Lighting tips needed

Sparkle · 12-25-2010, 04:34 AM

Maybe you can lift the top of the Grand to avoid any problem. Your comments are noted but you may be respected for asking to preview and test sometime before the actual day of your assignment. Good results are normally the product of hard work not laziness. A possible problem of bouncing the light is that the colour of whatever the light is bounced from will likely affect your subject(s). Like the green cast so frequently seen in portraits where the subject is under a tree for example. So, IMO, you must view the conditions and do some testing before the appointed day. Good luck.

Shaggydog · 12-28-2010, 06:17 AM

Start with the most difficult part of your photo - the black grand piano. Your room should be dark or very dimly lit. Gradually add your lighting watching to see how it reflects from the piano. You can add to your equipment by making large rectangles of different widths from 3/4" PVC pipe, then stretching and taping white or black paper on them. Bouncing light off the white will give you controlled large areas of reflection; the black will help to reduce light where not wanted. Avoid direct lighting. Once you have composed the piano, add the young lady and concentrate on the light falling on her. For a senior portrait, the piano should not be dominant, but play a supporting role.

mel · 12-28-2010, 09:52 AM

Well it's over and the piano kicked my butt. Basically it was in a repurposed dining room, windows with white miniblinds on two walls, wainscoting on the lower walls, and a chandelier (casual in style). I could only get about 2-3 feet away from it on 3 sides. I think we got some that she'll be happy with but ideally, it would be nice if the piano was on a stage with movable stage curtains all around and absolute control of the lighting. Alas, it wasn't to be. It WAS nice, however, to be serenaded while trying to work all of this out. She does play beautifully.

That was just the piano session. We're going to have another couple sessions. She's also the drum major for her school's marching band so we're going to do a little more in-studio with her uniform and some outdoors.

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12-25-2010, 04:34 AM	#16
Sparkle Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,521	Maybe you can lift the top of the Grand to avoid any problem. Your comments are noted but you may be respected for asking to preview and test sometime before the actual day of your assignment. Good results are normally the product of hard work not laziness. A possible problem of bouncing the light is that the colour of whatever the light is bounced from will likely affect your subject(s). Like the green cast so frequently seen in portraits where the subject is under a tree for example. So, IMO, you must view the conditions and do some testing before the appointed day. Good luck.

12-28-2010, 06:17 AM	#17
Shaggydog New Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New York State Posts: 3	Start with the most difficult part of your photo - the black grand piano. Your room should be dark or very dimly lit. Gradually add your lighting watching to see how it reflects from the piano. You can add to your equipment by making large rectangles of different widths from 3/4" PVC pipe, then stretching and taping white or black paper on them. Bouncing light off the white will give you controlled large areas of reflection; the black will help to reduce light where not wanted. Avoid direct lighting. Once you have composed the piano, add the young lady and concentrate on the light falling on her. For a senior portrait, the piano should not be dominant, but play a supporting role.

12-28-2010, 09:52 AM	#18
mel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,531 Original Poster	Well it's over and the piano kicked my butt. Basically it was in a repurposed dining room, windows with white miniblinds on two walls, wainscoting on the lower walls, and a chandelier (casual in style). I could only get about 2-3 feet away from it on 3 sides. I think we got some that she'll be happy with but ideally, it would be nice if the piano was on a stage with movable stage curtains all around and absolute control of the lighting. Alas, it wasn't to be. It WAS nice, however, to be serenaded while trying to work all of this out. She does play beautifully. That was just the piano session. We're going to have another couple sessions. She's also the drum major for her school's marching band so we're going to do a little more in-studio with her uniform and some outdoors.

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