setups and shots with home studio setup Thread

has anyone used the bottle tops on a hilite?

I'm asking because I did a gel experiment and it came out pretty good but I'm wondering if I'll gain anything by buying the grey bottletop with train....

here is what i got by using a blue gel, and lowering the exposure in the hilite...

8535639712_fec5f749db_c.jpg


I'm worried that by buying a grey bottletop I'll essentially be going back to the external lighting issues that I was trying to avoid,....i.e. light spill...distance of subject to background...etc.
 
Looks good, I use the black one a lot (look further back in this thread). Can't remember the page (will look)
 
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I ended up getting a black bottle top...the results that I've seen are more pleasing to my eye than a grey one...thanks for the help.
 
rpavich said:
It depends on what you mean by expensive :)

The Lastolite Hilite 5 x 7 was 377.00 US dollars.

You can do the same thing with 100.00 US dollars worth of vinyl backdrop but it will take more room and it's harder to transport...it depends on what you want to accomplish and what your needs are.

I have a SMALL house and NO studio so I always set things up in the living room and have to tear them down afterwords so I do like the hilite for that.
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thank you. That seems reasonably priced. I must try this set up when my little one comes along :)
 
rpavich said:
Would you spend the money on a grey bottletop or just turn the hilite flashes down?

Is there anything to be gained by getting the bottletop?

Edited to add that I just cruised your site and love your gelled results...are the portraits using a bottletop or regular backdrop?
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The Deep Black Bottletop - With the power turned down you get much deeper colours on the black bottletop Robert
 
These were taken this morning in my living room, and were lit using a softbox and reflector for fill in front of a grey paper backdrop. Maybe I should think about using a hair light to seperate the subject from the backdrop more.
joe-5_zps086895a8.jpg

joe-2-2_zps2f9fbb8e.jpg
 
The other night I went to see one of my good friends how had a bit of a pamper day, she got her hair and make up done ready for a night out on the town!

She asked me if I could pop round to hers and take a few photos for her! Which I was more than happy to do!

I took this in her front room up against a wall.

Lit with just a beauty dish:


Katie by rob_mank, on Flickr

Sorry I didn't get a pull back shot. I used my 70-200 and room was a little tight. :)
 
Mank said:
Righto, processed a couple of pictures from today.

So firstly, heres a set up shot:


The Set Up. by rob_mank, on Flickr

I still need to cut the skirting board and unfortunately didn't have much time today.

And heres the finished shots:


The in the basket by rob_mank, on Flickr


All wrapped up. by rob_mank, on Flickr

C&C more than welcome. :)
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LOVE these! Great set up and what wonderful shots :clap:

Might seem a bit of a silly questions but what stands are you using to support the background? Are they just normal light stands with a boom arm added on? :thinking: I'm trying to recreate a similar look but can't work out what stands I need to stop the background falling on some poor unsuspecting child!
 
It's not worth the extra for a 7x5.
 
Finally my little home studio is nearing completion.
I was able to have a quick setup and test tonight. Thanks go to everyone who has posted in this thread with their words of inspiration, techy details etc etc.

A big thanks also goes out to Mr Rob Mank who aided me in a couple of areas of baby/toddler setups.
Here is my first ever test shot and a general image of the setup (using camera on phone).

My lighting needs refined slightly and a little extra fill from the left will help I think, but all in all I am quite chuffed for a first attempt.
I also need to get a couple of clamps to hold the the backdrop to the crossbar on the support.


Studio test 1 by Stuart Pardue, on Flickr


Studio layout 2 by Stuart Pardue, on Flickr


Studio layout 1 by Stuart Pardue, on Flickr
 
Nothing to do with the lighting...... I'd just get rid of the bear lol !

Seriously, as you will know Rob is fantastic at this so listen close ;D
 
From three recent shoots
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EOS_JD said:
Nothing to do with the lighting...... I'd just get rid of the bear lol !

Seriously, as you will know Rob is fantastic at this so listen close ;D
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Noted, Rob is who I have watched and he has been helpful in answering any questions I've had.

Bunny will be replaced by a real baby in a couple of weeks time when I shoot my first client.

At payday I need to get a couple of manfrotto super clamps just to secure the backdrop to the cross bar

P.S nice trio of shots there. The expression on no.2 is perfect.
 
stupar said:
So rotate the octabox towards me slightly?
Would you grid the light or leave it without?
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Yep, you got it, I used to struggle with hot spots an awful lot. Then I got some very good training in lighting and I pretty much always feather my light now. :)

I have used grids in the past for certain things, IMO I wouldn't use one in this set up.

EOS_JD said:
Nothing to do with the lighting...... I'd just get rid of the bear lol !

