ThOuGhTs, iDeAs, oPiNiOnS, cHaTtEr

FPPF: Studio Lighting Fundamentals, Day 1

Today is the first of the three Saturdays of the Studio Lighting Fundamentals under Allan Razo. Just the first day, I already learned a lot!



* Use color gels/color filter on the lights to provide color.

* Light is used to create an illusion.

* Use highlights, shadows and focus on the subject.

* Look into the details.

TOOLS/EQUIPMENTS:

1) Flash Head--for example: Broncolor, Hensel, Visetec, Boling.

2) Light Modifiers -- refers to all accessories attached to the studio light.
a) Reflector Disc (metal)
b) Softboxes
c) Umbrella
d) Honeycomb Grids
e) Snoot
f) Barndoors

3) Light Stand

* Honeycomb grids narrow the light.

* As the reflector disc gets bigger, the character of the light becomes softer.

* Barndoors further narrows the light.

TWO KINDS OF LIGHT:
1) Hard (with variations)
2) Soft/Diffused (with variations)

* The different sizes provides the variations in the different kinds of light.

* With studio lighting, we light the surface of the subject.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT CHARACTER OF LIGHT:
* Light modifiers
* Distance of light source/subject
* Size/shape of light modifiers
* Intensity of light

* The closer the light source to the subject, the better.

* The bigger the light source (size), the better.

* For portrait, wattage of light can be from 150-500.
* For group portrait, you may need to get a higher wattage.
* It all depends on what is the purpose.

* Manipulate the light to work with your preferred apperture.

FUNDAMENTAL STEPS IN SETTING-UP LIGHT:

1) MAIN LIGHT
* Light modifier?
* Size/shape?
* Distance/angle?

* Always use your largest light modifier for the main light.

* Main light establishes the correct exposure.


* Main light is normally angled at 45 degrees to create volume and texture on the subject.

2) FILL-IN LIGHT
* You may use a soft box, a reflector or an umbrella as fill-in.

Soft box as fill-in:



Reflector as fill-in: (safest to use)



Umbrella as fill-in:



3) BACKGROUND LIGHT
* You may use reflector disc as it provides a strong light.

4) HAIR LIGHT

5) KICKER/ACCENT LIGHT

6) FOREGROUND LIGHT



* Normally, kicker lights use a small reflector disc with honeycomb grid.

* The best way to use a flash is in manual mode. Establish first the exposure, e.g. f/5.6 at 1/8, 1/15 or 1/30 shutter speed.

posted by ~GFA~ @ 7/14/2007 05:55:00 PM