Light spill help

[TylerF]

sorry if this is in the wrong section. Feel free to move or delete.

I've been having issues with light spill when shooting indoors. The other night I was trying to aim a colored light into a white wall to make a colored background. Without adding my flash in, I got the desired look but as soon as I added my softbox/speedlite it completely washed out the wall.

I tried moving the subject further away and still nothing. I'm just confused. I was shooting in the dark, exposed for the ambient light and built up my flash but it still didn't work.

Thanks!

 

[tirediron]

Was the coloured light a continuous light or another strobe? If it was a continuous light, than the speedlight simply overpowered it. There are two solutions: (1) Use a speedlight for the background colour as well and balance the power with the key light; or (2) Move the key light much closer to the subject, lowering the power accordingly, and use a stronger bulb for the background. If you're already using a speedlight on the background, it's simply a matter of balancing the power of background against key.

 

[TylerF]

Thanks for the input. The colored light was continuous. I had my speed light dialed down as much as possible but still wasn't working. I seem to always have this issue when shooting in the dark even without the colored light. Is my approach wrong?

1- set ISO
2- use shutter speed to get ambient the way I like
3- add light(s)
4- adjust aperture to control lights

I always seem to get more light than I want on the background unless I put a speed light behind the model and fire at their back.

 

[tirediron]

The main issue with your approach is trying to mix continuous and strobed light. It may not look like it to your eye, but there is a HUGE difference between the amount of light your speedlight is putting out, and the amount coming from the continuous light. What ISO were you using?

 

[TylerF]

I believe I was at 100. But I seem to even have this issue when I'm just trying to make a black background. The light seems to spill onto the wall behind the subject

 

[tirediron]

Are you using a speedlight or a mono(studio)light, and what model? It sounds like your light is pointing too much to the back. Does yoru softbox have a recessed face tlhta will allow you to feather the light?

 

[TylerF]

I have an sb600 in a medium apollo soft box and an impact 24" hexi box. Very low budget equipment I know lol

 

[tirediron]

A big part of your issue is probably distance. My studio has a LOT of windows and several skylights. When I'm shooting at mid-day, I need a lot of power from my strobes and consequently a LOT of space between subject and background. Typically I am working with the key light 3-5' from the subject and the background 10-15' behind the subject.

 

[Designer]

Aside from the significant difference in power levels between the two types of lighting, you need to experiment with the position of the softbox and/or grid the softbox. You are literally putting light onto the background. If you can't install a deep grid to the softbox, then at least try to fashion some barn doors using found materials. A second speedlight should be on your wish list.

 

[adamhiram]

You might also want to try using some flags to block spill onto the background. I've used a stepladder with some black posterboard taped onto it, or cardboard from some amazon boxes if I needed something larger. Doesn't get more low budget than that!