Studio Lighting Tutorial

[SteveCliff]

Anybody know of any *good* tutorials for an average photographer to learn about Studio Lighting ?

DVD would be good, but a book or even online tutorial would be appreciated !

Thanks!

[rodbunn]

This is funny but one of the best places (books) I've found is the B&H Professional Lighting sourcebook that B&H Photo sends me in the mail. I was shocked at how much info they packed into this book which is a catalog of all the lighting they sell. In the front of each section they give a tutorial on the section that follows. They send me one for free (I never asked for one), probably because I've bought from them but you can actually buy one if you want. The # on the book is 800-947-9941 (phone #).... The book is 820 pages long.

I enjoyed it and I refer to it once in a while.....

Good luck, Rod

[SteveCliff]

Thanks Rod!

I forgot to say that I'm actually in the UK, but I'll see if I can source one over here and have a looksie :-)

[khenn]

I don't have any experience with setting up studio lighting, but I have been doing some research. Check out the following link for an explanation.

http://sell-it-on-the-net.com/photo_guide/ph_guide_index.htm

Also, I found some dealers on Ebay that seemed to be knowedgable. I sent an email to customerservice at jandkgroup dot com, and got the following reply.

Thanks for your email and questions on studio lighting. Let me
start with the difference between digital photography lighting and film
photography lighting.

* Digital cameras have a white balance setting built into the camera.
In other words the digital camera adjusts to different light sources
(daylight, tungsten, florescent, etc)

* Photographic film is white balanced for daylight. Photographic film
is not balanced for tungsten, florescent, etc. If you use photographic
film inside with tungsten, florescent, etc the photos will have a
yellow look to them.

If you go with continuous lighting, you would not be able to use
the continuous lighting with your Canon EOS Film camera. With the
features of the Canon 10D digital camera, I would recommend that you
consider strobes vs continuous lighting.

Here is how the strobes can be fired/triggered with your Canon
10D digital camera.

1. The strobes have a built in optical sensor/slave that will trigger
the strobe to fire when the flash on your Canon 10D digital camera
fires.

2. You would connect the strobe by a pc sync cord which comes with the
strobes to your Canon 10D digital camera. You will need a hot shoe to
pc sync cord adaptor. We sell them from $ 14.99 to $ 49.99

3. You can use an Infrared Transmitter that would connect to the hot
shoe on your Canon 10D digital camera. When the Infrared Transmitter
fires, it will trigger the built in optical sensor/slave on the strobes.

I recommend option 2, having one of the strobes connected to
your Canon 10D digital camera with a pc sync cord and not using the
flash on your camera to fire/trigger the strobes.

For studio photography, here is how you would set up your Canon 10D
digital camera.

* Set your Canon 10D digital camera to manual mode
* Set your shutter to 1/125 of a second
* Set your f/stop (this will vary depending on the strobe you use)
* Connect the strobe(s) to your Canon 10D digital camera with the pc
sync cord
* Turn on the strobe(s)
* Set the strobe(s) to full power
* Make sure the Canon 10D digital camera is set to manual mode
* Shoot some test images to determine the correct exposure (you can
also use a flash meter)
* Start composing and making great photos

Now there is a little more to this. But this will give you an
idea of how everything connects/works together. You will need to take
the time to determine your f/stop and try different lighting setups,
etc.

Your Canon EOS film camera will work the same way with the
strobes as your Canon 10D digital camera.

Next is the number of strobes you will want or need. The most
commom strboe setup is 3 to 4 strobes.

* One strobe for main lighting
* One strobe for fill lighting
* One strobe for backdrop lighting
* One strobe for accent/hair lighting

I would recommend that you start with a 2 or 3 strobe lighting
kit. Here is a 3 strobe lighting kit.

Qty Description
-------------------------------------
2 HKS/Bosh 200 watt second strobes (main and fill strobes)
1 HKS/Bosh 100 watt second strobe (backdrop strobe)
2 45" white/black umbrellas
2 7 1/2 ft tall light stands
1 3 ft tall light stand
1 Barndoors for the HKS/Bosh 100 watt second strobe

Price would be $ 499.99 plus shipping.

For backdrop systems and backdrop, here is what I would
recommend.

