setting up for studio lighting

[my2dramaqueens]

I have a starter 3 strobe lighting kit that go off when my camera flash goes off. I have read threads that show placement of the lights. i have one right to the right of me one slight forward and the the left of me and 1 lighting my back drop from the left. both as high as they go at a 45% angle. ive also tried a little taller than me. I still am getting shadows !WHAT A MI DOING WRONG..... IM SO FRUSTRATED !

PLEASE HELP ME !

THANKS

[Booshanky]

I have a starter 3 strobe lighting kit that go off when my camera flash goes off. I have read threads that show placement of the lights. i have one right to the right of me one slight forward and the the left of me and 1 lighting my back drop from the left. both as high as they go at a 45% angle. ive also tried a little taller than me. I still am getting shadows !WHAT A MI DOING WRONG..... IM SO FRUSTRATED !

PLEASE HELP ME !

THANKS

They might not be timing right. I've been using my girlfriends Calumet Travelite 750's, and i tried setting them off just using my flash, but they didnt work. I ended up having to pick up a 12 dollar converter that'd plug into the hotshoe on my camera and let me plug right into the flashes.

Just goofing off the other day using 2 of the flashes, i was able to get these shots. (http://%3Cbr%20/%3E%0Ahttp://www.actvsdei.com/%7Ebooshanky/?path=./ridiculousness/)

[iwatkins]

You don't give enough detail, e.g. camera, strobes, light modifiers etc. However, I'll have a go. :)

Possible problems:

1. Triggering the strobes using you on-board flash is likely to be the problem. The on board flash will probably be firing at full power in a dark room. Turn it off and trigger via a hotshoe -> PC Cord -> Strobe cable or straight PC cable (you don't say what camera you have). Also likely is that the strobes are being fired by the on-board flashs' pre-flash and not it's main flash. This leads to the strobes already having fired by the time the shutter opens and the only light you are actually getting is from the on-board flash's main flash. (if that makes sense).

2. If the lights are as high as they go and are not pointing downwards to a degree you need higher stands, or a lower subject.

3. If you are getting shadows on the backdrop, bump up the power for the background light. or much easier move the subject much further from the backdrop.

4. You don't say what light modifiers you are using, but if you are not using umbrellas or softboxes on the front two lights, you will msot likely get hard shadows.


Anyway, reply back with more detail on your set up and maybe post an example image.

Cheers

Ian

[chris.bailey]

If you have not got a sync cable, try putting your finger in front of the pop-up flash. Most flash units will fire with very little light as a pulse.

If you are lighting people dont put your lights too high. You ideally want a catchlight in the eyes just above centre, which is where you would naturally see one caused by sunlight.

[my2dramaqueens]

ok sorry, Im using a canon 20d. and small umbrellas. im using a backdrop thats when i get the shadows. im also using a 550 ex flash b/c when i use the flash on camera it does that light flickering thing and sets off the strobes. I dont think my strobes have the capability of increasing strengh

what do u think

[Jon]

You can set the 550EX to manual and it won't do the pre-flash, or have you already done this?

[my2dramaqueens]

yes, the 550 doesnt pre flash the on camera flash did

[Jon]

Sorry - it wasn't clear from your post. Can you post some examples?

[my2dramaqueens]

ya sure ... ill have to do when i get homein about 3 hours can u check back then

[my2dramaqueens]

I have about 5 books and they all say the same thing. could my f stop, apeture and all that jazz have anything to do with it?

[iwatkins]

Yes, depends what it is. Doubt changing the f-stop etc. would affect whether you get shadows or not though. I've got eight books on landscape photography, but I'm still rubbish at it ;)

Even using the 550 on manual as your trigger could easily cause a huge shadow if it is flashing at full power and your strobes are weak.

If you must (and I recommned you buy a sync cable instead) use the 550 to trigger your strobes, put it to minimum power, on manual and point it up and back a bit so no light direct from the flash head reaches the subject. There should still be enough light to trigger the strobes though.

Ian

[Longwatcher]

Most likely solution, move the target away from the backdrop.

Except your flash, especially the 550Ex is way too powerful, aim it at the ceiling or away from the target. The strobes won't care were the light is coming from, just need a bright light to set off. A sync cord would be better.

The target (in my case a model) should be at least 3-4 feet away from the backdrop preferably 6 feet (2meters - but I don't have that much room). Moving the model away from the backdrop had a huge affect on shadows.

Lastly figure out which light is causing the shadow(s) and use your backlight to compensate

Just my experience.

[my2dramaqueens]

okay here is a pic i took.... excuse the big tongue he was trying to be silly

[my2dramaqueens]

okay well that didnt work

[charlesu]

Well, try increasing the distance between subject and background. Also, try diffusing the light sources with a LARGE umbrella or soft box. Keep the light CLOSE to the subject.

And show us some samples.

Here's a shot with a 4x6 softbox very close (4 feet maybe) to the model but the back ground is a good ways back and is lit by a background light.

http://ompi.onemodelplace.com/OMP_Images/Photographer/3661/3661_p_385DBFE8-2B3D-897A-2523B1BDF9C28117.jpg

[my2dramaqueens]

How do I shrink the file size? im trying to send it but its too large?.. also maybe it should be a different thread but how do you use a white background for that shot.. im also interested in doing studio shots with all white and all blackgrounds... ive seen pics where the floor is really shiny . does anyone know what kinds of floor that is. Im trying to visulize how they have it set up.. for instance if they have a toddler on the floor. how are they avoiding the gap or crease between the floor and the background/backdrop? does anyone know im talking about?

[chtgrubbs]

To keep shadows off the background you need to increase the distance from the subject to to background (4-8 feet if possible). Using a large umbrella or box will soften and minimize shadows and cut back power to the oncamera flash to the minimum that will trigger the slave lights or switch to synch cord. Also, check out http://www.webphotoschool.com for some great tutorial on lighting.


Charles

[Ballen Photo]

Most likely solution, move the target away from the backdrop.


I have to agree with this statement. Being too close to your backdrop will certainly increase your odds of having unwanted shadows. ;)
-Bruce

[epeace]

how are they avoiding the gap or crease between the floor and the background/backdrop? does anyone know im talking about?

what is typically done in this situation is a roll of paper, usually about 8-12 feet wide, is suspended on stands . . . the paper is pulled down to and out over the floor space that the subject will be occupying so there is no crease between the backdrop and the floor . . .

[charlesu]

what is typically done in this situation is a roll of paper, usually about 8-12 feet wide, is suspended on stands . . . the paper is pulled down to and out over the floor space that the subject will be occupying so there is no crease between the backdrop and the floor . . .


Yes, this is white seamless paper. For the reflection? It depends on how much you want but there are various acrylics you can purchase and arrange into a shot to provide that. I've done it. Not generally a fan of it.

[Headcase650]

There is a guy on The FM board that uses a 6x8' sheet of 1/4" plexiglass set ontop of seamless paper and slid back to where the paper just starts to lift off the floor to make its curve up the wall. There is a sticky tread in the lighting section called show us your studio. Go chect it out its quite impressive.

[my2dramaqueens]

where is the sticky where they show the studio. I dont see a lighthing sticky? what thread is it in?

[Monito]

Post your pictures on any one of a hundred free picture hosting sites like photobucket.com and paste the link here, my2dramaqueens.