Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Mr Sharpo, you are a master at your art and you are so patient. It is not my thread, but I have enjoyed it so much although a lot of it is over my head. Could you let us see your set up using some lights for a portrature photo when you have time?

Best wishes,

Heather

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

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"Gobo" stands for GO BETWEEN. It is a black card, flag, disk or the black side of a reflector that block light from striking part of the subject.

Out-of-doors, the reflector can have 2 functions. You can pick up light from a back light source, such as the sun, and redirect it toward the subject to creat a main light source. OR...you can use the sun as the main source , usually in the late afternoon when it is directional, and use the reflector as a fill source- same as you do indoors with the main light. In either case, I try to keep it out of the subject's line of sight to avoid squinting. Theses methods can create good catchlights and illuminate the eyes.

I never run out of reflectors because I make extra ones out of aluminum foil. You can crush the foil, re-expand it and affix it to a 24x24 piece of white Foam-Cor or Coroplast. I use both the shiny and dull sides on separate cards for different effects and leave the backside of the material white for a softer effect. A have a few of those spring loaded collapsible hoop-like reflectors for portability but my homemade ones are cheaply produced and work equally as well.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Hi, Heather! Would you like to see lighting diagrams or the actual studio setup?

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

I would please like to see the lighting set. I have bought a set of lights, have backdrops but where I position them is puzzling. GrandmaG is way ahead of me and she is doing really well.

Thank you Ed.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

You are very welcome! Tell me what lighting gear you have and I will suggest a basic setup for starters.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Thank you. That is something that many of us would benefit from, and appreciate.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Thank you Ed. I will have a look and get back to you in a day or so as I have a friend staying with me for a week. Perhaps you can make this a separate thread for the benefit of other members. If would also be helpful for you to refer back to should you be asked the same or a similar question in the future.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Hi Ed,

As promised, I have a 700w Octagon Neewer Soft Box Continuous Lighting kit. There are 2 separate lights 85w x 55cm. Nothing too fancy.

I look forward to seeing your set up and suggestions on my Soft Box. Perhaps I need other gear too, bearing in my it wouldn't be for professional use, only to get the best out of my photos. I hope that is not too contradictory.

Thanks for your time.

H

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Thanks for your reply.

Your 3 unit, continuous lighting setup has good potential. In my own situation, I do most of my studio and location portraiture with electronic flash or controlled natural or available light. Many years ago, however, I started off with high output tungsten lighting as was the usual practice of the day and what, with current LED technology, has reemerged as a viable alternative to flash. Continuous lighting certainly has its advantages in that you can see exactly what you will record in the camera. The aesthetic principles of portrait lighting have more to do with light placement, direction, contrast and technique that it has to do with the equipment choice.

With a 3 light setup, you can use one light for a man or key lighting source, one for a fill light source and the third for an accent, background or hair light. If you add more lights or equipment going forward, you can add an additional light on a boom arm stand for a dedicated hair light, and/or 2 separate background and accent lights. A flat reflector two would be handy as well.

I can show pictures of my studio setup or provide diagrams of a fixed setup but that is not the best way to approach portrait lighting. Most of that would be meaningless without understanding the function of each of the aforementioned lights. In portraiture, each person we photograh has a different personality, facial structure, body style, and requirement. This is why a totally fixed setup is not practical unless we were producing "mug shots", however, simplicity is also important because we want a system that works quickly and easily so we don't fumble with the gear and can concentrate on getting natural and spontaneous expressions and poses.

Since there are a number of members, like yourself, who expressed interest in learning portraiture, I have decided to post a series of lessons, describing the building of a flexible setup. Understanding the function of each light and how they interact with each other is an important set of principles. I will introduce one light at a time and explain its function, type, ways of modification the basic nuts and bolts technique. I will outline lightning type, quality- as to hardness or softness, and various methods of aiming, position and adjusting each light.

The basics are important to the beginner, amateur and professional alike. There are folks with all sorts of sophisticated equipment and yet still experience difficulties in realizing the results they would like to achieve. Oftentimes the simplest lighting method is the best. It is surprising what can be done with a single light and a flat reflector IF you understand the principles and the aesthetics.

I'll put the first lesson together in a few days- STANDBY!

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Thanks, Ed,

That sounds wonderful and I appreciate you taking the time to help members like me.

What you said made a lot of sense as with just a few good pieces of equipment and learning how to make the most of them would stand us in good stead.

I do hope that other members will come forward and show an interest. If you are not told you wouldn't know who is interested.

With time permitting on your part, I look forward to the tutorial.

H

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Late again...

Considering the key background you have it would not be hard at all to add a background that does not distract and is more... effective that you edit.

Look at some samples here...