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Basic Studio Lighting- outline
Last Updated on Sunday, 06 June 2010 14:57 Sunday, 06 June 2010 14:48
Outline of Basic Studio Lighting Workshop
Introduction
The workshop is to introduce participants to variety of light modifiers available to the studio photographer.
Photography is the art/ science of capturing images. This happens when light reacts with the capturing device ( film or electronics). Control of light is one of the main tools of the photographer. In a natural, outdoor setting light comes from a single source... the sun... which we can't control. In the studio we have the ability to take control of the light sources and create the lighting we want.
Lighting has 2 factors that as photographers we should be concerned with. These are the quantity and quality of the light.
Quantity is the amount of light bouncing off the subject to be photographed.
Quality is the colour and texture of the light.
We will deal with the creation of both the quantity and quality of light in a controlled studio setting.
How does a flash work
a flash system consists of the following parts:
energy source (battery or Wall power)
Energy storage (capacitors)
Flash tube ( converts energy into light)
Electronics ( to control when and how much energy is sent to flash tube, and capacitors)
Model lamps ( on studio systems)
The energy for the flash gets stored in capacitors, where, on command, a high voltage is sent through the flash tube, which creates light. The electronics also control the amount of energy going to the tube, by controlling the amount of time the current flows. This time can be as little as 1/3000th of a second
Camera Sync settings
When you press your shutter release button on your camera many things have to happen in a small space of time.
For flash photos to turn out properly the shutter has to be fully open before the flash fires. On older manual 35mm cameras the maximum sync speed is 60 (1/60 of a second). On newer electronic models this can be 125... on other camera system it can be as high as 250.
You should learn what your camera system is capable of doing. There are cameras which have interesting features that allow you to control where in a long exposure the flash is fired i.e. as soon as the shutter is open or just before it closes.
Exposure control
Our eyes can react to a wide range of light levels, but film can only capture a narrow exposure range. Depending on the type film the exposure range is 2-3 f stops between the highlight and shadows that can be recorded. Negative( print) film has a wider latitude then positive (slide) film. Digital capture ranges depends on the camera system, but exposure in digital is more critical then with negative film!
In natural light situations the light meter within our camera is usually all that is needed to read the exposure. In the studio, where we have control of all the lighting variables, the in-camera meter is not very useful.
Flash meter
The cameras internal light meter is not very useful in studio flash situations because the flash duration is too short for the meter to react. We need to use a meter which is capable of capturing the short duration of light emitted by the flash, and convert that into a display we can use.
There are many good meters on the market. If the photographer is serious about working with flash, investing in a meter is very important. Flash systems are easy to rent, but having a meter you know, and can trust is crucial to the proper setup.
Handheld flash have the following adjustments
film speed (ASA or EI)
shutter speed ( the speed of the cameras shutter)
Type of reading
Ambient light ( the light that is always there)
Sync flash ( it controls when the flash is fired)
Flash ( it waits for a flash before displaying)
The purpose of the display is to give you a readout of the f-stop at that moment in time in that point in space.
There are many attachments that can go over sensor, which control the area of the reading. The 2 that come standard with most meters are:
The dome, used for reading general or overall ambiance.
The disc, used for directional readings, to find the amount of light from a direction.
Single head
A single flash head can be adjusted by its placement in space as well as the energy applied to it. There are several ways to adjust exposure. to get proper depth of field
NEVER UNPLUG A HEAD WITH POWER ON... It will MAKE A LOUD EXPENSIVE BOOOOM !!!!!!
light modifiers
A single bare bulb can be used in some situations, but it is a little too harsh for most situations.
There are many ways to modify light, to change its quantity, and quality.
The types of modifiers explored in this workshop include.
Reflectors on head
Reflectors on the flash heads are used to aim, and focus the light beam. The edges of the light is well defined, and the quality of light is more diffused then a bare bulb, but is still hard
Barndoors
Barndoors are used to keep light from shining where we dont want it.
Grids and snoots
Grids and snoots are used to control where the light goes. Grids produce a soft edge, the snoot is a little sharper. These control where the light goes
Reflectors in space
Reflectors can be used to bounce light into shadows. As well, depending on colour and texture of the reflector, the quality of the light is modified.
Umbrella as reflectors
The flash is pointed into the umbrella which then reflects the light onto the subject. The edges of the light is less defined. the light is more diffused or softer then the bare bulb. The quality of the light depends on colour and texture of the reflector.
Umbrella as shoot through
The flash is pointed into the umbrella, which is translucent. The umbrella is then pointed at the subject. This provides a soft even light, with no defined edges. The problem with this is the light leakage which can cause lens flair.
Softbox
The softbox combines the features of umbrella used as reflector, and shoot through. Adjustable panels internally allow for differing levels of diffusion. The colour and texture of the box will also modify the quality of the light.
multiple heads
The use of multiple light sources can create dynamic and memorial images. Each light source has its own quantity and quality of light. The juggling of the effects of the various lights is a skill that requires practice.
In the many texts on the subject of what lights to use and there placement there are many rules that people use... which usually contradict someone else's rules.
Main Light
The main lights purpose is to provide the main light on the subject
Fill light
The fill light is used to decrease the shadows caused by the main light. The fill can be a reflector or a light source.
Hair light
The Hair light is used to illuminate the hair and to provide a halo around the head.
Background light
The background light illuminates the background
The use of multiple lighting sources is an involved and well discussed part of photography, and is more in depth then can be explored in a 4 hour workshop. There are many books written about the subject, which can help the student explore further. The basics will be discussed so the participant will have an introductory point from which to expand their knowledge.
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