Lighting Kits

[dpp]

Hello there

I have a question about lighting Kits

I have just purchased 1 Elinchrom 500 flash light with umberllas , stand etc and I want to shoot group with just this one light. Now I know people normally use 2 lights for groups, but I heard a theory that if you use ambient light indoors then that source of lighting is normally from 1 place.

an anyone help me and confirm or deny that I will be able tro take adequate formals using available ambient light and my 1 elinchrome.

By the way the reason I only bought 1 to start is bcos of the cost of the elinchrom's, and also a bit of a challenge.

[NGrinerPhoto]

you can put one light high above you - it's called paramount or butterfly lighting (because of the shadow the light casts under the subjects nose)

you take a meter reading of the ambient light, but i usually just shoot at a 30th or a 15th – i’ve found that most churches look good like that – oh yeah, use a tripod

-nick

[dpp]

Hello many thanks for that
I have another question in relation to this, if I have just the one 500 light to light a group portrait, should I also use a lastolite reflector somewhere?

Basically I will be taking a group shot of say 20 people and I want them lit well, obviously I will practice before hand but some useful tips involving reflectors in addition would be a great help

[NGrinerPhoto]

i have never used a reflector... never really found a need

another idea is to bounce the light off the ceiling (asuming that it is white) and fill the entire room with light - it will be nice and even - that might be your best bet

[Vegas Poboy]

A reflector will not do you any good with such a large group, unless you need to fill in some shadows on a couple of people.