Pro Heavy Duty Background System
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2929231221

Hand Dyed 9'x9' Blue Muslin Backdrop
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2931276554

Once you review this information, you can call Jim or me at:
800-476-3864 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm CST, Monday thru Friday or send me
an email. Just let me know what questions you have on studio lighting
and how I can help

Thanks again,
Ken

Ken Knighton
J and K Group, Inc.
email:
Visit Our eBay Store: http://www.stores.ebay.com/jandkgroup



Anyone have any further suggestions?

[SteveCliff]

khenn wrote:
http://sell-it-on-the-net.com/photo_guide/ph_guide_index.htm


Thanks for this link Kris - very useful introduction for a beginner!

Hopefully, the guy who has bought the light set up will let me play around with them, as long as the studio isn't booked!

All I need now is a model who can sit still looking pretty for hours on end and not get tired/fed up/hungry/require wages/etc. :)

[David Lawson]

Michael Freeman did a book on Studio lighting and like all his work is good. Visit your local library and see what they have.

[richardshipp]

"Creative Lighting Techniques for studio professionals"By: Dave Montizambert.
Top notch stuff!

[dwdmguy]

Khenn: I really don't get this. Please explain.


If you go with continuous lighting, you would not be able to use
the continuous lighting with your Canon EOS Film camera. With the
features of the Canon 10D digital camera, I would recommend that you consider strobes vs continuous lighting.

[Longwatcher]

All I need now is a model who can sit still looking pretty for hours on end and not get tired/fed up/hungry/require wages/etc. :)

Try a coat rack or light stand with a full face holloween mask on it.
Should work

[cowman345]

I've seen a lot of references (books, web tutorials, etc) in the past that have shown wonderful lighting techniques with just one light... you don't really need to start with all those lights. If you're buying a kit though, there are some good deals out there.

-dave-

[cowman345]

http://www.photoworkshop.com/

check out this site for a WEALTH of photography info, it's where I first started learning about light and lighting. free registration, very real-media intensive (which is annoying, but worth it). All tutorials are audio or interactive video, as i recall. check out the artificial lighting section.

-dave-

[louiea]

Web photo school offers downloadable lighting lessons. They have about 300 modules wherein they diagram in detail how a certain photograph was created in terms of lighting set up. The diagrams are via actual photos. It is quite informative and the lessons cover a vast array of lighting set ups. Each lesson can be read in ten minutes - they are very concise and esy to understand.

http://www.webphotoschool.com/

It costs $60 a year or $20 for a month.
You can actually just enroll for a month and download everything and save them. Then maybe enroll again after a year to download the new lessons.

There are some sample lessons for free.
Check it out.

[daveh]

dwdmguy wrote:
Khenn: I really don't get this. Please explain.


If you go with continuous lighting, you would not be able to use
the continuous lighting with your Canon EOS Film camera.


Perhaps the person who wrote that (not Khenn) had never heard of an 80B filter.

cowman345 wrote:
I've seen a lot of references (books, web tutorials, etc) in the past that have shown wonderful lighting techniques with just one light... you don't really need to start with all those lights.

Yeah you do have to be careful taking lighting advice from someone selling lighting. In many cases a reflector (which can be as simple as a sheet of paper or foam core) will do the same job as another light, but people selling lights sometimes forget that.

[lobo4200]

I have to second the B&H " The Professional Lighting SourceBook". If you are not very familiar with what is available this catalog has it all and has very good definitions and gives the basics of lighting.
I would also recommend "Creative Lighting Techniques for Studio Photographers" by Dave Montizambert.
Go to Amazon.com and do a search of books on studio lighting. Some of the readers reviews might be helpfull.

B&H Photo catolog link...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh1.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=GetPage__Aindex_html___page=Fr eeCatalog.html___SID=F5D442B61A0

[coarphoto]

i hope i can help you out. please don't let my inability to type,spell,or punctuate keep you from reading this......

i would suggest that you begin with one light- that could be a window or a flash even a desk lamp. learn how to manipulate your light source by using a diffuser in front in front of it..(bed sheet wax paper etc) then use some reflectors, i would try tin foil, mirror, white paper - expiriment once you feel comfortable then maybe invest in some decent strobes (rugged so they last) you could start with still life and that will really help you to understand how to change the quality of light which in turn will make you a much better photographer....

