Please Critique My Lighting Setup

mattrickman · 03-05-2009, 09:18 PM

OK.. I am going for a very flat lighting setup for some full body portraits I am doing. These are for an internal "ad" campaign. I am using 2 AF360's on the side (at 1/8th power, shot into a silver reflective umbrella) and a AF540 Right above the camera shot through a westcott white umbrella.

My exposure is 1/160th f/8 100ISO on a K10.

Setup(the tripod represents where the subject stands)

Sample Image:

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Matt Rickman
Colorado

Saaby · 03-06-2009, 12:08 AM

That picture looks a little soft to me, but maybe it's from how much you had to downscale it?

RiceHigh · 03-06-2009, 02:04 AM

I think for best results, you should turn off most of the fluorescent lightings in your office and it is of no harm to set the highest possible shutter sync, i.e., at 1/180th sec, anyway.

Try increasing the power of your 360s and check if your subjects will look more 3d. I suggest to place the 360s in a symmetric way too instead at different height unless you're purposely to do so.

Try replace your 540 umbrella with a simple white plastic or cloth diffuser and that would increase sharpness overall.

My two cents and subjective opinions!

Originally posted by mattrickman

OK.. I am going for a very flat lighting setup for some full body portraits I am doing. These are for an internal "ad" campaign. I am using 2 AF360's on the side (at 1/8th power, shot into a silver reflective umbrella) and a AF540 Right above the camera shot through a westcott white umbrella.

My exposure is 1/160th f/8 100ISO on a K10.

Setup(the tripod represents where the subject stands)
http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t359/mattrickman/setup.jpg

Sample Image:
http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t359/mattrickman/image006.jpg

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Matt Rickman
Colorado

mattrickman · 03-06-2009, 10:48 AM

Thank you for the suggestions.

Yeah, the first one is soft because of the way I kicked out the JPG..

here is a better (sharper) example:

.

thanks again

soccerjoe5 · 03-06-2009, 11:32 AM

Looks good to me!

krypticide · 03-06-2009, 01:53 PM

Looks fine to me. You won't know until you take photos and play with the lighting ratios or more lights around.

deuces · 03-06-2009, 05:41 PM

Looks great to me, but if you're starving for info, Zach Arias did a tutorial series on white seamless, starting here:

Zack Arias - Atlanta based editorial music photographer White Seamless Tutorial :: Part 1 :: Gear & Space

03-05-2009, 09:18 PM	#1
mattrickman Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 30	Please Critique My Lighting Setup OK.. I am going for a very flat lighting setup for some full body portraits I am doing. These are for an internal "ad" campaign. I am using 2 AF360's on the side (at 1/8th power, shot into a silver reflective umbrella) and a AF540 Right above the camera shot through a westcott white umbrella. My exposure is 1/160th f/8 100ISO on a K10. Setup(the tripod represents where the subject stands) Sample Image: Thanks in advance for your feedback. Matt Rickman Colorado

03-06-2009, 02:04 AM	#3
RiceHigh Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,934	My suggestions.. I think for best results, you should turn off most of the fluorescent lightings in your office and it is of no harm to set the highest possible shutter sync, i.e., at 1/180th sec, anyway. Try increasing the power of your 360s and check if your subjects will look more 3d. I suggest to place the 360s in a symmetric way too instead at different height unless you're purposely to do so. Try replace your 540 umbrella with a simple white plastic or cloth diffuser and that would increase sharpness overall. My two cents and subjective opinions! Originally posted by mattrickman OK.. I am going for a very flat lighting setup for some full body portraits I am doing. These are for an internal "ad" campaign. I am using 2 AF360's on the side (at 1/8th power, shot into a silver reflective umbrella) and a AF540 Right above the camera shot through a westcott white umbrella. My exposure is 1/160th f/8 100ISO on a K10. Setup(the tripod represents where the subject stands) http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t359/mattrickman/setup.jpg Sample Image: http://i515.photobucket.com/albums/t359/mattrickman/image006.jpg Thanks in advance for your feedback. Matt Rickman Colorado

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03-06-2009, 12:08 AM	#2
Saaby Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 70	That picture looks a little soft to me, but maybe it's from how much you had to downscale it?

03-06-2009, 10:48 AM	#4
mattrickman Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 30 Original Poster	Thank you for the suggestions. Yeah, the first one is soft because of the way I kicked out the JPG.. here is a better (sharper) example: . thanks again

03-06-2009, 11:32 AM	#5
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	Looks good to me!

03-06-2009, 01:53 PM	#6
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Looks fine to me. You won't know until you take photos and play with the lighting ratios or more lights around.

03-06-2009, 05:41 PM	#7
deuces Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 168	Looks great to me, but if you're starving for info, Zach Arias did a tutorial series on white seamless, starting here: Zack Arias - Atlanta based editorial music photographer White Seamless Tutorial :: Part 1 :: Gear & Space