Body Scape Lighting

[fotojoem]

Hello everyone, I can't join the G & N forum yet because I am too new but I am wanting to do some G & N work. My question is....I have three Alien Bees with octaboxes 48" in dia. How do you control the light with strobes to create the shadows for a great image?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Joe

[Ray Marrero]

i also have three AB... I too am learning.

I am trying the grids to just add light where I want it, a soft box may add too much light.

[fotojoem]

Hmm, could be. I am curious to see what kind of other responses we see.

i also have three AB... I too am learning.

I am trying the grids to just add light where I want it, a soft box may add too much light.

[hawk911]

I would offer up any or all of these as you deem fit during the shoot:

barndoors, snoots, grids, flags, size of softbox, distance to subject, angle of light, and intensity of the light. couple that with exposure setting too.

Now I'll sit back and wait, since I've yet to get a great silhouette

[charlesu]

Start with one light and take your time. Then add a second. Etc.

Chances are your lights are complementing each other and you are unable to get the shadows you are looking for.

[fotojoem]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate you takeing the time to make suggestions.

Joe

[charlesu]

Why dont you ask the admins for early permission to post to GN. Then post a shot along with a diagram of your lights. From that, we can be much more specific in our feedback.

[fotojoem]

I have sent them 5 or 6 requests but have not received any response back at all. I just figured that is the way that is was and I couldn't do anythng about it. Is there a secret hand shake?

[pprice]

The secret is....you must know the secret...to know the secret....you must know how to get the secret....the secret to knowing how to get the secret...is another secret....


I think it just takes a little time for them to respond... :-)

Oh, and to answer your question, I think Barndoors might be a good thing to buy.

[Mark_Cohran]

I have sent them 5 or 6 requests but have not received any response back at all. I just figured that is the way that is was and I couldn't do anythng about it. Is there a secret hand shake?

Did you follow the directions exactly, including the image requirements? If not, that's most likely the reason.

[fotojoem]

Hmmm..O.K. here it goes, one more time and barn doors would be a good purchase, I agree.

Thanks

Joe

[TooManyHobbies]

I've used flashlights and painted in my lighting; strip boxes with grids; softbox with grid and black reflectors for subtractive lighting.

I've also done hi-key bodyscapes which are fun too, but that's a completely different approach.

[fotojoem]

Thanks Jeff, those are some good options. I will give them a try.

Joe

I've used flashlights and painted in my lighting; strip boxes with grids; softbox with grid and black reflectors for subtractive lighting.

I've also done hi-key bodyscapes which are fun too, but that's a completely different approach.

[fotojoem]

Jeff, do you have an example of a hi key body scape I could look at?

I've used flashlights and painted in my lighting; strip boxes with grids; softbox with grid and black reflectors for subtractive lighting.

I've also done hi-key bodyscapes which are fun too, but that's a completely different approach.

[TooManyHobbies]

Jeff, do you have an example of a hi key body scape I could look at?

I knew I should have kept my mouth shut. I've been using my phone to surf so wait till I get back to my computer sun evening. I think I may do a new one during my Sunday shoot.

There are several ways to do one. The easiest for me is to hit a white baackground with so much power you start overexposing the edges of you subject and then balance the light in front of the subject with reflectors, flags, and light to get the effect you want.

[fotojoem]

Haha..that's funny. I am not letting you up on this deal either. I will be waiting ny my computer for a post.

Joe I knew I should have kept my mouth shut. I've been using my phone to surf so wait till I get back to my computer sun evening. I think I may do a new one during my Sunday shoot.

There are several ways to do one. The easiest for me is to hit a white baackground with so much power you start overexposing the edges of you subject and then balance the light in front of the subject with reflectors, flags, and light to get the effect you want.

[TooManyHobbies]

Haha..that's funny. I am not letting you up on this deal either. I will be waiting ny my computer for a post.

Joe

I'm sorry. I had equipment breakdown issues and didn't get to those shots. It was a very bad day yesturday. My cyber commander broke! And it broke as I was trying to setup for the hi key bodyshots! I also had a powerpack that kept tripping for some reason.

I did do these but they aren't what we talked about...

First attempt with cold cathode tubes....
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=823684

Strip box with grids...
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=823685

[fotojoem]

The cold cathode tube shot...the subject just stood still and you moved the lights around? Can you explain that process? BTW I was going to buy a 1dMKIV but they are on BO the 1ds MKIII, do you like it and would you buy that body over the MKIV? Just curious. I like your creativity so if you don't feel like sharing your techniques, no worries, you just do cool work.

Thanks for the information.

Joe

I'm sorry. I had equipment breakdown issues and didn't get to those shots. It was a very bad day yesturday. My cyber commander broke! And it broke as I was trying to setup for the hi key bodyshots! I also had a powerpack that kept tripping for some reason.

I did do these but they aren't what we talked about...

First attempt with cold cathode tubes....
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=823684

Strip box with grids...
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=823685

[TooManyHobbies]

The cold cathode tube shot...the subject just stood still and you moved the lights around? Can you explain that process? BTW I was going to buy a 1dMKIV but they are on BO the 1ds MKIII, do you like it and would you buy that body over the MKIV? Just curious. I like your creativity so if you don't feel like sharing your techniques, no worries, you just do cool work.

Thanks for the information.

Joe

Lets see...

