I have no idea what I'm doing

Hey guys

I finally got my Bowens 500Ws x 2 kit last week, and was eager to try them out on a live subject. I've done photography for nearly two years now, but nothing under a controlled light environment before, so I was very excited to try this stuff out

So anyway, I've spent a couple of days doing a few shots in my sitting room (standard white walls). I've managed to get some simple set ups going, both against white and black backgrounds, though so far they've been less than interesting. One of the best shots I came back with today was:

Forgive me if I am horribly wrong, but when I did my first few portraits I found it was easy to achieve a darker background without comprimising the light on the face by using a lower iso and longer shutter speed, or a higher iso and faster shutterspeed...

I also noticed the black background is a bit reflective material, do you have black clothe?

Not yet! I need to pick some up this week. As I said, I only just got the lights at the end of last week, so I haven't thought about any other odds and sods yet!

Currently, I've been playing about with ISO100, and using a shutter speed of 1/250. Would slowing the shutter speed then decreased the background light?

I am no expert at studio shoots / portraits but I think using a slower shutter speed would bring out the highlights/reflections of the material in the background... hmm

Is there a way you can angle your lights so they are not directly illuminating the background?

I would expect even professionals to get slight highlights in the background sometimes, I am sure post-processing can clean up that pretty easily with darken/contrast etc...

Once again, I am no expert... in fact, I should have let a pro comment here first, I jsut saw your thread going unanswered.



I am stumped, so if someone answers, it would be benficial to me aswell! :P

I think the main problem, as you've already pointed out, is that I've used a bit of black cardboard, stuck against the wall, which still goes off reflection. If something like black cloth had been used, I guess the background would have been completely invisible.

I think that's a pretty good effort His right eye is a little dark, though... and I can't offer any insight as to how to fix that because I've never worked in a studio setting! Maybe turning the head a little more towards the light or something? (or moving the light, I suppose...)... Maybe another small light on the other side?

Anyway, well done

You are off to a great start, from what I can see. I actually prefer short-lighting for most of my subjects, but that's a personal preferance. I'd suggest a few things though. First, click on "image editing ok" in your profile.
Then I'd get your lights closer to the subject. The reflection in his eye show that it's a very small light source, so move the lights closer. Then turn them down enough so that you are shooting at 5.6 or 6.3..somewhere around there. That coupled with the closer lights will spill less on the background. You can also "feather" the lights some towards the front of him, instead of right at him.
Give that a try and see what you think.

Thanks for the advice ootsk, I'll give some of those suggestions a go this week

Here's an example of a different tilt..I didn't mess with the exposure, just touched it up a little.

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I'd replace the black shirt with something of color, or even grays.

It's nice but short-lighting would work better.