lighting techniques

[jduncan]

hi

does anyone know of any good online lighting tutorials (lighting placement etc)

thanks

james

[Leighow]

JAMES

I assume that you are talking about indoor lighting. I do not really shoot indoors but the web (via Google) is filled with lighting tips --e g: http://www.photo.net/making-photographs/light

There are also tips on softboxes and lighting for nude photography. As well several pro-members are experts at lighting and last year Eland (see Search) described how to cope with a variety of lighting challenges.

As Regards Outdoor Shots - My Growing Experience "Suggests" (no formal training!):
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- I have taken my best "people shots" in the rain or in shadows ( sometimes surrounded by sunlight).
- I try to avoid noon-hour light.
- I like the magic hours, but with caution re shadows and color tints.
- I do not have any filters for sky and polarized light control.
- I do shoot casual portraits in bright ooutdoor light and issues ralted to squinting aside
- I may have someone hold a large white towel off to one side to reflect sunlight onto the shadowed side of the face. (Tenerife uses pro-reflectors in outdoor shots)

The Physics!
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I have never thought about the quantitative implications of outdoor light. By that I mean to say, the sun is a source and hits the sky and reflects off the subject. Depending on how much open sky is available ( some complex 3-D radiation surface) -- so too goes the amout of light that hits the CCD. I am finding that shooting from shade in relatively narrow topographical gaps in the land seems to allow my G2 to handle the reduced light quite well.

Lens Shades
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Also, I am quite concerned these days (from experience) about lens shades, and I intend to build my own trial shade to test whether I can get clearer exposures.


HOWIE