+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    TPF Noob!
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    2
    My Gallery
    (0)
    My Photos Are OK to Edit
    Liked
    0 times

    shooting flashlight beam against wall

    Not sure if this is the best section to post this in but hope that product shooters will be able to help.

    I am trying to shoot an set of images to compare the different light output levels on a backpacking headlamp. I want to shoot it against a wall or other flat background at a distance of 8-10 feet. My questions:

    What is the best way to set WB for this shot since the light levels will be different each time?

    And

    What is the a good aperture/time setting to get a good representation of a flashlight against a wall in a dark room?

    Thanks,

    Mike

  2. # ADS

  3. #2
    TPF Junkie!
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    3,476
    My Gallery
    (0)
    My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit
    Liked
    0 times
    Shoot in RAW and adjust it in post processing.
    I am the french fry in a box of onion rings.

  4. #3
    No longer a newbie, moving up!
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Salisbury MD
    Posts
    36
    My Gallery
    (2)
    My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit
    Liked
    0 times
    Since you want to compare the flashlights all of the shots will have to be at the exact same exposure. Since your wall, your flashlights, and your camera are unknown quantities set up the shot: camera on tripod, manual focus, focus on a temporary target with lights on; set camera on manual exposure turn a representative (medium bright) flashlight on the the wall and try ISO 800, 1/15 sec., f/8. These are a wild guess but with the histogram on your camera you should be able to tell how far off you are and adjust. Once you get a medium toned exposure that looks good leave the settings as they are and try the rest of the flashlights. If you find that some of them push the histogram off the right or left you will have to adjust the exposure and start over.
    I've never done this but this is the way I would approach it. I hope it helps.

  5. #4
    KmH
    KmH is offline
    TPF Junkie!
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    20,006
    My Gallery
    (1)
    My Photos Are OK to Edit
    Liked
    1421 times
    You'll need to shoot a white balance card in RAW for each headlamp. You then click on the image of the card in each image with the white balance tool in your RAW converter to set a custom white balance for each set.

    The best white balance card on the market today is the Whibal card from www.rawworkflow.com

    As JimKing mentioned, manual mode, same exposure setting for each set of images.
    End Internet Piracy, Not Internet Liberty

    . .Keith. . . .How Do I Use My Digital SLR?...
    FOR SALE: Stay Tuned!

  6. #5
    No longer a newbie, moving up!
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    NW Indiana
    Posts
    82
    My Gallery
    (0)
    My Photos Are OK to Edit
    Liked
    0 times
    It sounds like it is one headlamp, just different light levels. If it is an LED light the color will change a bit, but not NEARLY as much as an incandescent one will. The highest output will be bluer, the lower levels will be much closer to a nice white. Just be sure to shoot a very white wall so people can see not only the brightness differences, but the color too (it is important to some people, just not all).

    As already mentioned, set it on manual and expose it the same so comparative brightnesses will be obvious.

    -A flashaholic


 

Sponsors

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

Similar Threads

  1. Jim Beam Distillery C&C please
    By mommy22 in forum Photography Beginners' Forum & Photo Gallery
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 03-03-2010, 01:50 AM
  2. Beam of light needed
    By DeadEye in forum Photographic Discussions
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-23-2008, 02:03 PM
  3. Focus assist beam
    By DeadEye in forum General Shop Talk
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-09-2007, 05:49 PM
  4. beam me up scotty
    By OOID in forum Beyond the Basics
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-05-2006, 06:53 AM
  5. Laser Beam sky
    By bantor in forum Landscape & Cityscape
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 02-26-2006, 12:20 AM

Search tags for this page

beam an image on a wall
,

best flashlight beam

,

best flashlight for photography

,

best shooting flashlight

,
best sooting flashlight
,
flashlight beam distance wall
,

flashlight beam on wall

,
flashlight focus pictures
,
flashlight on a wall
,

flashlight shooting 12

,
flashlight wall images
,

how to take pictures against a wall

,

images of flashlight against wall

,
light output of flashlight pictures
,

lighting against the wall photography

,
math question about flashlight agaisnt wall
,

picture of flashlight beam

,
picture of flashlight on wall
,
product photography flashlight
,

shooting flashlights

Click on a term to search for related topics.