Hair Light: I’d like to make a D.I.Y. hair or background light. I have a desk lamp with a flexible neck and cone-shaped hood which should work well. I have found 5500k bulbs that come...

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

I’d like to make a D.I.Y. hair or background light. I have a desk lamp with a flexible neck and cone-shaped hood which should work well. I have found 5500k bulbs that come in 40w, 60w, 75w, 100w. The lamp should be within 3’ of my model. Any suggestions on where to start on wattage?

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Stronger than that. You must have a high ceiling too.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Sometimes it can be as bright as the main.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Day.Old.Pizza wrote:

I’d like to make a D.I.Y. hair or background light. I have a desk lamp with a flexible neck and cone-shaped hood which should work well. I have found 5500k bulbs that come in 40w, 60w, 75w, 100w. The lamp should be within 3’ of my model. Any suggestions on where to start on wattage?

I would start with a 200watt and see if that is enough to work with your other lights. A hair light is one of the brightest in your setup.
...Cam

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

Thanks. My Main light is my SB 700
Flash used with umbrella. Ceiling is about 7-1/2’. Make-shift Studio set-up for family shots.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

Thanks! That knocks out 3 options. I didn’t see anything higher than 100w so I may try that.

CO

That's going to be a harsh hair light. It's a small light source and only 3' away from your model. In my studio photography group, we often use a 22" beauty dish on a strobe and it's above the model's head about 5' away.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

CO wrote:

That's going to be a harsh hair light. It's a small light source and only 3' away from your model. In my studio photography group, we often use a 22" beauty dish on a strobe and it's above the model's head about 5' away.

I have a small space to try this out. I use a SB700 for my main light, my on camera flash is used to light the front of the face and reflector to reduce contrast on the off-side of the face. I get pretty good results, but I need another light to separate the model (rim light or light the black backdrop) from the background.
I’m trying to do this on the cheap since I don’t expect to be doing it very often.

Here is an example of what I can produce now with just 1 off-camera flash, the camera flash and a sheet acting as a reflector. I’d like to make her stand out a little more from the background.

(Download)

CO

Day.Old.Pizza wrote:

I have a small space to try this out. I use a SB7... (show quote)

You've done a great job with it. I can see how some of her clothing is blending in with the backdrop. I have a 10 x 36 inch strip softbox with grid that we use on a studio strobe to feather light across a backdrop. It's large enough as the light spreads out a lot even with the grid on it. A 14 x 60 inch is available but I find my 10 x 36 inch is large enough. I'm not sure how a single light is going to produce a broad spread of light needed to cover the backdrop.

(Download)

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

Many issues with you plan.

It is doubtful that any tungsten or LED continuous light source will match the color temperature of you speedlight even if there is a claim of daylight values. Exposure determination would be difficult or impossible.

Another speedlight woud be you best bet for an improvised hair-light, however, there are many othe issues. Speedlights have no modeling lamps and a hair lights has to be precisely aimed to strike the hair and not wash down the forehead or face of the subject. If it is far enoug in back of the subject, you may be able to estimate its placement. You also need to make sure it won't "flare" the lens.

For portraits and headshots, if you don't want to invest in electronic flash gear, you may want to consider a 3 or 4 INCANDESCENT, TUNGSTEN or LED continuous light setup that would include a main, fill, hair and a background lights. Ideally, you hair light should be placed on a boom stand and fitted with a snoot or barn doors for precise aiming. Matched Photoflood lamps, quartz lamps, or LEDs woud provied uniform color temperature (white balance) and you can see you lighting and pre-visualize its effects.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

Many issues with you plan. br br It is doubtful t... (show quote)

Thank you for the input. I am trying not to invest in a second flash, stand, umbrella, etc. if I don’t have to. If I were to go into business I would think differently. I’ll try the 100w 5500k bulb 1st to see how it changes things and move on from there.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

CO wrote:

You've done a great job with it. I can see how some of her clothing is blending in with the backdrop. I have a 10 x 36 inch strip softbox with grid that we use on a studio strobe to feather light across a backdrop. It's large enough as the light spreads out a lot even with the grid on it. A 14 x 60 inch is available but I find my 10 x 36 inch is large enough. I'm not sure how a single light is going to produce a broad spread of light needed to cover the backdrop.

Thank you for the compliment! I have a low ceiling in the basement so I cannot get my lighting too high.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Day.Old.Pizza wrote:

I’d like to make a D.I.Y. hair or background light. I have a desk lamp with a flexible neck and cone-shaped hood which should work well. I have found 5500k bulbs that come in 40w, 60w, 75w, 100w. The lamp should be within 3’ of my model. Any suggestions on where to start on wattage?

You have digital, you can see instant results. Start experimenting to find the degree of hair light you like, not what someone tells you to like. I would also suggest a 150-200 w also.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Take a look at LED lights for video photography.

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

Thank you. Higher wattage seems to be the consensus, but I haven’t found a 5500k bulb in my area higher than 100w. Still looking.