Lighting Workshop

[benjikan]

Originally Posted by Christian

I read your article. Very interesting.

Funnily enough I used to read Citizen K a few years ago whilst at college. I was really blown away by .. well everything about the magazine really.. I haven't seen a copy in years. I'll look out for it again.. not seen it in any shops in London recently though...

I think there are many similarly cutting edge/independent magazines nowadays too hey. And with many differing styles too. For example, as well as your type of 'haute couture/fine art photography'? I also enjoy the kind you see in magazines such as Vice. More raw/'real' stuff... I'm a big fan of a Martin Parr type style being used in fashion photography for example. I don't know how technically talented these photographers are compared to you... but it's achieving photographs that can be thought of as art that's important like you say.

I have been shooting quite a bit for a couple of UK Trendy Mags one is "Issue One" magazine and the other is "All Access". The UK produces some of the most cutting edge Fashion Mags in the world. Look at "ID" for example or "Dazed and Confused" and "Wallpaper"...So ahead of their time.

[benjikan]

Originally Posted by davemdsn

A lighting tip for those with tight budgets (or no budget, like me).

I have 5 lights, only one of them was expensive and that was the Pentax 540fgz. The others are; one Vivitar 285HV ($40 used), two Vivitar 283(s) (under $40 used), and one K-Mart Focal brand flash. I have three light stands and about 5 umbrellas.

The key is, you can have a 3 light set up for around $100 if you do it right. Light modifiers and extras can come later. You don't need lots of money to get started, just some great ideas like the ones Ben is sharing.

You could go to your local hardware store and buy 3 or 4 garden lights i.e. 250 watt Halogens and get "Full Blue" Gelatin to correct for Daylight and "Voila" a real studio set up. They go for about 20 to 35 € each with stands included. You could build your own "Barn Doors, "Wire Hanger" Gel Holders so they don't burn on contact with the heat of the lamp, Snoots etc. You could even design your own honeycomb grids. By having these and your little flash units, the "SKY" is the limit. My still life were shot with the "Pilot Lights (Modeling Lights) of the flash units only and they are about 150 watts each. I didn't even directly light the product. I reflected the light using Home Make aluminum foil reflectors..What do you think all that expensive stuff comes from? Guys like me who experiment and make up new stuff to play with light. Light is Light...Just find ways to manipulate it, play with it and use it..

PS..I didn't use any Umbrella's. What you see in the illustration is the what I used. The bowl of the flash units only.

[Christian]

Thanks for the cheap lighting tips!

Are you sure you wouldn't like us to turn up in Paris Benjamin? Just think of all those vacuum packed meat offerings.....

[benjikan]

Originally Posted by Christian

Thanks for the cheap lighting tips!

Are you sure you wouldn't like us to turn up in Paris Benjamin? Just think of all those vacuum packed meat offerings.....

I am in the process of finding a new agent and my plate is more than full...Thanks for the offer but...

[j-pol]

what happened to this online workshop thing? i would love to learn more... thanks benjikan for the tutorials.

[meremonkey]

Originally Posted by benjikan

Ok send me Four pounds of Vacuum packed Pastrami to Paris..We have lousy Pastrami and we can begin negotiating..

Forget the pastrami, how about some real Montreal smoked meat from Schwartzs?

[benjikan]

Originally Posted by j-pol

what happened to this online workshop thing? i would love to learn more... thanks benjikan for the tutorials.

If you want to ask a question, you may wish to cite some examples to refer to when posing the question.

Ben

[theprisoner6]

I've enjoyed this thread quite a bit.. Thank you Ben.

I've never tried any lighting other than natural (do overhead tungsten bulbs count as natural). I am interested in starting to play more with lighting - play leading to actually getting good at reading what needs to be lit and how.

I have one light so far, a surplus CBC halogen studio light with barn doors, but I've been using it as a work light.

My specific questions are: How did you light these three shots?

Islam

Orthodox Close Up

Christian Cover


(particularly the last one - the placement and purity of the light is... well... wow!)

[MShawn63]

I would love to learn more about lighting. Thank you for your generous offer.