votes
2answers
5k views
How can I get a black background in daylight using flash sync speed with no extra gear?
I have seen sports photography where the background is completely wiped out (black) during daylight. I'm trying to achieve a similar (pure black background) effect with no extra gear, just a DSLR ...
8
votes
1answer
305 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
358 views
Do I need a better Camera or do I need to learn how to use the one I have?
Read some of the old questions. I figure that due to my wants you may be able to help me. Let me be clear about what I am doing, what I want to do, and see where we can go from there.
I help run ...
2
votes
2answers
287 views
How to photograph books on location?
I must shoot rare books / manuscripts on different locations, some of them hard to reach (monasteries etc.). When I'm there I don't have much time at disposition. I must shoot as quick as I can.
I ...
9
votes
3answers
8k views
What is flat light and how to counter that?
I have often heard people saying that the light in the picture X is appearing "flat". I want to understand what exactly does that mean, and what are the possible ways to counter that?