Seriously, as you will know Rob is fantastic at this so listen close ;D
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You should know Jim, you've been taught the same! :p

Good to see you having a go at newborns now too buddy! Personally I'd lighten the faces a touch :)
 
iv noticed that a few people use the lastolite back drops , never heard of them before seeing this thread, the look amazing but is there a cheaper alternative to them ? I havent got £300 to splash about lol
 
I didn't realise this thread was still running, but as it is I thought I'd add a couple of pics. Both took in my living room with a grey paper background and a 120cm octabox.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/76800922@N04/9618680172/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76800922@N04/9618689098/

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/76800922@N04/9618689098/" title="scarlett-4-2 by eljo222, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/9618689098_e95bfd796b.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="scarlett-4-2"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/76800922@N04/9618680172/" title="scarlett new-2 by eljo222, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/9618680172_ecb332f17f.jpg" width="400" height="500" alt="scarlett new-2"></a>
 
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mousemat said:
Lulu

if you want white, you can just blast the background with light to over expose it and make it white. Mine is grey one and I can make it bright white with just light.

heres another one i have just found, reversible black and white, slightly more expensive though http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lastolite-5621-Plain-Collapsible-Background-1-5-x-1-8m-Black-White-/251318163085?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a83bad68d
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Hmmmm that's not to bad a price (my wallet isn't crying just yet lol )

Luckily I'm not in to much a rush to buy anything yet , I'm still at the stage of looking at the different types of backdrops , back in college and uni I used paper which was great but seem like it would be hard to transport , had a quick look at muslin but seems to crease a lot.

I think that's why the lastolite is catching my attention , transportable and no creasyness lol
 
joel222 said:
I didn't realise this thread was still running, but as it is I thought I'd add a couple of pics. Both took in my living room with a grey paper background and a 120cm octabox.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/76800922@N04/9618680172/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76800922@N04/9618689098/

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/76800922@N04/9618689098/" title="scarlett-4-2 by eljo222, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/9618689098_e95bfd796b.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="scarlett-4-2"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/76800922@N04/9618680172/" title="scarlett new-2 by eljo222, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5522/9618680172_ecb332f17f.jpg" width="400" height="500" alt="scarlett new-2"></a>
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While I remember to post it

I love the second image , the sepia effect suits the image very well , they only thing I could say is perhaps the light on the right of your subject perhaps I bit to strong as the highlight is really bright , but all in all a great pic :)
 
stupar said:
Noted, Rob is who I have watched and he has been helpful in answering any questions I've had.

Bunny will be replaced by a real baby in a couple of weeks time when I shoot my first client.

At payday I need to get a couple of manfrotto super clamps just to secure the backdrop to the cross bar

P.S nice trio of shots there. The expression on no.2 is perfect.
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Thanks Stu (I think you missed my reason for suggesting getting rid of the bear) lol

I've not bought superclamps yet but not using the backgrounds Rob does, Mine are just blankets and wraps held in place with a box of 8 small clamps bought from ebay. They help secure the backdrop at various locations.
 
Mank said:
Yep, you got it, I used to struggle with hot spots an awful lot. Then I got some very good training in lighting and I pretty much always feather my light now. :)

I have used grids in the past for certain things, IMO I wouldn't use one in this set up.



You should know Jim, you've been taught the same! :p

Good to see you having a go at newborns now too buddy! Personally I'd lighten the faces a touch :)
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Will look at that Rob. No 1 is much lighter with my current edit (not sure what that file was lol). I need to get a few more in :D
 
EOS_JD said:
Thanks Stu (I think you missed my reason for suggesting getting rid of the bear) lol

I've not bought superclamps yet but not using the backgrounds Rob does, Mine are just blankets and wraps held in place with a box of 8 small clamps bought from ebay. They help secure the backdrop at various locations.
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Ah I take it you are referring to the Glasgow Rangers badge - that is the wife's doing as I'm not a footy fan :LOL:
 
Mank said:
I use 3x Elite pro300's and I prefer the control of them over my smartflash.

I went for a 120cm folding Octa too. Folding boxes are SOOO much better than non folding ones!! :D[/QUOTE

Hi Rob....Do you still use your smartflash ?
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k4stn said:
Mank said:
I use 3x Elite pro300's and I prefer the control of them over my smartflash.

I went for a 120cm folding Octa too. Folding boxes are SOOO much better than non folding ones!! :D[/QUOTE

Hi Rob....Do you still use your smartflash ?
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No, like most of my other Lencarta gear, it broke and I cant be bothered to pay for it to be fixed! :LOL:
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Mmarques said:
Thought I'd bump this thread with some shots in the home studio, first time shooting dogs.
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If you remove the colour cast they are a lot better
 
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