How to light a bathroom?

[mattograph]

Shooting a home for a realtor customer, and thought it might be interesting to post some thought process here. If you have comments on the way I approached the project, please share:

Anyway, here is where I began:

http://mattograph.smugmug.com/photos/386478989_9FMGv-L.jpg

One of the challenges I like to face is windows. Whenever I shoot interiors, I like to maintain as much detail from the outside as possible (when its appealing). I think it adds to the character of the photo, plus its much harder then just letting the windows blow.

Anyhow, as you can see above, maintaining any detail in the windows is giving us some real dark and ugly results inside. To accomplish anything, I need to throw some strobes in here.

The big problem isn't the light, though -- its the mirrors. They are everywhere. I am shooting from the doorway, with vanities to my left and right, but there is no where to hide. Any flash I fire is going to have to be well hidden.

So, here is how I tackled this shot:

First, I need to go wireless. My skyports decided to bite the dust here, so I went to my backup ST E2. Having backup equipment is expensive, but important, as this house was closing, and I had one shot at this.

First, I needed to throw some light into the room as a whole. I placed a 580 EX II on a Bogen nano stand, skinnyed up the base, and extended it so the light went to the ceiling with the stand on the vanity, camera left. I moved it around until it was out of the reflections on my right, put an omni bounce on it, and set it to 1/8 power.

I fired a couple test shots. Now I had two more problems. Reflections in the shower door, and shadows in the bathtub.

To tackle the reflections in the door, I tried a CPL. That killed my ambient, though, and the angle was wrong anyway -- CPLs like 60 degree angles, which I did not have.

So I opened the door. Problem solved.

Now the tub. Second light, another 580 EX II on a table stand, camera right, tucked into the far corner. Set at 1/16th power.

This was tougher than the first light. Direct flash was too stark, even when I dialed it back. Fired straight up with the bounce card didnt work. Firing into the mirrors didn't work either, since mirrors dont defuse light. Finally, I aimed the flash into the mirror at a 45 degree angle, and stuck a honl gobo in front of it, white side out. That bounced just enough light back into the tub to balance the shadows from the first strobe.

Things are looking good, except I notice how dark the interior of the shower is. Its a beautiful shower, so thats a pity. Gotta fix that.

Grabbed a trusty Bogen super clamp, which I attached to the shower head. Mounted a 430 EX to it with an omni bounce. Some fiddling to get the sensor into position to receive the signal from the ST E2, along with some experimenting with the light (1/16th) and the strobe was good to go in the shower.

Finally, snapped the photo.

http://mattograph.smugmug.com/photos/386414076_Yr62E-L.jpg

Shot in Raw, so adjusted the exposure in LR2, and reduced noise, corrected distortion, and tweaked the lighting in Elements. Dodged the windows in a bit, and sharpened.

Once again, love to hear any suggestions on what I could do to improve.

(shot with 10-22mm lens at 10mm)

[tonybear007]

Let me be the first to commend you on a great job. Looking at the first image and the final image I say you did a splendid job.

By the way what is that yellow/orange streak in the ceiling above the lights?

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[mattograph]

Thank you.

On the right side? I think its the tungsten glow from the lights.

[1964]

Nice job, Ty.

I think the yellow streaks on the ceiling are the shadows cast by the lightholders which would be above the bulbs, and yellow yellow because they're tungsten. The bulbs themselves won't cast shadows, so it has to be something blocking the light. I'm guessing that's it, though it looks a bit odd because I would expect the shadows to be directly above the lights...maybe the bulbs are off to one side within the holders.

I do like the shot a lot and I think you've addressed most of the issues with some carefully thought out lighting and post work. Two things that slightly stood out for me were:

1. The horizontals were a smidgen off - the cornice above the shower door isn't parallel to the edge of the photo, and neither is the base of the shower unit. This is really minor and ultra picky, but still important in these type of interior shots.

2. I'm not entirely convinced by the colour adjustments. The 'whites' look a bit muddy - ceiling, skirting board and window frame. That kinda makes the image look a bit flat overall, just lacks a bit of punch because of the colour cast.

Did some faffing about, hope you don't mind.
A bit rough and ready, but it should give you a bit of an idea about what I mean.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t237/damnedthing/bathroom.jpg

[mattograph]

Took another stab at my photo, processing it through enfuse.

http://mattograph.smugmug.com/photos/403305011_FS6MS-L.jpg