Lighting Check - Need Feeback on this set-up please

[GeorgieGirl]

In a couple of days I will have some family members in Christmas Hats in front of this backdrop and I am trying to work out the kinks now. I am using a 60mm on a 7D, so far that seems to give me the best results, but we have no tiny people and I am going to have to shoot landscape and crop, to square I think. (I really want a FF, you know I do)...Anyhoo, what do you see that I need to adjust, I think that the right light is still going to be a speck too hot as is. Let me know if you agree, and let me know what else you see. I was trying for a good balance and some sparkle. (Looks better before posting here)....First time out for this BG too.

Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate it.

 

[TenaciousTins]

I don't know anything about the lighting (although it looks fairly balanced to me...but skin will make a bit of a difference)...but why will you have to shoot landscape? If it's a group of people it's one thing but a wide person doesn't necessarily mean you need a landscape style...in fact, I think you would make them wider unless the angle is just right, by shooting them landscape. Just my (very limited) experience. I like the backdrop...simple and versatile. Not very Christmasey and more farm-y (like you've put up there lol) but it will work fine and look good.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

Yes! I am going for out-door at the barn. I need the hats and mittens and I'm staged.

 

[shootermcgavin]

Well if the lighting ends up being bad at least you have a nice lit shirt and hat... it might even catch on

 

[Tony S]

Close down the aperture a bit or pull out farther from the backdrop to soften it's look some. The lighting looks good for the hat, but once you get faces in there you may have to adjust the brightenss a tad or reposition for shadows on faces, the light on the right might be a bit too high causing nose shadows to drop down too far. Not sure what you have camera left, that shadow in the pocket area seems dark, so watch for that on faces too.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

I'm going to assume that after 60+ looks that you pros here have no issue with this set up...good for me! :coffee:

 

[kundalini]

Can you give a detailed explaination of your lighting setup please. I can foresee potential issues with the (cowboy) hats.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

....Details....Not really...the lighting set up is a 1x6 for the BG at the floor facing up. A 2x2 soft box to camera left and a shoot though umbrella at camera right. I have tons of other modifing gear (I should sell) but this is what i wanted to use for this annual shoot. In fact I have another umbrella coming for tomorrow but I thnk I'm good without it. Do you think I should use something else? I still have time to test alternates.

The hat is mine, just so I had some color, detail and dimension for the test. It was the hat or the dog or the box of BFA Free storage containers.

The peeps will be wearing either a Santa Hat or an Xmas scarf and goofy sweaters. It is intended to be rustic and whimsical.

 

[Derrel]

Lighting looks pretty good to me!!

 

[Snakeguy101]

Difficult to say without a human subject, think you could get a model for a test shot? This image looks nicely lit though.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

Yes, I do want to try to get a body in there to complete the test. I don't get to use the lights very often so its a huge learning curve for me. If it looks good so far, then I am half way there. Thanks so much!!!

Derrel -- Thanks for your feedback, I don't know if you recall my earlier attempts, but you were constructively helpful in the past to get me to this point now. :thumbup:

 

[Village Idiot]

We have a lighting forum, BTW. It's the ****. It's my new home.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

You know I perused before I posted here and did see that section but my take away that it was for discussion of things not necessarily for a C&C, which this was intended to be....if the mod thinks it should move, fine by me.

 

[bazooka]

I'm wondering why you chose to have your fill light off of the camera axis? Not necessarily good or bad, just wondering. I see the potential for cross shadows.

 

[kundalini]

.....The peeps will be wearing either a Santa Hat or an Xmas scarf and goofy sweaters. It is intended to be rustic and whimsical.

Okay, I thought all would be wearing cowboy hats (wide brims). Wearing Santa hats will not cause a shadow on their faces with being lit from above.

If you are shooting small groups of people and you have time, I would also try using the two umbrellas as a test just to see if your lighting will be more even over the group. Position them a foot or two on either side of the camera.