What would you like explained in a video about lighting?

Garry Edwards

Garry Edwards

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Garry Edwards
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You may already know that Lencarta has a series of videos about lighting. We also have our own staff videographer, James, and he’s asking me to come up with ideas about future videos – and I haven’t got a clue:help:

So, if anyone would like to make suggestions… Are there any lighting challenges, either simple or more complex, that you would like to see the solution to on video?

How do you do this, or that? How do you overcome this or that problem? All suggestions will be VERY welcome.

Because of cost and time, we want to avoid outdoor shoots and also want to avoid having to pay models.
 
I know you said you wanted to avoid models. However...

Light techniques in conjunction with posing methods for the most flattering results.
 
mike weeks said:
I know it is a personal hate of yours Garry but how about a video demonstrating a pure white background set up, maybe somebody could even lend you a HiLite? Sure there is a TP person that would like their kid photographed.

Mike
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I'm not sure how showing the benefits of a hilite will help Lencarta though Mike? Although I'd be happy to help and can supply a photogenic brat. There's also a 'friend of Lencarta' not too far away from the studio with a hilite and his own supply of cute kids.

You're right though, on Garry's studio day last year as soon as he opened up 'what do you want to know now' the shouts for a clean white background were deafening (so Garry left 'us' to it).
 
bass_junkie83 said:
I know you said you wanted to avoid models. However...

Light techniques in conjunction with posing methods for the most flattering results.
Click to expand...
I like this, maybe some real people (just like portrait clients / friends and family) rather than models.
 
Phil V said:
I'm not sure how showing the benefits of a hilite will help Lencarta though Mike? Although I'd be happy to help and can supply a photogenic brat. There's also a 'friend of Lencarta' not too far away from the studio with a hilite and his own supply of cute kids.

You're right though, on Garry's studio day last year as soon as he opened up 'what do you want to know now' the shouts for a clean white background were deafening (so Garry left 'us' to it).
Click to expand...

As an example I have just done an event in a garden using the HiLite and all battery flash equivalent to Atoms illuminating the HiLite and Safari 2 the clients - I know how to do it, I can also create the white on paper, vinyl etc. but many can not - I reckon it is one of the most common of questions about lighting and in future Garry could point to the video and say that is why it does not work with 1 light.

Mike
 
Many thanks for the suggestions, keep 'em coming:)
mike weeks said:
I know it is a personal hate of yours Garry but how about a video demonstrating a pure white background set up, maybe somebody could even lend you a HiLite? Sure there is a TP person that would like their kid photographed.

Mike
Click to expand...

What I actually hate is white backgrounds done badly, and the Hi-Lite (although I recognise that it's very useful) and I don't want to start a war with someone who is already producing videos for Lastolite, I wouldn't like him to think that I'm trying to do it better...
bass_junkie83 said:
I know you said you wanted to avoid models. However...

Light techniques in conjunction with posing methods for the most flattering results.
Click to expand...
It's mainly about cost, and the fact that once a booking has been made I have to stick with it, whatever else is happening at the time. I can use my time more effectively by simply fitting these videos into quiet times. But in a couple of months or so I will in fact have a beautiful model available when required, free of charge, and she will be happy to help (although I haven't told her that she's doing it yet) so things will change.
Speaking of which, I photographed her against a pure white background a couple of years ago. We were in my hotel room (I was just photographing her:) ) and I used the window as the background, exposing for her face. Using knowledge instead of lights, the results were pretty stunning if I say so myself, the only problem was that due to the lack of lighting I had to shoot at 800 ISO and it was a Canon, so the IQ was pretty poor...:nikon:
 
Garry Edwards said:
What I actually hate is white backgrounds done badly, and the Hi-Lite (although I recognise that it's very useful) and I don't want to start a war with someone who is already producing videos for Lastolite, I wouldn't like him to think that I'm trying to do it better....
Click to expand...

Be hard to do it worse :)
 
How about a "product photography/advertising photography for beginner, for intermediate, for advance" series? :D
Next one could be "jewellery photography" series.
No models needed for any of them. Could be done in a spare time as well :naughty:
 
I personally would be interested more in a fashion/portrait shoot, and would be more than happy to pay to attend a day like you did with the product shoot, if a few people joined in then that would cover some basic costs for you, pay for a model, and you could video it all at the same time...?
 
gary996 said:
It would be nice to see how to set up lights to emphasise muscle definition. Make the shadows pop under the abdominals etc.
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I would also like to see something on these lines
 
Steve T said:
Lighting for film verses lighting for digital.


