Comments on: Friday Freebie #10 – Example Studio Lighting setups with Photos http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/ David James Williams Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:29:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dave http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1494 Dave Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:22:34 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1494 Hi Tom. Light becomes harsher the further you move the lights away from the model, as the light source size diminishes. I would try getting softboxes as close as possible to model. I've had models literally only a foot away from a 6ft softbox before. Not knowing your light models, with my 400W I usually have them on lowest settings, but close to model. Might be worth trying lower light at 2/3 power of light above to see if that makes a difference. Good luck & let me know how you get on Hi Tom. Light becomes harsher the further you move the lights away from the model, as the light source size diminishes. I would try getting softboxes as close as possible to model. I’ve had models literally only a foot away from a 6ft softbox before. Not knowing your light models, with my 400W I usually have them on lowest settings, but close to model. Might be worth trying lower light at 2/3 power of light above to see if that makes a difference. Good luck & let me know how you get on

]]> By: Tom http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1492 Tom Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:17:34 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1492 Dave, I have tried the clam shell technique and my lighting seems to be to harsh. I have the top box 400w set at 8 and the lower 400wt. set at 4. My camera settings are f8 at 125th. based on my light meter. Subject is 3 ft. from lower box and 4.5 ft. from the upper box. When I change y camera fstop to 11 is seems to take away the harshness but am I not then underexposing the picture? Any ideas. I am trying to find the softest soothing light for glamour portrait shots. Thanks for your help. Tom Dave,

I have tried the clam shell technique and my lighting seems to be to harsh. I have the top box 400w set at 8 and the lower 400wt. set at 4. My camera settings are f8 at 125th. based on my light meter. Subject is 3 ft. from lower box and 4.5 ft. from the upper box. When I change y camera fstop to 11 is seems to take away the harshness but am I not then underexposing the picture?

Any ideas. I am trying to find the softest soothing light for glamour portrait shots.

Thanks for your help.

Tom

]]> By: Top Tips for Successful Online Broadcasting: Control the Environment | Veetle Blog http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1452 Top Tips for Successful Online Broadcasting: Control the Environment | Veetle Blog Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:53:14 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1452 [...] and provide the most flattering image. Studio photographers are masters of this and know how to get amazing portrait lighting. Clearly, not everyone can do this but at a minimum, use natural light to your [...] [...] and provide the most flattering image. Studio photographers are masters of this and know how to get amazing portrait lighting. Clearly, not everyone can do this but at a minimum, use natural light to your [...]

]]> By: Top Tips for Successful Online Broadcasting: Control the Environment « Veetle http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1446 Top Tips for Successful Online Broadcasting: Control the Environment « Veetle Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:12:50 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1446 [...] and provide the most flattering image. Studio photographers are masters of this and know how to get amazing portrait lighting. Clearly, not everyone can do this but at a minimum, use natural light to your advantage. Here is [...] [...] and provide the most flattering image. Studio photographers are masters of this and know how to get amazing portrait lighting. Clearly, not everyone can do this but at a minimum, use natural light to your advantage. Here is [...]

]]> By: Dave http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1428 Dave Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:31:25 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1428 No probs :) No probs :)

]]> By: Sameer http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1427 Sameer Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:14:31 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1427 Dave, you are awesome man! I've got a 200w light and have tried it all possible power levels... it works absolutely fine! Thank you for the kind professional advice! :) *I'm really enjoying my time at my in house studio* I've actually taken my annual leaves to give this hobby some more time and its worth all the penny spent on it so far! :) I strated to practice with ur studio lighting set up #1 and have been trying different powers... the result is not as good as yours *lol* but some day... no questions this time...but just a thank you note! :) "Thanks you" :) Dave, you are awesome man! I’ve got a 200w light and have tried it all possible power levels… it works absolutely fine! Thank you for the kind professional advice! :) *I’m really enjoying my time at my in house studio* I’ve actually taken my annual leaves to give this hobby some more time and its worth all the penny spent on it so far! :) I strated to practice with ur studio lighting set up #1 and have been trying different powers… the result is not as good as yours *lol* but some day… no questions this time…but just a thank you note! :)

“Thanks you” :)

]]> By: Mike http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1426 Mike Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:00:49 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1426 this is a great thread, will help me loads with my upcoming shoots. thanks a lot! this is a great thread, will help me loads with my upcoming shoots. thanks a lot!

]]> By: Dave http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1423 Dave Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:59:47 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1423 Hi Sameer, I run with 400W lights, which were used for all above shots. Only if you want to do some "low key" shots where you want really low power, or you want to open lens up for shorter depth of field, you may find the lights too powerful. If I was only shooting in your space then 200W would be perfect. However if you ever intend to shoot in larger space, especially with group shots then 400W+ is more suitable. Another way to look at it, is to go with 2 x 200W & then as your confidence grows in lighting buy 2 x 400W, so you can do shoots with 3 or 4 lights, plus have full scope of 200-400W available for main lights when required. Cheers Dave Hi Sameer, I run with 400W lights, which were used for all above shots. Only if you want to do some “low key” shots where you want really low power, or you want to open lens up for shorter depth of field, you may find the lights too powerful.

If I was only shooting in your space then 200W would be perfect. However if you ever intend to shoot in larger space, especially with group shots then 400W+ is more suitable.