[SteveCliff]

Lobo4200 wrote:

B&H Photo catolog link...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh1.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=GetPage__Aindex_html___page=Fr eeCatalog.html___SID=F5D442B61A0

Thanks for the link - I hope they deliver OK to the UK !

[mjordan]

The site Zuga.net has a lot of archives on posing, lighting and other areas of photography. Here is a link to their archives:

http://www.zuga.net/freelessons/portrait.shtml

The message forums are themselves a great source of information of a lot of areas of photography.

If you should want to download the archives on the above site, I have them on my web site in pdf format. You can get them at: ftp sitnprettyphoto.com and log in as anonymous and use your e-mail (or any word with the @ sign it it to simulate a e-mail address) as the password.

I hope they help.

Mike

[cowman345]

Mike - Thanks for sharing that fantastic link, what a complete wealth of knowlege!

-dave-

[Dans_D60]

I have been experimenting with studio lighting and different setup configurations in my garage studio. As I shoot more and more, the setup configurations are becoming more reliable and consistent. A few weeks ago I tested another configuration for a bikini calendar shoot that was “OK” but not entirely what I was attempting to achieve http://www.pettusphoto.com/kelly . So the learning continues. Tomorrow I will be doing a male model portfolio mainly portrait head shots. The configuration I find best for male models uses smaller softboxes close in for strong face lighting and fill in general with umbrellas and/or reflectors. I have attached my garage setup for tomorrow’s shoot. Good luck and have fun!
Dan
http://www.pettusphoto.com

GARAGE SETUP CONFIGURATION FOR MALE MODEL PORTRAIT
http://www.pettusphoto.com/studio-light.jpg

[SteveCliff]

Thanks to everyone who replied to this - lots of excellent suggestions and links.

I'm now slowly trying to ingest all the information before next week when I go to my very first "proper" studio with real lights and everything .... coo!

[Susan Morris]

Anybody know of any *good* tutorials for an average photographer to learn about Studio Lighting ?

DVD would be good, but a book or even online tutorial would be appreciated !

Thanks!

I found this site yesterday. It starts with the basics but that was just what I needed. Hope you find it helpful.

http://www.photoflexlightingschool.com/Lighting_Principles/Primary_Reflectors/index.html

Once you go through the lessons on that page, click on the Lighting Lessons link in the gray menu bar. You'll find many examples of different lighting techniques.

Susan

[Susan Morris]

The site Zuga.net has a lot of archives on posing, lighting and other areas of photography. Here is a link to their archives:

http://www.zuga.net/freelessons/portrait.shtml

The message forums are themselves a great source of information of a lot of areas of photography.

If you should want to download the archives on the above site, I have them on my web site in pdf format. You can get them at: ftp sitnprettyphoto.com and log in as anonymous and use your e-mail (or any word with the @ sign it it to simulate a e-mail address) as the password.

I hope they help.

Mike
Mike! You're everywhere! :) *waves hello* Long time no see.

[DayHawk]

erh this thread is 3 years old m8 :)

- Nick

[JustinL]

2. You would connect the strobe by a pc sync cord which comes with the
strobes to your Canon 10D digital camera. You will need a hot shoe to
pc sync cord adaptor. We sell them from $ 14.99 to $ 49.99



If you have a PC sync terminal on your camera, why would you use a hot shoe to pc sync cord adapter?

I have a 20D so i have the PC Sync terminal to connect one flash... how would i connect the other? Or do i just set one to Slave?

Or could i get a paramount Y-cable?

[Susan Morris]

erh this thread is 3 years old m8 :)

- Nick
Wow! So it is!
I was searching out lighting tutorials, found this site because of this thread, registered and replied without even looking at the date. :o

[neilcowley]

http://makelightreal.com/photographic-lighting/ - has four in-depth tutorials on using photographic lighting.

http://makelightreal.com/category/lighting/ - is shoot based discussions and critiques of photographs that have been illuminated with some type of source.

http://www.edpierceseminars.com/index.php - has a basic lighting educational tour going around this early 08, they have a DVD available.

http://www.idcphotography.com/kart/index.php?p=catalog&parent=16&pg=1
Here are some lighting and photoshop training disks.