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leopard
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Last Login: Today @ 3:46:04 PM
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My interests in studio photography has risen since I got hold of an old Century No.2 5x7 camera and a couple of lenses (a Voigtlander Heliar 210mm f/4.5, an old 8" rectilinear f/8, and a Wollensak concoction that I'm not sure about). I bought this for a song, and am now wondering about studio lighting.
I've tried researching the topic, but find I don't have the funds for the types of lighting required for most. Large softboxes, etc. I have always loved natural window lighting, and I know how to treat that for a successful portrait / still life. I have attached a file here that is a portrait I made indoors with a Holga not so long ago.
What I really want to do is to duplicate this type of lighting as much as possible. I have tried working with those spun aluminum shop lights, as well as trying to make softboxes out of them by attaching a wire frame and stretching muslin fabric and other materials across, but I just end up with ugly shadows on the wall behind the subject, and I don't know what to do to avoid it from happening.
Those $10 shop lights is about how flexible my budget is. If you make recommendations on lighting equipment, it would be extremely helpful to me if there was a ball park figure of the expenditure it would involve.
I should also tell you that the space I have available to photograph in is very small, about 12x12 feet. I'm basically pressed up against a wall to get any distance between me and the object.
I also like to work with a reflector. I basically attach a large sheet of white foam core to an extra tripod and move it around. The shot attached here is without a reflector, however.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks,
- Thomas
I love all my cameras. Sometimes they love me back. Perhaps this polygamy thing isn't such a good idea...
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pachyderm
Group: Forum Members
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Great work Thomas. Unfortunately, while I have always been fascinated by this type of work, I've never done any of it. Hopefully, someone who knows this type of photography can comment further.
Robert M. Teague---------------------------------------------
Website: www.visionlandscapes.com
Blog: visionlandscapes.spaces.live.com
"Fujifilm remains true to its heritage and to the acknowledged superior image quality delivered by professional photographic film products." -- Fuji Press Release
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leopard
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Last Login: Today @ 3:46:04 PM
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Thanks, Robert. I appreciate your comment and encouragement.
- Thomas
I love all my cameras. Sometimes they love me back. Perhaps this polygamy thing isn't such a good idea...
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lynx
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Last Login: 9/24/2008 1:09:19 PM
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| First off those ugly shadows- get away from the wall! You have a good start, just don't skimp on space where needed. Studio lighting doesn't need to be expensive, it's about the way you use the light, not how you produce it. Foamcore boards and duct tape can re-create nearly every expensive studio lighting basic and gimmick, all you have to do is study how you want to modify the light and build to suit. And for beginning, don't overdo the light. Keep it as simple as you can and only add to it when you have a good understanding of what you are doing with it. Sometimes the simplest and subtlest lighting can be the most powerful. 
This image was done simply with an existing light under the kitchen cabinet and modified with some sheets of white paper for reflecting light into the shadows. Play and you will be rewarded.
Gary Beasley
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pachyderm
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 9:44:38 PM
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Wow!!
Robert M. Teague---------------------------------------------
Website: www.visionlandscapes.com
Blog: visionlandscapes.spaces.live.com
"Fujifilm remains true to its heritage and to the acknowledged superior image quality delivered by professional photographic film products." -- Fuji Press Release
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