got rid of shadows on portraits, but now subject too dark - help?
Hi, I have been taking portraits of subjects against a white
background. In an attempt to get rid of shadows, I have started lighting the background with 2 tungsten 500 watt lights and then using fill flash on the subject. This has worked beautifully, except that occasionally my subject ends up a little dark and not contrast-y enough. I've been fixing this in photoshop, but wondered if I used lesser lights on the background (say 250 watt?) I might get the subject a bit brighter all the time? I am shooting digital and converting to black and white, so I don't mind about the tungsten cast. Any help would really be appreciated. Thanks! Lynn |
got rid of shadows on portraits, but now subject too dark - help?
When doing high key, the background should be 2 stops brighter than
the subject in order to give a good continuous white. Light the subject normally but with less contrast, then dump 2 stops more on the background to wash it out and get a continuous tone. Less will make it gray and more will blow it out. |
Odp: got rid of shadows on portraits, but now subject too dark - help?
Where do your shadows come form?
First try with right positioning of your main light and then light the background. If you use digital, you should probably use M mode and set up your exposure manually to avoid underexposing your main subject with background brightly lit. Mariusz Użytkownik Lynn w wiadomooci do grup dyskusyjnych e.com... Hi, I have been taking portraits of subjects against a white background. In an attempt to get rid of shadows, I have started lighting the background with 2 tungsten 500 watt lights and then using fill flash on the subject. This has worked beautifully, except that occasionally my subject ends up a little dark and not contrast-y enough. I've been fixing this in photoshop, but wondered if I used lesser lights on the background (say 250 watt?) I might get the subject a bit brighter all the time? I am shooting digital and converting to black and white, so I don't mind about the tungsten cast. Any help would really be appreciated. Thanks! Lynn |
got rid of shadows on portraits, but now subject too dark - help?
Hi, I have been taking portraits of subjects against a white background. In an attempt to get rid of shadows, I have started lighting the background with 2 tungsten 500 watt lights and then using fill flash on the subject. This has worked beautifully, except that occasionally my subject ends up a little dark and not contrast-y enough. I've been fixing this in photoshop, but wondered if I used lesser lights on the background (say 250 watt?) I might get the subject a bit brighter all the time? I am shooting digital and converting to black and white, so I don't mind about the tungsten cast. Any help would really be appreciated. Thanks! Lynn first, mixing lighting can often bring some annoying complications, tungsten on the background can give it a pleasing warm tone especially if the subjects are nicely exposed, wedding photogs will light the subjects but let the very warm room lights supply the background. depending on how the images are printed, and this can include digital workflows, your camera's auto balance may 'see' more warm light or cool fill flash from one shot to the next. how are you exposing? with the camera's auto expo, or selecting an exposure and using that for the session? If using the auto expo then the most obvious problem is likely to be that the sensor is 'seeing' various amounts of white versus subject color. and/or your fill flash is not putting out the same amount of power, either cause you are shooting too fast for it recharge, or its exposure sensor is also seeing various amounts of white and varying its output. if you are shooting film then the lab's printer exposure meter could be seeing various amounts of white and compensating, these are often the weakest link, especially consumer labs where they just stick the film in and walk away. white background sets are difficult. the typical and very popular hi key set, you would have the subject and any props in white, (and right there, very few clients follow through, especially a family group, on the all white thing.) then the only color is the subject's face and hands. its a way cool effect, requires that you light the background very evenly, some pro's will use four umbrellas crossing the background two high and two low with two on each side, I used two but bounced them off the sidewalls and ceiling. as for varying the exposure with your flood lights, you can move them further from the background, you can get a dimmer switch (which would give you more control, or you can buy smaller bulbs, I assume a 250 bulb would be one stop less.) |
got rid of shadows on portraits, but now subject too dark - help?
|
got rid of shadows on portraits, but now subject too dark - help?
Thanks for all these suggestions. I shall be setting up ever
increasing numbers of lights, it appears! I have another question regarding doing colour portraits with the tungsten lights. These are v-e-r-y orange-y. Wondering if I can use some sort of white balance adjustment for the photofloods' lights. I am using a fuji s2 pro. Thanks again to everyone for their help! Lynn |
got rid of shadows on portraits, but now subject too dark - help?
|
got rid of shadows on portraits, but now subject too dark - help?
If you want the background pure white, the background lights need to be
brighter than those on the subject, BUT, you'll need to take your meter reading at the subject. In fact, turn off the background lights while you do this. Nothing wrong with this approach if this is the look you're after. Check Albert Watson's work. Hi, I have been taking portraits of subjects against a white background. Not the best way to start. You want a neutral background, usually. In an attempt to get rid of shadows, What shadows? From the subject? If that's happening, the subject is too close to the background. In other words, that's not a lighting problem. I have started lighting the background with 2 tungsten 500 watt lights and then using fill flash on the subject. This has worked beautifully, except that occasionally my subject ends up a little dark and not contrast-y enough. That's to be expected from your approach. I've been fixing this in photoshop, but wondered if I used lesser lights on the background (say 250 watt?) I might get the subject a bit brighter all the time? I am shooting digital and converting to black and white, so I don't mind about the tungsten cast. Any help would really be appreciated. Thanks! Lynn |
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