Hair light from above or behind?

[dphoto]

I'm getting ready to buy a lighting setup, and I'm going back and forth on the "back light". In a few articles, it's mentioned that the back light is placed behind and off 45 degrees of the subject, even when using it as a hair light. I would have thought that a hair light would have to be placed above the subject. I assume the results are going to be different.

I was just wondering because the equipment required to hold a light over a subject is more expensive than the equipment required to hold a light behind the subject. One requires a boom arm and a heavier-duty stand to hold that boom arm.

Any thoughts/experiences on the matter?

Thanks,
-Deva

[slejhamer]

Yes it will be higher than the subject, but it can be positioned opposite the camera (above and behind the subject) or opposite the key light (above and to the side of the subject.)

It does not have to be on a boom, but you may find it easier to position if it is. Also I would suggest using a grid or snoot on the hair light to reduce spill.

[dphoto]

Hey Mitch,

Thanks for the advice. I was considering using barn doors. Is there any advantage/disadvantage to that versus a grid?

Thanks again,
-Deva

[slejhamer]

They'll work too, but they seem cumbersome to me. I think it's largely a matter of preference. There was an old article on Photo.net in which P. Greenspun joked that barn doors are 1920's Hollywood technology ... :wink:

A simple snoot seems most common for the hair light, but the grids and possibly the barn doors will give you more options for rim lighting and other techniques. If the kit you are buying includes barn doors, don't worry about it too much, but given the option I'd probably choose grids.

Have fun!

[Vegas Poboy]

I agree with Mitch on using a grids or a snoot. With My Alien Bees & White Lightnings I use the 20 degree grids. It was cheaper than the snoot.

[dphoto]

Hey Mitch,

I'm building the kit myself, and the grid is cheaper than the barn doors, so how about that? :D Although those barn doors sure do look cool. Hehe...

Hey Vegas, yeah, the AlienBees grid is considerably cheaper than the snoot. I posted a message earlier asking if anyone knew the difference between the 20 degree grid and the 20 degree snoot, but I haven't read anything back yet. Maybe there just is no difference? Well, in any event, the grid is the cheapest, so if it works, I'm happy! :D

Thanks again guys!
-Deva

[Bruce Foreman]

I was just wondering because the equipment required to hold a light over a subject is more expensive than the equipment required to hold a light behind the subject. One requires a boom arm and a heavier-duty stand to hold that boom arm.

Any thoughts/experiences on the matter?

Thanks,
-Deva

I've done it two other ways. In one camera room I mounted a small head from the cieling with a "bullet" reflector fitted with barn doors closed down to a narrow slit so I could "hairlight" couples and small family groups. I could open the barn doors for the groups and narrow the beam for individuals and couples.

On location where the background was suspended from a pair of stands with a crossmember, I often had a hairlight on a tall stand behind the background and angled down to where the couple's heads would be.

In both cases the light served a double purpose acting as both a hairlight (for highlights on hair) and as a separation light falling on shoulders to help define dark clothing from a sometimes somewhat dark old masters canvas backgound.

Bruce Foreman

[slejhamer]

In one camera room I mounted a small head from the cieling with a "bullet" reflector fitted with barn doors closed down to a narrow slit so I could "hairlight" couples and small family groups. I could open the barn doors for the groups and narrow the beam for individuals and couples.



Good ideas Bruce. So would you say the advantage of barn doors is that you can vary the size, whereas you'd need multiple grids (and/or a zoom head) to get the same effects? Also it seems with the barn doors you could get more of an oblong/rectangular light if desired. Interesting to think about the options. :)

[dphoto]

I agree, it is interesting to think about all the ideas. Thanks Bruce. Well, I guess it never hurts to just get some equiptment and start experimenting. :D Well, I guess it could hurt your wallet a little... or a lot! :D

-Deva

[RDKirk]

Traditonally, the hair light should be on the same side of the camera as the main light--as though the same single light was causing the highlights on the hair as the shadows on the face.

This makes it a different thing from an accent light that is intended to represent a separate light source. An accent light can come from any angle. People often place accent lights on the hair and shoulders from the rear of the subject (and that can be very lovely), but that's not the same thing as a traditional hair light.

[dphoto]

Thanks for the info RDKirt.

Wow, so I guess lighting for the hair doesn't always have to come from directly above the subject.

-Deva