ThOuGhTs, iDeAs, oPiNiOnS, cHaTtEr

FPPF: Studio Lighting Fundamentals, Day 2

It's the second Saturday of the Studio Lighting Fundamentals workshop under Allan Razo being conducted by the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF). As expected, learned a lot today.

USEFUL STUDIO ACCESSORIES:
* Black foamboard
* White foamboard
* Spring clamps
* Lite-tite adaptor
* Blue-tac
* Mirrors (round, square)
* Scissors, cutter, knife
* Apple boxes, utility boxes
* Masking tape, Duct tape
* Table platform

* Usually, an f/11 aperture is used for product shots.

* In almost any kind of subject, a soft-light always work.

For Reflective Objects

Set-up 1:


Set-up 2:


Set-up 3:


* Use polarizing filter to control reflection.


* To remove reflection, you may reposition the light, use a polarizing filter, or use a dulling spray.

For Black, Reflective, Textured Product

* For example, Kikoman soy sauce.
* Use same set-up, adjust the reflector.



For Clear/See-Thru Product

* For example, mineral water.

* Use reflector at the back of the product as it shows the background.


* If you want to show texture of the wood, use hard light.

* For shiny metals, use soft light.

* For bread, you want to show texture, use hard light softened using a big reflector disc.


* For fruits, you may use soft light or same set-up as bread.

* For make-up, use hard light to saturate the color and make it intense.

* For interior, use bounced light. Studio flash is for fill-in of shadow, main light is the existing light of the interior.

* For documents or painting, use two hard light of equal distance and angle. For oil painting, use polarizing filter in both lights and the camera. In the Philipines, MQ Lighting at Jupiter, Makati City is selling the polarizing filter sheet.


*If you don't have a Soft Box, you may bounce the light with Reflector Disc or pass the light through an acrylic plastic (3mm thick). In the Philippines, Manila Acrylic at 623 Condesa Street, Binondo, Manila sells acrylic plastic.

* For a round reflective object, like Christmas balls, put object in a tent surrounded by lights.


A Photo Table:


* The best time to get pictures is before 10AM and after 4PM.

* In the Philippines, the best month to take pictures is January and February.

* Reflector Disc is used for background light and for documents. If lighting directly at the product, use Reflector Disc with Honeycomb Grid.

* Adjust the angle of the Soft Box to feather or to focus the light on the product.



* For lifestyle images, it is interesting to combine hard and soft light.



* The accent light is best placed at the back of the product.

* Arrange first the product before putting in the other details.

Ways To Diffuse The Hard Light:
a) Bounce
b) Acrylic Plastic

* For skin tone, soft light. You can also use a Big Round Reflector Disc.

MINIMUM SET-UP/START-UP SET-UP:
1) 2 Flash Head -- 300W, 500W or 600W
2) 1 Standard Reflector Disc
3) 1 Set of Honeycomb Grids
4) Largest Soft Box you can afford; or Largest Foamboard; or Acrylic Plastic with clamps
5) Largest Umbrella/Umbrella Reflector
6) Heavy Duty Light Stands
7) Background

posted by ~GFA~ @ 7/21/2007 11:15:00 PM