Another way to look at it, is to go with 2 x 200W & then as your confidence grows in lighting buy 2 x 400W, so you can do shoots with 3 or 4 lights, plus have full scope of 200-400W available for main lights when required.

Cheers Dave

]]> By: Sameer http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1422 Sameer Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:50:40 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1422 Hi Dave, hope your doing good mate! Thanks a lot for the reply as it has helped me big time in making certain decsions. I plan to start of with one main light and use a lite-disc *a silver relector panel* for the fill light. The budget is not the issue but the quality of strobe is. The kind of strobes that I get in my city are not of high quality but relatively very cheap, brands like SImpex and other chinese unknown branded strobes. I was lucky to find an official distributor for a better brand named RIMELITE hence I've opted for RIMELITE - STORM+ please reveiw the product here : http://www.rimelite.com/en/storm The main issue I'm stuck with is - WHAT POWER TO FINALIZE? should it be 200w light or a 400w light? If you review the technical sheet on the website the "variable range of f-stop is 5" which means a 400w can go as low as 80w (i.e. 400/5). Now the issue: Since I'll use the strobes for the VERY VERY first time in my life hence I dont know if placing the strobes near the subject to produce the soft light at 80w is still a lot or is it ok? Please also note, that I shall use a 100cmx100cm softbox with this light. Can you please help me to guide which power i should go for? You might also want to know the area of my home studio...it is approxiamtely 12ft x 10ft which is not that big but not that small either. Moving the strobe back n forth is not a problem, I've the space. But since you said, closer the lights to the feminine models, the better it is then I want to know if 400w of this product turned down to 80w with the softbox will be ok? or should i get a 200W light of the same model with 5 fstop and the minimum power in that case can be 40w... by the look of question it must be obvious to you that I'm confused in finalizing the power? Pretty please...help me! :) Hi Dave, hope your doing good mate! Thanks a lot for the reply as it has helped me big time in making certain decsions. I plan to start of with one main light and use a lite-disc *a silver relector panel* for the fill light. The budget is not the issue but the quality of strobe is. The kind of strobes that I get in my city are not of high quality but relatively very cheap, brands like SImpex and other chinese unknown branded strobes. I was lucky to find an official distributor for a better brand named RIMELITE hence I’ve opted for RIMELITE – STORM+ please reveiw the product here :

http://www.rimelite.com/en/storm

The main issue I’m stuck with is – WHAT POWER TO FINALIZE? should it be 200w light or a 400w light? If you review the technical sheet on the website the “variable range of f-stop is 5″ which means a 400w can go as low as 80w (i.e. 400/5). Now the issue: Since I’ll use the strobes for the VERY VERY first time in my life hence I dont know if placing the strobes near the subject to produce the soft light at 80w is still a lot or is it ok? Please also note, that I shall use a 100cmx100cm softbox with this light. Can you please help me to guide which power i should go for?

You might also want to know the area of my home studio…it is approxiamtely 12ft x 10ft which is not that big but not that small either. Moving the strobe back n forth is not a problem, I’ve the space. But since you said, closer the lights to the feminine models, the better it is then I want to know if 400w of this product turned down to 80w with the softbox will be ok? or should i get a 200W light of the same model with 5 fstop and the minimum power in that case can be 40w… by the look of question it must be obvious to you that I’m confused in finalizing the power?

Pretty please…help me! :)

]]> By: Dave http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/photography-tutorials/friday-freebie-10-example-studio-lighting-setups-with-photos/comment-page-1/#comment-1420 Dave Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:38:30 +0000 http://www.davidjameswilliams.com/?p=772#comment-1420 Well Sameer I've never been told I rock before, so I'll take that as a compliment :) Re lighting distances there is a simple rule. The closer the light to the subject the better quality of light. The further away the harsher it becomes. For women it's usually best to get light as close as physically possible, but just being out of frame of photo. I've literally had a 6ft lightbox 1 foot away from subject. For men, if you want to show up all their wrinkles, scars, pores of skin, stubble etc then harsher lighting works. The 2nd reason for putting light a certain distance is how wide you want the coverage of light. If you're doing a fully body shot for example it needs to be far enough back to cover light from head to toe. The 3rd reason is the power of the lighting. If at lowest power setting it's still too strong you will need to pull it back. If too weak at full power you need to bring it in. For single portrait shoots I believe 200W lights are best, as I shoot with 400W as sometimes it doesn't go low enough for my needs. Hope that helps . Dave Well Sameer I’ve never been told I rock before, so I’ll take that as a compliment :)

Re lighting distances there is a simple rule. The closer the light to the subject the better quality of light. The further away the harsher it becomes.

For women it’s usually best to get light as close as physically possible, but just being out of frame of photo. I’ve literally had a 6ft lightbox 1 foot away from subject. For men, if you want to show up all their wrinkles, scars, pores of skin, stubble etc then harsher lighting works.

The 2nd reason for putting light a certain distance is how wide you want the coverage of light. If you’re doing a fully body shot for example it needs to be far enough back to cover light from head to toe.

The 3rd reason is the power of the lighting. If at lowest power setting it’s still too strong you will need to pull it back. If too weak at full power you need to bring it in. For single portrait shoots I believe 200W lights are best, as I shoot with 400W as sometimes it doesn’t go low enough for my needs.

Hope that helps . Dave

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