:)
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I would think the only difference is that shooting for film you'd be leaning on your meter, whereas, with digital, we can just use the histogram and only go to the meter as a sense check.
 
mike weeks said:
I can also create the white on paper, vinyl etc. but many can not - I reckon it is one of the most common of questions about lighting and in future Garry could point to the video and say that is why it does not work with 1 light.

Mike
Click to expand...

I think the problem most people have who ask on here is that they just don't have the space in their home studio to get enough distance between the subject and background and often don't understand it's importance.
 
Tunbridge said:
I think the problem most people have who ask on here is that they just don't have the space in their home studio to get enough distance between the subject and background and often don't understand it's importance.
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You need space between subject and background? If but that was the greatest issue.

Mike
 
gary996 said:
Shame about the model cost.
It would be nice to see how to set up lights to emphasise muscle definition. Make the shadows pop under the abdominals etc.
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Very easily done
=ReBeL= said:
How about a "product photography/advertising photography for beginner, for intermediate, for advance" series? :D
Next one could be "jewellery photography" series.
No models needed for any of them. Could be done in a spare time as well :naughty:
Click to expand...
Not sure how much interest there would be for this, but it's certainly an idea
Paulmack said:
I personally would be interested more in a fashion/portrait shoot, and would be more than happy to pay to attend a day like you did with the product shoot, if a few people joined in then that would cover some basic costs for you, pay for a model, and you could video it all at the same time...?
Click to expand...
We could certainly run a course, and it would fill up, whether free or paid for. Problem is, the studio is part of our warehouse and because of that there is no heating. This pretty much limits us to warm summer days because although I never even notice the cold, other people moan if they haven't got sweat dripping off them...
But if we combined an event with a video it simply wouldn't work, we'd end up doing both jobs badly. We did in fact shoot a bit of video of the product lighting workshop we've just done, I haven't seen it yet but I doubt whether it will be useful as a video.
We did in fact shoot a fashion style shoot a couple of weeks ago, again that one isn't finished yet but it will be ready in the next couple of days. I'm happy to do more of these, despite the cost, if the number of views is there.
Steve T said:
Lighting for film verses lighting for digital.


:)
Click to expand...
There's a difference in contrast ratios only, and that's when we shoot on tranny film, which is very much a specialised pro province. Digital can now cope with a much wider range of contrast.
Tunbridge said:
I think the problem most people have who ask on here is that they just don't have the space in their home studio to get enough distance between the subject and background and often don't understand it's importance.
Click to expand...
Good point, and there is no reason why I can't do it in a small space + a big one and highlight the differences in results
 
Garry Edwards said:
We could certainly run a course, and it would fill up, whether free or paid for. Problem is, the studio is part of our warehouse and because of that there is no heating. This pretty much limits us to warm summer days because although I never even notice the cold, other people moan if they haven't got sweat dripping off them...
But if we combined an event with a video it simply wouldn't work, we'd end up doing both jobs badly. We did in fact shoot a bit of video of the product lighting workshop we've just done, I haven't seen it yet but I doubt whether it will be useful as a video.
We did in fact shoot a fashion style shoot a couple of weeks ago, again that one isn't finished yet but it will be ready in the next couple of days. I'm happy to do more of these, despite the cost, if the number of views is there.
Click to expand...

Well you can count me in if you fancy doing another workshop, I will even help out by bringing a large space jet heater which which we use in one of our units if its going to be a cold day :)
 
How about videos on:

Modifying natural light? eg reflector with window light, diffusers etc. Passive methods.

Using natural light and flash outdoors (good excuse to get the safari kit outside) for portraits and for some lifestyle product photography?
 
Many thanks for all the suggestions, it's given me something to go at.
srichards said:
How about videos on:

Modifying natural light? eg reflector with window light, diffusers etc. Passive methods.

Using natural light and flash outdoors (good excuse to get the safari kit outside) for portraits and for some lifestyle product photography?
Click to expand...
I'm not really an outdoor portrait kind of guy and we've already done a video on a product shoot with a twist
Just about everything else INCLUDING chavground shots WILL be done:)
I've decided to ignore my principles about spending money and actually hire a model, we should get the lot done in a full day.

It looks like being Friday 19th September but I won't be able to confirm with the model until early next week, so that date could change.

Once it's all set in stone I will invite anyone who wants to to come along and watch. It will literally be just watching, I probably won't have much time to explain what I'm doing and why. Paul @Paulmack has kindly offered to bring along a space heater in case the poor model feels the cold because I really care about models o_O
 
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