Fun with grids

[Derrel]

I pulled # 2 into Lightroom and lifted the shadows up to see what was "missing"...that would have been a pretty good pose with a bit of fill light to reveal the trunk under her foot and all that...I think the grid is a fabulous accent light, but the grid used here is too small a source for such a big area as a full-length seated pose...I was just craving a bit more detail on the shadow side of the face in shot #1.

 

[JustJazzie]

I pulled # 2 into Lightroom and lifted the shadows up to see what was "missing"...that would have been a pretty good pose with a bit of fill light to reveal the trunk under her foot and all that...I think the grid is a fabulous accent light, but the grid used here is too small a source for such a big area as a full-length seated pose...I was just craving a bit more detail on the shadow side of the face in shot #1.

Yes, I definitely could use a few more lights. I'm only working. With 2 right now....but I suppose I could have attempted to use a reflector, but I'm finding with grids there isn't much to reflect.

Would a larger grid have helped? I was using a 10° On the hair light and 20° With barn doors As the key.....

 

[weepete]

Yeah, I like 2 as well but again the floating hand bugs me a bit. I'd like to see a bit more light on that whole arm or even less light just on the focal points. You are on the right track though I think

Runnah posted up a link to a Flickr page by a photog who had a lot of this kind of lighting in her photostream. I'll see if I can find a link, it may give you some ideas.

Here we go http://www.flickr.com/photos/betinalaplante/

 

[Derrel]

I sometimes use a 35 degree grid with an 11.5 inch reflector. If you have the 7-inch universal grid set (I have one and am familiar with that one from Adorama), the 10- and 20-degree grids are pretty small sources of light, yes.

And agreed...with a grid, there is NOT much light at all to reflect...

I'd be tempted to use the 20-degree grid AND just that, and then use a weak fill light from the second light...you'll still get a grid-type effect, but the shadows will have some fill.

Depends what you want to do, what your goal is...like the woman with the hat shot....LOVE the hat, love the topless with suit jacket ample cleavage look...that's not really much of an area that needs to be lighted up, so the 20 degree grid from maybe 12 feet would make a great "pool of light" look...but if you want to have some detail in dark clothing in B&W, you'll need to have light in some of those darker areas. I think what's going on is this is early days...you're finding out "how" these lights work with those modifiers...at those distances. I think you're just not used to how FAST the light drops right off the cliff and into full-blown, black, detail-less shadows....your EYES can see into the shadows, but the camera sensor is rendering the dark areas BLACK. I think your eyes are seeing the modeling light and any ambient light in the room, and the FLASH exposure is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy brighter than the ambient that you are seeing. Try squinting till your eyes are almost closed, and that will simulate the dynamic range you'll get with a proper highlight exposure. Again, I think this is your eyes being able to see into the dark zones due to ambient, but the FLASH exposure is not the light your eyes are seeing.

If you need more fill...you could try dragging the shutter at 1/4 to 1/6 second, and maybe pick up some of the modeling lamps' light, especially if converting to B&W. But it would be easier just to get more light into the shadows, and stop worrying about a specific hair light if you only have 2 lights.

 

[JustJazzie]

Yeah, I like 2 as well but again the floating hand bugs me a bit. I'd like to see a bit more light on that whole arm or even less light just on the focal points. You are on the right track though I think

Runnah posted up a link to a Flickr page by a photog who had a lot of this kind of lighting in her photostream. I'll see if I can find a link, it may give you some ideas.

Here we go Flickr: .Betina.'s Photostream

Thanks for the link! I will check it out after the kiddos get to bed tonight,

I sometimes use a 35 degree grid with an 11.5 inch reflector. If you have the 7-inch universal grid set (I have one and am familiar with that one from Adorama), the 10- and 20-degree grids are pretty small sources of light, yes.

And agreed...with a grid, there is NOT much light at all to reflect...

I'd be tempted to use the 20-degree grid AND just that, and then use a weak fill light from the second light...you'll still get a grid-type effect, but the shadows will have some fill.

Depends what you want to do, what your goal is...like the woman with the hat shot....LOVE the hat, love the topless with suit jacket ample cleavage look...that's not really much of an area that needs to be lighted up, so the 20 degree grid from maybe 12 feet would make a great "pool of light" look...but if you want to have some detail in dark clothing in B&W, you'll need to have light in some of those darker areas. I think what's going on is this is early days...you're finding out "how" these lights work with those modifiers...at those distances. I think you're just not used to how FAST the light drops right off the cliff and into full-blown, black, detail-less shadows....your EYES can see into the shadows, but the camera sensor is rendering the dark areas BLACK. I think your eyes are seeing the modeling light and any ambient light in the room, and the FLASH exposure is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy brighter than the ambient that you are seeing. Try squinting till your eyes are almost closed, and that will simulate the dynamic range you'll get with a proper highlight exposure. Again, I think this is your eyes being able to see into the dark zones due to ambient, but the FLASH exposure is not the light your eyes are seeing.

If you need more fill...you could try dragging the shutter at 1/4 to 1/6 second, and maybe pick up some of the modeling lamps' light, especially if converting to B&W. But it would be easier just to get more light into the shadows, and stop worrying about a specific hair light if you only have 2 lights.

Thanks for the ideas Derrel. I think you have some sound advice as usual. I think I am going to try find a way to just go ahead and add one more cheap speed light into the mix, hopefully before my next shoot. ;-) If not perhaps I will attempt a 40º grid and a reflector, if I really can't make that work then I will skip the hair light. :-( *fingers crossed I can find a way to get a yonguno*