lighting?

[katdaddy]

could somebody recommend some good reading online about lighting as far as shooting content goes? Im having a dandy of a good old time trying to figure this out?

perhaps some of you more experienced could grace me with some advise that would be greatly appreciated! thanks in advance...

[DaSexi1]

I can't offer much help, I just got new lighting equipment and am still figuring it all out.
but here is a link where i have been doing some research.
http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id=1706891&pageid=r&mode=ALL&t=s&query=lighting

i was freaking the hell out of the last camera and lighting i had. On monday I got a Novatron 3 Head Pro Kit, 1500VRD, 1500 W/S Power Pack, 2- 2140C, 1- 2100C Flash Head, Umbrellas, Stands, Case
then I got a large photoflex lite dome, novatron gel holder, 4-way barndoor and diffusion kit, and now ask me what all this stuff does... it lights up my whole townhouse like prison search lights. So I'm working on figuring out how to use the right amout of light, the lite dome alone gives off too much light, I think i'm going to take that back and get a small or medium one.

[DaSexi1]

Where is Q'on he's a pro I bet he could help!!

I'll post some samples later of the problems I'm having.

[pine]

Originally posted by DaSexi1
I can't offer much help, I just got new lighting equipment and am still figuring it all out.

What kind of system did you pick up, Sexi? Pro photography lighting can be damn expensive. We have used a couple of different systems with varying degrees of success. Guerilla lighting tactics from amateurs, so to speak.

Our 400W HPS (high-pressure sodium) lighting for our (ahem) indoor garden produces a nice warm glow, giving a feeling of romatic nights by a fireplace, Here (http://www.honeypine.com/ebony_traffic01.jpg) is an example with Honey, here (http://www.honeypine.com/ebony_traffic02.jpg) is another example with a friend of ours. Total cost: about $150 CDN for fixutre/hood, ballast and bulb. You can pick up this gear at any Indoor Hydroponic Grow store.

We recently picked up a "worklight" (the kind you might find in an auto repair shop, two lamps on a sturdy, extendable tripod) that uses two high-output Halogen bulbs. The light spectrum is a lot more natural, maybe a little more harsh. Still, it produces a decent photo, as evidenced Here (http://www.honeypine.com/ebony_traffic03.jpg). Total cost for entire fixture, plus a couple of extra bulbs: $80 CDN. Hardware stores carry this kind of thing.

By far, the best light available is free. The sun. ;) Outdoors in the afternoon or evening (as long as you have a decent camera), produces the best results. Here (http://www.honeypine.com/ebony_traffic04.jpg) is an example of early afternoon sunshine, and here (http://www.honeypine.com/ebony_traffic05.jpg) is a photo from a mid-evening shot (one of our most favorite sets EVER). Total cost: Free.

Hope that helps any beginning photogs. Of course, you professional guys (and girls) have probably already purchased all the equipment described in that link from above. Rich bastards. :p

[DaSexi1]

Originally posted by pine
What kind of system did you pick up, Sexi? Pro photography lighting can be damn expensive.

This is the kit that I got,
Novatron (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh4.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist _html___98296___NO1500VRMK___REG___CatID=0___SID=F 625305E990)
And this is my new camera Fugifilm FinePix S2 Pro (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Fujifilm/fuji_s2.asp)
and best of all I got them both along with 28-80mm lens, a few filters, case, photoflex litedome, novatron gel holder, 4-way barndoor and diffusion kit. All for a little over 2k.
I also got the Elura 50 (http://www.canondv.com/elura50/elura50_flash.html) but no discount on that lol

anyway... what I had before was ok, I was using the an olympus, and had 3 work lights like you described from the hardware store, they were two head 500 watts halogen, problem was the light was too inconsistant as you can see from these 3 shots all taken one right after the other Pic1 (http://www.blackbootyfreak.com/sample/P1010249.JPG) Pic2 (http://www.blackbootyfreak.com/sample/P1010250.JPG) Pic3 (http://www.blackbootyfreak.com/sample/P1010251.JPG) and too yellow it gave my pics a sepia toned look, which was ok for bedroom shots like this pic (http://www.blackbootyfreak.com/sample/utopia.jpg) but not so great for shots like This (http://www.blackbootyfreak.com/sample/beauty.jpg)

ok now I have this new camera and lights, but it's too much light for the space i'm shooting in. So first I made adjustments, cut back on the amount of light, put in a blue gel pack on the barndoor reflected it off the white umbrella. And on the other two lights I used a white gel with a diffuser on one, the other just reflecting off a white umbrella so this is what happend Pic (http://www.blackbootyfreak.com/sample/lilbit.JPG) it's not bad, but there is a big blue spot on her forehead, and blue around the cooter area :D and sometimes it gave her a glow like kind of a 3d effect...not good
So yesterday I'm shooting a different model so I tried a green gel PIC (http://www.blackbootyfreak.com/sample/baby.jpg) instead of the blue, she has really nice smooth brown skin but I did a few test shots with it and green light on the pussy just doesn't look good. So Then I switched to red, she looked like a lobster. So finally I decided to try it without the colored gel and now my brown skinned model is lightskinned :( Pic (http://www.blackbootyfreak.com/sample/baby2.jpg) way over exposed!
I have another girl coming today and tomorrow so I hope maybe I can figure out something else. I think today I'm going to cut back to two lights but if anyone else has any suggestions I'm listening! :)

[chow_monkey]

Well 3 x 500 Watt halogen here. The walls of the studio were painted light blue which really affects the way lighting works.
See sample (http://www.blackporntgp.com/samples/sample.jpg) here

[uptown4life]

well can't find no links for you but some tips always keep that light be hind you and also, make sure there are no shawdows.

point the lights on around the room to get even set and never point them to your subjects.

try some them see your results

[pine]

Originally posted by DaSexi1
I think today I'm going to cut back to two lights but if anyone else has any suggestions I'm listening! :)
It's a lovely day. Go outside. ;)

Just kidding. It took me a minute to realize that your first post was describing your new system, I thought it was a quote from one of the links you found. lol, Ms. Moneybags.

You might be able to post-process some of those color-tinted shots in PS. Play with the hue, saturation and levels perhaps. But that is a weak solution, especially if you have hundreds of photos to edit, unless you can create a custom action that will work on the whole set. And it won't help the over-exposed shots like the one you linked. If you find the sets are coming out overexposed, let the camera do the work, raise the F-stop and set the shutter higher, maybe? I dunno. Definitely try to cut back on the number of light sources if possible.

On a (sort of) separate topic, here is a pretty decent link I found to a Digital Photography FAQ:

http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html

Worthy of a bookmark.

[DaSexi1]

Originally posted by pine
It's a lovely day. Go outside. ;)


lol I did a shoot in a park once but we got kicked out by the park ranger lol I'll have to search around for some other spots.

thanks for the link, checking it out now.

I did a lot of work on the pics in PS but it is just too time consuming.
The shoot last night went really well, we did mostly video but I got some shots done and worked out a lot of the lighting issues. I'll post s few shots after the shoot today to see what ya'll think

[katdaddy]

Originally posted by pine
http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.html

Worthy of a bookmark.

nice link its bookmarked! reading it this week thanks :D

[thedirtywhiteboy]

I mostly use a constant light source instead of a flash. I use Tota lights (750 - 1000 watt bulbs) for both indoor video and photo work. I diffuse them with white umbrellas and I may also use a simple can light to bounce off the wall (or bounce board) or use as a fill. The cheap white foam boards bought at art stores are great for bouncing light.

But for me, nothing beats the sun and a warm reflector.