Studio Lighting question... Seperation.

[BuS_RiDeR]

So I've decided to invest in some studio lighting and a background stand... for portrait style photos.

My question is: What is the best way to light the background to enhance seperation of the subject and the background.

I will have two monolights; One as a keylight and one as a hairlight or fill light. I also have 2 continuos bulbs that are approximately the same temperature (5500K)... Would the two lamps I already have (75w contnuous) be good enough? Should I buy a different light for lighting the BG? or can I perhaps get by with a cheap seedlight aimed at the BG?

What are your suggestions and thoughts.

 

[D-B-J]

what do you mean by separation? The "general" rule is to place the subject three or four feet in front of the background. But by separation do you mean focus wise? Like sharp model and oof bg?

 

[KmH]

My question is: What is the best way to light the background to enhance seperation of the subject and the background.

There is no one best way. It depends on the lighting style you use. So there are 27 best ways. At least.

You don't always have to light the backdrop. A key is to get your subject far enough away from the backdrop, like 6-8 feet or more. Many amateur shooters don't have that kind of room.

 

[D-B-J]

My question is: What is the best way to light the background to enhance seperation of the subject and the background.

There is no one best way. It depends on the lighting style you use. So there are 27 best ways. At least.

You don't always have to light the backdrop. A key is to get your subject far enough away from the backdrop, like 6-8 feet or more. Many amateur shooters don't have that kind of room.

And it also depends on what you are aiming for. A discernable background? A light background? A darker one? Which can all depend on the subject.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

My question is: What is the best way to light the background to enhance seperation of the subject and the background.

There is no one best way. It depends on the lighting style you use. So there are 27 best ways. At least.

You don't always have to light the backdrop. A key is to get your subject far enough away from the backdrop, like 6-8 feet or more. Many amateur shooters don't have that kind of room.

Thats what I wanted to hear. Thanks.

I am looking (according to the plan in my head) to try and maintain a distance of 4-6 feet from the BG. Not sure if I can do more... but I'll give it a go when I get my equipment set up to see what my options are..

 

[kundalini]

With the addition of a reflector or two, you can do some damage (to other peoples ego) with only two lights.


However, the basic studio lighting setup I want is 5 lights. I've played with it, but more work to be done. My understanding is the following with regard to studio lighting.......

Main: Is the brightest to light your subject and sets the mood of the shot.

Fill: Is less powerful and used to fill in the shadows. The weakers the Fill, the more prominent the shadows.

Background: Directed onto the background to create separation of the subjects head. You can set it low aiming up, head height aimed straight or set high and aimed down.

Hair: Set high above and behind the subject and aimed down onto the hair. Some spill light is okay onto the shoulder, especially if the clothing is dark.

Kicker or Accent: Used on the shadowed side to add light to the hair and continue the wrap around lighting of the hair. On men it is sometimes used to "kiss" the side of the face to help define the jaw.

Of course, there are a million other ways.

 

[Derrel]

I like a "separation light" that is made from a parabolic reflector, usually an 11.5 inch 50 to 65 degree reflector, fitted with a honeycomb grid (10,20,30 degree,depending), and then a snap-on mylar diffuser, and then a set of barn doors...

The plain reflector + grid, two-piece combo often looks wayyyyyy too "hot" on the edges of the person, and looks Dave Hill-like...it is very obvious, and not subtle at all. At times, that effect can be okay or desired if what you want is really strong, obvious edge lighting....but the addition of the mylar diffuser really "tames" the light, and allows you to aim it right at the hair/shoulder/body areas from the rear or side of the set, and gives the light enough softening and diffusion that it will "match" with the light from most umbrellas or softboxes. Adding barn doors allows you to control the spread of the separation light, and to keep it from flaring the lens. This reflector + grid + diffuser + barndoors setup creates a very subtle separation light on the person or people, without drawing all the attention that just a plain reflector + grid draws.

Like Kundalini, I think a five-light setup is the basic set-up when one wants to use a separation light, especially on a group of more than two people...lighting a big swath of background is much easier with two lights than with one.

If you do not have four or five studio lights, you can use a bare speedlight dialed down fairly low, or shoot a speedlight into a mostly-closed-down reflecting umbrella placed behind and off to the side, but reasonably close to the subject...that makes a somewhat decent separation light for a 1- or 2-person shot.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

Thanks guys. I am trying to soak it all in...

Anyone else?

 

[IgsEMT]

IT also depends on your background.
When I'm shooting into black, then place subject about 3-4 feet from it. When any other design-background, I place them a foot from it.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

IT also depends on your background.
When I'm shooting into black, then place subject about 3-4 feet from it. When any other design-background, I place them a foot from it.

Cool... Thanks.

 

[kundalini]

When I'm shooting into black, then place subject about 3-4 feet from it. When any other design-background, I place them a foot from it.

That seems awfully close. How do get the separation?

I think the general concensus is that 6 feet is a good start, further if possible.

 

[vtf]

Take a look at this, it might help.
Basic 3 Light Setup?AdoramaTV from Adorama Learning Center

 

[ghache]

With the addition of a reflector or two, you can do some damage (to other peoples ego) with only two lights.


However, the basic studio lighting setup I want is 5 lights. I've played with it, but more work to be done. My understanding is the following with regard to studio lighting.......

Main: Is the brightest to light your subject and sets the mood of the shot.

Fill: Is less powerful and used to fill in the shadows. The weakers the Fill, the more prominent the shadows.

Background: Directed onto the background to create separation of the subjects head. You can set it low aiming up, head height aimed straight or set high and aimed down.

Hair: Set high above and behind the subject and aimed down onto the hair. Some spill light is okay onto the shoulder, especially if the clothing is dark.

Kicker or Accent: Used on the shadowed side to add light to the hair and continue the wrap around lighting of the hair. On men it is sometimes used to "kiss" the side of the face to help define the jaw.

Of course, there are a million other ways.

+1

i never really used a kick/accent to my lightning. i will try it during my next shoot

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

Take a look at this, it might help.
Basic 3 Light Setup?AdoramaTV from Adorama Learning Center

Helpful, thanks. I've been browsing Adora,a TV alot and I never saw this before. Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[vtf]

Take a look at this, it might help.
Basic 3 Light Setup?AdoramaTV from Adorama Learning Center

Helpful, thanks. I've been browsing Adora,a TV alot and I never saw this before. Thanks for pointing it out.

You might also try this guy
How To…
I signed up and got his posing and light set up manual at no cost, it was helpful.