First Time...Need Help

[DannyInMontana]

Tonight was my first time ever shooting using a setup indoors. A rather simple setup, with black cloth, a flood light, and on a tripod. I was just trying my hand at something I've never done. Found out just how important the lighting is. However, I'm really stuggling figuring out how to make the lighting slightly better. I do not have the money for expensive stuff, so some old school tricks would be awesome. In the meantime, this is one of the shots.

 

[tirediron]

A diffuser (something as simple as a white tissue paper) to eliminate the hot spot and a reflector image left (white card-stock/poserboard) to put some detail into the shadow areas.

 

[Big Mike]

Photography is largely an art form...and as such, there is rarely a right or wrong way to do something.
So the real question you need to ask (us or yourself) is whether you achieved your goal.

One of the main characteristics of light that we concern ourselves with, is the hardness or softness of the light. A soft light gives you smoother transitions from light to shadow, while hard light gives you more of a hard line between light & shadow. Sometimes you want a softer light, sometimes you want a harder light.
To make light softer, you have to enlarge the size of the source, relative to the subject. That's why you see photographers using things like umbrellas or softboxes. They enlarge the size of the light source to make the light softer. Also, you can move the source closer to the subject to make it softer.
You can try using something to diffuse the light (translucent fabric or paper etc) which can make the lit area more even, but don't confuse that with softer light. (unless the diffusion material makes the light source larger, from the subject's point of view).

Another thing to watch for is the lighting ratio. How far apart (in brightness) are the bright areas from the dark areas. In your case, you have a very high ratio because the shadows are very dark. You can use another light to fill in those shadows, or just a reflector to bounce some light back onto the subject, lightening the shadows and bringing down the ratio. But that really depends on how you want the shot to look. Sometimes you want a higher ratio, sometimes you don't.

 

[KmH]

Great reply Mike. Very succinct. :thumbup:

 

[DannyInMontana]

Mike, I really appreciate the little tutorial in lighting. Even though I'm sure I could have googled it, you made it much more relative to the picture I was trying. Thanks a million and I'll post more shots soon and hope you drop in for a critique. Thanks gain.

 

[highsteam]

Big Mike gave you a good answer and im sure google can provide you w more info. But for me the best is practice, trial and error and keep improving. Keep working on it