24 June 2008
TWIP Podcast Episode #35 - Studio Lighting Part II - Portrait Lighting
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Scott under:
Video Podcast
Episode #35 is a video episode called Portrait Lighting. It’s the second in my series on studio lighting and shows you how you can make a portrait with just one light. You can download it in the stream or at Pixelcorps.tv.
NOTE: This is NOT intended to be an all-inclusive video tutorial. Just the opposite. It’s only purpose is to get you thinking and following along as I very briefly demonstrate how to use studio lights. There are MANY things I could teach more deeply, and will. But that is going to require time and production costs that will need to be covered, so I’ll either do a full-featured training for my friends at lynda.com or we’ll do some sort of subscription model here. For now, enjoy the free video.
This post sponsored by Lensbabies.
14 Comments so far...
Jared White Says:
24 June 2008 at 8:33 pm.
That was a great overview of how to do a simple lighting setup. I’ve only done some experimentation with daylight coming through the window with a reflector thus far, so I’m anxious to try my hand at some artificial lighting setups. The “feathering” tip was particularly helpful!
Jason Says:
24 June 2008 at 9:17 pm.
Cool info here on model lighting Scott. I also just finished watching a video done over at ProPhotolife on product photography lighting at their site - it seems lighting is definitely the “hot” subject lately for podcasters, bloggers, and the rest. I even fell victim on my blog, doing a bit about the ST-E2 for Canons. Kind of interesting to see what topics reverberate across the blogosphere - it definitely seems as though lighting is one that will stay in the spotlight for a while (pardon the pun). Thanks again for doing all you do.
Brad Capote Says:
24 June 2008 at 9:50 pm.
Great overview Scott!
I was thinking about buying a setup to use my 430EX off camera with an umbrella, for on location portraits, and thanks to this video demonstrating how to get good portrait lighting using only one light, you have made me feel confident in my plan!! Thanks again for this great video!
-Brad C.
David Says:
24 June 2008 at 10:22 pm.
Ha Scott, nice video…..But, I must correct you on one major thing you stated in the video. You sid that the closer the light is to the umbrella the softer the light is. I’m afraid that is actually reverse. As you yourself have stated the softness of the light is effect by the apparent size to subject. IE to a 3 inch model car, a 2.5×4 inch flash head is huge and hence the light will be really soft.
So, when you are using a shoot through umbrella, the closer to the umbrella the light gets, the less of the umbrella is used and hence the smaller the apparent size of the light source is to the subject. The further away you move the light from the umbrella, the more of the umbrella is used and the larger the light source will appear to the image.
But, who am I (a wanna be Pro) to correct anyone…..So I will let the master of the Flash say it all when it comes to Shoot Through Umbrellas, Dave Hobby of Strobist
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/03/rethinking-umbrella.html
Scott Says:
24 June 2008 at 10:41 pm.
@David I will have to watch what I said again - I don’t use a script so it’s possible I could have misspoken. I have very limited bandwidth this week so I won’t get to it until later. If I made a mistake I will correct it. Thanks.
Rikki / UXXV Says:
25 June 2008 at 6:02 am.
Very, very impressed Scott!
Ive been using studio flash heads for a good number of years and wish I’d had this kind of help when I was starting out. Clear, concise and straight to the point!
Chris Patterson Says:
25 June 2008 at 11:58 am.
I see this is part 2. Where is Part 1?
Scott Says:
25 June 2008 at 2:51 pm.
@David you are right. I can’t watch the video where I am but someone I trust did and sure enough I thought one thing but said another. I regret the error. I’ll wait to do the third segment so we can buy a TelePrompTer. That way I can script it out ahead of time to help reduce errors.
Thanks David for catching the error.
Tony Says:
27 June 2008 at 11:53 am.
So I have two questions. Scott you stated early on in the video that you chose the ISO value. What did you set it to? And secondly I noticed that when you used the light meter you triggered the flash. How did you do this? Am I missing something?
Thanks,
T
Stephen Cupp Says:
1 July 2008 at 8:50 am.
Tony,
He probably has a module in the light meter that triggers the lights via the pocket wizards.
Scott Says:
1 July 2008 at 8:57 am.
@Tony sorry I didn’t see your question. Yes Stephen is right. I am using a Pocket Wizard module that is designed to work with my light meter. It’s a convenient way to go and avoids the need for a bunch of wires.
Scott in Delaware Says:
10 July 2008 at 12:20 pm.
Scott. Helpful video. I do have a couple of comments. First, I wish you had said more about the position of the reflector. Second, I think it would be helpful to give some examples of images comparing some of the points you were talking about. For example, the same basic shot with and without the reflector. Another example would be with the umbrella at different distances from the model.
Thanks.
Ben Hughes Says:
10 July 2008 at 9:20 pm.
Very helpful indeed. As much as I’ve read about lighting setups, seeing it makes so much more sense.
Glad David picked up on your mis-speaking… was doing my head in for a little while 
Thanks for all your fantastic content.
Ben
