janis
Working With A Pro
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 898
|
Post by janis on Nov 27, 2011 7:43:26 GMT
I can't tell you how many hours I've spent lately shooting this guy, whom I've been using to experiment with lighting: off-camera flash, naked and diffused; florescent table lamps; and even a LED headlamp. All with and without reflectors. This little carving is not an easy subject, because of all of the different planes, but I am learning. This is the only shot I'm willing to share with you for now, but I expect you will be seeing more of him. Comments, and tips for future shooting and processing welcome. (Edit) Oops, I keep forgetting we have a monochrome gallery. Feel free to move it, Steve, if you think it appropriate.
|
|
|
Post by The Wirefox on Nov 27, 2011 19:29:14 GMT
I think you have controlled the light pretty well here Janis. I like the background but I think your drummer needs to be further away from the background to enable you to put it into blur with that macro lens of yours. A good way of getting consistent directional lighting is to shine your lamp (or fire your flash) through a white bed sheet. The sheet needs to be close to the subject with the light source some distance from the sheet (say 4-6ft..but experiment).
Another way to tackle subjects with dark nooks and crannies is to paint the subject with light. Set up your shot with the camera on a tripod and remote release attached. With the room lights on allow the camera to autofocus on the subject. When you have focus switch the lens to manual focus so the focus is locked. The camera needs to be in bulb mode. Have an LED flashlight ready, switch the room lights off and open the shutter at the same time play the flashlight around the subject slowly and evenly. After 15-20 seconds close the shutter. You will need to experiment with the duration. It is best to have the camera set to ISO 100.
|
|
janis
Working With A Pro
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 898
|
Post by janis on Nov 27, 2011 20:19:30 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions, Steve. How do you hang your bed sheet? I am trying to fix up a lighting studio in the basement and finding I need ways of hanging things.
As for the background, I am with you on the need to put some distance between it and my subject, but my problem is that it is a sheet of 22" x 29" art paper and, with this configuration, I don't have much room to play with at the top and bottom. If my shot were to overlap the edges of the paper, I suppose I could try to stretch out the art paper part of the background by cloning, but I thought it would be tricky to do and so I didn't want to try it. How would you handle such a situation in Photoshop or GIMP? I have a couple of different sheets of art paper that I think would be really effective in b&w shots. Is there a way to get around the size problem?
|
|
|
Post by The Wirefox on Nov 27, 2011 21:15:30 GMT
Janis, I am afraid with me this is going to be very un-technical The bed sheet is either drawing pinned to the ceiling (remember I an 6ft 6") or if table topped like this example I drape it over WireVixens large cross-stitch frame. The art paper/card is a problem I use A0 size sheets of art card and always buy 2 off of the colour I need. I lay them face down abutted and then fix them together with duct tape. This forms a background and a base when unfolded. The join (a very fine line can be easily cloned out). Off cuts of material from a seconds shop are also good value.
|
|
janis
Working With A Pro
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 898
|
Post by janis on Nov 27, 2011 22:47:45 GMT
Oh dear, I paid a ridiculous price for that paper and I was hoping there was a way to avoid buying more.
|
|