Black cloth background rolled out behind model and on floor.
Camera on tripod, f/18, ISO100, bulb with remote trigger (I used my wired one with extention cable. Camera set for noise removal and mirror lockup.
Focused on subject with lights on. Turned focus to manual - lens switch. Turned lights off for a completely dark studio except for a cold cathod light on at the side table.
On the side I had a table with the trigger, red and blue lights, and flash.
Clicked mirror up. Pushed again and in hold to start taking picture. Left trigger on table.
Aimed flash at model and pushed test at 1/8 power to light her up with a 580EXII. This is the only time she needed to concentrate on being still and looking at the camera.
Grabbed blue light and waved behind and around model. Put it back on the table and turned red light on and blue off.
Waved red light behind and around model
Put light on table and released shutter hold.I would have 2 1dMk4s if they were full frame instead of a 1ds and a 1d Mk3. 1Ds would still be my perferred studio camera, but not for the extra resolution. FF gives you more image with higher compression (more telephoto) so you'll need less room in a studio to back up. Compressing distance is appealing to a lot of people with large facial features. If I wasn't doing studio then 2 1dMk4s would be my choice.

[TooManyHobbies]

PS for an easy hi-key bodyscape use a large softbox as the background and flag in front of the model.

[fotojoem]

I just bought one today. I can't wait to get home and start playing with it. Thanks for the help. If I can do anything for you just let me know. I am positice it won't be photography related :) unless I am hauling your equipment around. Thanks again,

Joe

Lets see...

Black cloth background rolled out behind model and on floor.
Camera on tripod, f/18, ISO100, bulb with remote trigger (I used my wired one with extention cable. Camera set for noise removal and mirror lockup.
Focused on subject with lights on. Turned focus to manual - lens switch. Turned lights off for a completely dark studio except for a cold cathod light on at the side table.
On the side I had a table with the trigger, red and blue lights, and flash.
Clicked mirror up. Pushed again and in hold to start taking picture. Left trigger on table.
Aimed flash at model and pushed test at 1/8 power to light her up with a 580EXII. This is the only time she needed to concentrate on being still and looking at the camera.
Grabbed blue light and waved behind and around model. Put it back on the table and turned red light on and blue off.
Waved red light behind and around model
Put light on table and released shutter hold.I would have 2 1dMk4s if they were full frame instead of a 1ds and a 1d Mk3. 1Ds would still be my perferred studio camera, but not for the extra resolution. FF gives you more image with higher compression (more telephoto) so you'll need less room in a studio to back up. Compressing distance is appealing to a lot of people with large facial features. If I wasn't doing studio then 2 1dMk4s would be my choice.

[TooManyHobbies]

I bought my lights at autozone and wired them up to an 8 AA battery pack with 9 volt battery connector at radio shack.

[TooManyHobbies]

Back to bodyscapes...POTNer Lorek was always a master but his posts have slowed down compared to what used to be a daily dose of great bodyscapes...

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/search.php?searchid=15486752

[TooManyHobbies]

SOOC from tonight, I didn't have time to switch to hi-key. I'll try that maybe on Tuesday. One strip box with grid and reflector. I have other shots with 2 strip boxes.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=826583

[billozz]

SOOC from tonight, I didn't have time to switch to hi-key. I'll try that maybe on Tuesday. One strip box with grid and reflector. I have other shots with 2 strip boxes.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=826583

those pics are fantastic can i ask how you took them please, what sort of lighting did you use, what length exposure and anything else you can tell me
thanks
Bill

[charlieharper]

^^^^^
+1 +1 +1

What billozz said !!!

Where did you position the light and reflector ??

Cheers,

Austen.

[TooManyHobbies]

I am in no way an expert on bodyscapes. I find them easy with the right lights. It's just a matter of minutely moving the model or lights till you get something good. The problem is making ones that don't look like all the other ones out there. I got a lot of good pics from the shoot but I didn't want to post bodyscapes that look like everyone elses so I just posted those two. You just need lights with a narrow fall to prevent spill and too much wrapping. Small is better but not required. Bigger is better for hi-key if you are using them as the background itself.

I use Alien Bee Zeus lights with a 10"x30" strip soft box with the grid. It gives me soft wrapping light while the grid directs it where I want it. One on a side or one on a side with a reflector on the other side or two on either side. You can also use barndoors with or without grids. I'm sure a beauty dish with grid would work but that may not be as versatile. A off camera speedlight with light modifiers like snoot or sb would work too. H_ll almost any light will work if directional for low key and anything for hi key.

250s + f/8.0 + lights at very low power

The laying down image was the stip box about 12 in away level with model twisted to get the right effect and a bookend reflector (two 4'x8' sheets of foam core taped together) on the other side about 20 in away.

The standing image was the strip box about 24 in away from behind her and to the side oriented up and down with no reflector. As I moved it around to the side the images showed more of her body.

Posing: The easiest posing for me with these is to put a ladder or pole behind the standing model and have her put her hands over her head grabbing the pole to support herself or just standing.

Hope that helps.

[TooManyHobbies]

Here's another SOOC from the shoot linked above. I was trying to show very little and have the image mostly black, but that's just a matter of power and angle.

Here's the link per the rules. WARNING contains nudity. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=9616927&postcount=8

[Mark_Cohran]

Remember fellows, this is the G&N Talk forum. If there is nudity in the example image, it must be provided as a link (preferably with a warning) and not embedded or as an attachment.

[TooManyHobbies]

Sorry, I never liked that they seperated the forums. Will do.

Of course this rule doesn't make sense when I've asked people to share in the sharing section and my post gets moved to this one. How are they supposed to share easily? I guess I should have asked them to move it back.

[TooManyHobbies]

Jeff, do you have an example of a hi key body scape I could look at?

A little late but I made good eventually...

WARNING CONTAINS NUDITY! http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=9623934#post9623934

I have another style of these I'll have to add later that uses light to better fit the definition of hi-key but it's harder to do and I'm not happy with the ones I've done a long time ago.