Messing with home lighting again

[michael88]

It's another weekend so I figured I would try the home lighting again. Got some muslins this week also. The two girls weren't as patient as our son. Let me know what you think.

#1
http://michael88.smugmug.com/photos/54236978-M.jpg

#2
http://michael88.smugmug.com/photos/54239572-M.jpg

#3
http://michael88.smugmug.com/photos/54240515-M.jpg

[Sam]

These are great. The muslins look nice too, where did you order them from if I may ask.

The picture if your son is my favorite.

[michael88]

Thanks Sam, I appreciate your comment. My wife bought the muslins off of E-Bay but the seller was www.silverlakephoto.com. If you find one you like on his web site check them out on e-bay first. We got ours for less then half price on two of them and about 25% off on the other.

[Art Rodriguez]

Great shots. Love the second one just for her expression. It's funny, it's the boys who are usually impatient.

Art

[michael88]

Thanks Art. If you were to spend any time in our house, you would see who the difficult ones are.

[Titus213]

Very nice work. The light and backgrounds are great. Your boy looks like he is right at home posing. In fact he looks like he loves it. Cute kids. Can you give us the particulars, lens, etc.

[michael88]

Thanks Dave. I used the 50mm 1.8 lens and as far as the lighting goes I just started messing with it last weekend. I use a 1000W work lamp as the main light and it is diffused by a piece of white nylon fabric. For fill I use a reflector for a car windshield. I experimented a lot with postioning the light and reflector to try to get it to look good.

[tjburns]

lighting and pics look great...cute kids too

[michael88]

Thank you tjburns, much appreciated.

[Wanda Batts]

These shots are great. You've captured the different personalities of each child. What handsome children.....

[aussie_max_diamond]

Great shots...

I am thinking about buying some works lights and doing the same thing, I have a couple of questions.

Do you use the halogen ones?
How do you attach the nylon fabric (diffuser) without it getting all heated up and burning?
How hot does it get on the kids?

Cheers

[michael88]

Great shots...

I am thinking about buying some works lights and doing the same thing, I have a couple of questions.

Do you use the halogen ones?
How do you attach the nylon fabric (diffuser) without it getting all heated up and burning?
How hot does it get on the kids?

Cheers

Thanks aussie. I did use the halogen ones, the type that come with two 500w lamps on a stand. As far as the diffusion material, I built a frame out of some PVC ( approx 3' x 6' ) and clamped the fabric to it. When I built the frame I included a base so it could stand. I position the diffuser about two feet in front of the lamps. that seems to be enough space so the fabric does not get hot. I also do not leave the lights on for long periods, maybe only 5-10 minutes at a time. The kids are not bothered by the heat of the lamps for the period of time that they are on.

[aussie_max_diamond]

Mike,
I went out and bought them today.
Shot some photos of my wife ( I will post one when I have downloaded them from the camera).

The car raflector is ingenious... How do you get it to stay in position? I had my wife holding a silver card to the left of her face (not exactly great for getting natural poses) but I seem to need it really close to her to get any light off it.

Thanks for your reply I went out and bought all the pvc piping and bits to find that my hacksaw is at my dads so I hung an light curtain over a freestanding clothes rail and it seems to be ok.

What temperature do you set the white balance to, or do you do a custom in camera? Is there any other tricks you normally do in photoshop to great your photos really jumping off the screen?

I will post the photo's soon

Max

[michael88]

Good to hear from you Max. Glad you were able to play with your lights. To hold the reflector up I made a large T from some scrap PVC and leaned it against a chair up-side-down. Then I just clamped the reflector to it. You need to experiment with the placement of the reflector to get the best light. For WB, you can do a custom. I shoot in RAW and adjust with DPP. I select the Tungsten setting in DPP. I look foward to seeing your results. I have learned an aweful lot from reading the posts on this site, there is a lot of knowlege in here (not a lot from me though ).

[aussie_max_diamond]

I have posted the photo's at
http://www.picpile.com/gallery.php?id=770158 (sorryy about the first one the resize did not work).

They were all shot with a 20d and a 50mm 1.8.
I had the lights behind a soft curtain draped over a clothes rack a about 45 degrees to her right, there was also a silver card used as a reflector on her left.

I tried 2 different temperature colours but will probably try a custome white balance next time.

Left me know what you think I am really interested in hearing opinions about the shots.

[DeannaH]

super nice! I have the same os similar ligths...and i have been struggling with how to get up a diffuser....off to go shopping! thanx!

[Kristy]

Michael your photos are looking great! Would you mind taking a photo of your lighting set-up? I'd be interested... :)

[boomer1959]

Nice shots, Nice lighting.:D

[michael88]

... Would you mind taking a photo of your lighting set-up? I'd be interested... :)

I set this up in my front room. the work light on the right for a main light. The reflector on the left for fill. My wife has bought me a couple of backdrops which look really nice.

54402

[Benji]

I'm impressed with what you got with what you have (lighting wise) to work with! Here is how I see the first image as far as cropping, burning and vignetting.

Benji

[Kristy]

Wow! very impressive... :) I have that worklight. Does it have 2 lamps on it?? Hmmmm maybe I should give this a go. What are you using for the diffusing fabric and how are you "stretching it out? Amazing what you can do when you get creative. I was trying once to bungee cord an umbrella to my work lamp but it didn't work... I guess since im in AZ, I'll have to come and shoot at your "studio" from now on. :)

Love the results!! Keep up the great work and give your wife a boquet of flowers because I bet she is not too happy with you junking up her front room with your photo stuff... although she reaping the benefit of beautiful photos of her children!

Happy Day!

[Amorous]

Very creative. Simple set-up, but top quality result.