High key lighting scenario

All,

I've been having an issue with high-key lighting, more so I either get full white blowout effect as desired, but the actual subject is over exposed, or if I get the subject correctly exposed, then I get some light fall off effect - usually in the bottom third of the image.

Key light, 45 degree angle, camera left - octabox metered to f8
Fill light, 45 degree angle,camera right - softbox metered to f5.6
two background lights on white paper - f16 for each.

Subject is approx. 3-4 feet from super-white seamless paper.
Key and fill are approx 3 feet from subject at the front, at those angles.

I've tried moving the two front lights up higher, and tilting them to a lower angle, moving them back, moving them closer, dialing the power up/down by a third of a stop each time....changing aperture...changin ISO...it seems that my perfect exposure is somewhere in the middle of 7.1 (the white are perfect) and f9 (subject is lit better, but then there's falloff mixing into natural subject reflection).

Any thoughts? I just want less PP on these images

It would help to see an example of what you are talking about. There could be more than one cause.

Do you mean my setup, or a sample result?

I could upload both actually this evening, but I'd have to post them in a password protected gallery if that isn't a pain.

I might still have webshots too...I'll check. But that goes waaay back

have you tried flagging the BG light? tried moving the subject away from the BG? tried feathering the light?

I'm curious why you having an issue since you lighted on a different plane... Be sure your at 160 SS and no ambient is contaminating your lights.

When you say flagging, do you mean to block it a bit so it's doesn't wrap? I haven't.

Do you mean feathering the two front lights?? No, I'll try that tonight, tho it did cross my mind. Easy to test, that's for sure.

I find that this occurs really on the bottom of the image....and feathering the two lights might be the fix - good suggestion. I'll try to play more tonight if I get thru an unlrelated (and non-high key) set of images finished and PP'd, and try to document a bit too.

Thunderbird33 wrote in post #10987022
Do you mean my setup, or a sample result?

I could upload both actually this evening, but I'd have to post them in a password protected gallery if that isn't a pain.

I might still have webshots too...I'll check. But that goes waaay back

If we can see what you are getting, we might be able to help. In theory your setup sounds okay, but there might be issues of coverage etc.

For sure, I know it's hard to tell with out visuals. I'll have at it tonight/tomorrow and at least get a sample setup/resulting image if I can't get it straighted out. It might just be a chancge of angles, pulling front lights back etc.

Thanks for you help, and I'll update.

this is just a guess... not sure... but is it possible that your seeing the curtain? ( too fast SS )
what SS are you using?

just upload it to photobucket.

We really need to see a few examples.. There is a lot of confusion to what high key actually is..

I haven't been able to get testing yet, off tomorrow so hopefully some time to play....

Everything sounds the same as what I use except for my subject is 6 to 8 feet from the backdrop. I would change distance of subject to background and use 4' or larger modifiers for the main light.

Those images are SOTC, more often enough, most are a few clicks and a minute away froma fix, but I'd rather skip those steps

Do the images help identify what looks wrong?

I've adjust heights and distances, but the results are all the same.

try lowering the power of the BG strobe.. looks like the BG light is reflecting back at your lens.

and try flagging. or with the same setup try lowering you camera position ( guitar blocking the reflection of the BG seamless / light.