lighting techniques

silver163 · Mar 17, 2009

so i been told by a lot of photographers that i need to learn how to setup light for each and every single possible pose (where to place the light and how far and how strong) but can anyone point to a tutorial that explains hwo to manipulate light? how to get it to be softer? stronger? so forth?

Big Mike · Mar 17, 2009

That's a big topic. I'd suggest picking up a few books on lighting. They don't even have to be recently published, the basics of lighting haven't really changed with the advent of digital. There are some good web sites with good info, but as with anything on the internet, you may need to sift though the crap to find the good stuff.

HERE is one of the sites I've found to be pretty good.

silver163 · Mar 17, 2009

Big Mike said:
That's a big topic. I'd suggest picking up a few books on lighting. They don't even have to be recently published, the basics of lighting haven't really changed with the advent of digital. There are some good web sites with good info, but as with anything on the internet, you may need to sift though the crap to find the good stuff.

HERE is one of the sites I've found to be pretty good.

yeah i tried books but they go crazy, i just need the basics, how to create soft light and hard light jsut techniques to manipulate light.

the site you gave really goes into detail about histrograms which i think is too technical for me

Big Mike · Mar 17, 2009

the site you gave really goes into detail about histrograms which i think is too technical for me

Unless you have a light/flash meter, that histogram info is really helpful.

It sounds like you are looking for a quick and easy answer...and there just isn't one. Photographers spend years learning to control and manipulate light. It takes hard work and dedication to learn and understand lighting and if you are not willing to put in the time & effort, I can't help you.

250Gimp · Mar 17, 2009

try out strobist.com for hot shoe flash info and techniques.

This site has a pile of info. Some very technical, some not so technical.

Cheers

JerryPH · Mar 17, 2009

I am a little disappointed... thhose books are all pretty basic. And I am surprised that strobist.com was not mentioned earlier. You will find that you can use 1 lighting setup for HUNDREDS of poses. Then you change the lighting and are good for HUNDREDS more.

There is not one light setup per pose... but rather a better way to pose for a given lighting setup... or even better, there are poses and lighting setups that answer questions of demand or what you are trying to accomplish.

I was all concerned and what not when I started... just go out and do it, reading about this stuff is not going to get you much further than 1st base... *doing* it is where you learn the good stuff.

Here is what I see happening... you read like crazy, then learn how to manipulate light, then you learn how to manipulate the model. After a short while, you say screw the books, screw the advice, do what you know will give you known good results based on what your desires are and thats when you start to get this lighting stuff down.... but by then you are way past 10,000 concentrated practice pictures and at least 20-30 models and are too busy smiling and enjoying all of this stuff to care.

Mike_E · Mar 17, 2009

Try here, this used to be on msn groups but that closed and these people seemed to have picked it up. It's dated, but good info none the less.

BTW Joe Died a couple of months back at quite an advanced age after having led a full and giving life, if you read this and find it useful (you will if you read it) you might give him a thought.

http://jzportraits.home.att.net/

Big Mike · Mar 17, 2009

Good Link Mike. I hadn't heard that he passed....RIP.

JerryPH · Mar 17, 2009

Interesting link for sure... I just got off the phone and apparently, my father knew a photographer called Joe Zeltsman from the early 70s. He was rather dismayed to hear that he passed away and asked me to look up if it is the same man or not. It's a pretty good chance becuase there are not many people called Zeltsman over above the fact that not many of them would be well known photographers.

If someone has a link with more info, I would appreciate it. In the meantime, I am off to google and see what comes up.

Edit... yup, same guy, my dad met him during a time he was making a seminar or course outside and they actually had supper together. My dad remembers him as a VERY sharing guy, someone willing to talk about photography all night long and share anything he knew. Someone with a ton of enthusiasm and passion.

What a nice way to be remembered.

Big Mike · Mar 17, 2009

My Grandfather knew a photographer named Ansel Adams...

JerryPH · Mar 17, 2009

Big Mike said:
My Grandfather knew a photographer named Ansel Adams...

Isn't that just awesome?

What is sad is that we are now getting into a time where many of the "masters" of that era are getting older and passing away. The new ones are fine and all, but for some reason, just don't have that same... I don't know... fame, fire or passion for lack of a better word, compared to the ones from the past. There are not many Dean Collins around anymore either. We have Joe McNally and David Hobbs, but there is that twinkle factor that is just missing and though she is good, Jasmin Star just doesn't cut it for me.

We need a little more of that old time attitude but unfortunately, I think that is passing away with these people of the past.

Mike_E · Mar 17, 2009

Mr. Zeltzman also taught Monty Zucker as i understand it. Who also passed reciently.

Funny how direct the connections between leaders in any field are. You wonder if it's because like people are drawn to each other or there is some sort of flame being passed.

With as many people attending seminars and not becoming famous you'd have to conclude the former but a great speaker is a joy to hear.

Dean Collins was another one of those guys. Maybe it's because they were more about sharing than selling tupperware, eh?