Studio photographers are known for their use of lighting, whether the person viewing the photos know it or not. The reason is that they use a variety of expensive, brilliant lighting units and know how to place them. Yet thanks largely to the computer and Adobe Photoshop, there are many ways to make good photos without spending a lot on lighting.
Function
Photography is all about lighting. From the first cameras that only could shoot in bright sunlight to the explosive magnesium powder of the first flash units to today's high-tech strobes, lighting is what makes the photo. Too much light washes things out; too little and the image is hard to see. Most modern consumer cameras have overcome this problem close up by using built-in or "fill" flash.
Types
A good set of studio lights for photography will be expensive. These are great, but if you are not a pro who needs this to make a lot of money, the cost is not worth it. So what is in all of these set-ups? Well, lights, of course--but also diffusion screens, light stands and slave units for multiple flash units. Most of this can be done simply and economically.
Considerations
You need white light for most photos. Fluorescent lights tend to give a sickly green look to photos, and regular light bulbs make a dark orange glow. While these can be used for special effects, most people don't want portraits of their kids taken in lighting that makes them look ill. White light, such as from color-corrected halogen bulbs or LEDs, gives clean, crisp images. These can be purchased at department or hardware stores inexpensively. There are stand-alone units and lights with reflectors that attach to anything with clamps. For a basic set-up, about four will do. Two will be used to either side of the camera, while the other two will be behind the subject but not in the shot.
Effects
To get a softer look, photographers use diffusers. These can either be placed on their camera or slave flash units, or bigger ones can be used across studio lighting. The same can be done with cheaper lighting. Nearly any white translucent fabric will do. It needs to be relatively thin to allow the lighting through, but not so thin that it allows harsh light to get through. This can be attached with tape or hung in front of the lights. Be careful not to have the material touch the lights, because especially with halogen, the heat could be a fire hazard.
Geography
The cheapest lighting, of course, is natural light. While it cannot be controlled, it can be used wisely. Sunlight is best if filtered through clouds because the clouds act as diffusers. When shooting in bright sunlight, make sure the sun is to one side of both you and the subject. If it's behind the photographer, it will cause glare on the subject. If it's behind the subject, it will throw off the exposure.
Considerations
You can use indoor light, too. Most digital cameras have light sensitivity settings that can be adjusted, just like with film types, for the light available. If it's a dark room, use a higher sensitivity. Move the lighting to make the best photo. If your subject is a family sitting on a couch, try to have a ceiling light on and/or lights of equal brightness on either end of the couch. A photo manipulation program such as Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements will allow you to make color, brightness and other corrections later, but only to a certain point. A really dark scene can be punched up, but it will lose quality and tend to be filled with "noise" that is hard to get rid of in software.
Studio photographers are known for their use of lighting, whether the person viewing the photos know it or not. The reason is that they use a variety of expensive, brilliant lighting units and know how to place them. Yet thanks largely to the computer and Adobe Photoshop, there are many ways to make good photos without spending a lot on lighting.
Function
Photography is all about lighting. From the first cameras that only could shoot in bright sunlight to the explosive magnesium powder of the first flash units to today's high-tech strobes, lighting is what makes the photo. Too much light washes things out; too little and the image is hard to see. Most modern consumer cameras have overcome this problem close up by using built-in or "fill" flash.
Types
A good set of studio lights for photography will be expensive. These are great, but if you are not a pro who needs this to make a lot of money, the cost is not worth it. So what is in all of these set-ups? Well, lights, of course--but also diffusion screens, light stands and slave units for multiple flash units. Most of this can be done simply and economically.
Considerations
You need white light for most photos. Fluorescent lights tend to give a sickly green look to photos, and regular light bulbs make a dark orange glow. While these can be used for special effects, most people don't want portraits of their kids taken in lighting that makes them look ill. White light, such as from color-corrected halogen bulbs or LEDs, gives clean, crisp images. These can be purchased at department or hardware stores inexpensively. There are stand-alone units and lights with reflectors that attach to anything with clamps. For a basic set-up, about four will do. Two will be used to either side of the camera, while the other two will be behind the subject but not in the shot.
Effects
To get a softer look, photographers use diffusers. These can either be placed on their camera or slave flash units, or bigger ones can be used across studio lighting. The same can be done with cheaper lighting. Nearly any white translucent fabric will do. It needs to be relatively thin to allow the lighting through, but not so thin that it allows harsh light to get through. This can be attached with tape or hung in front of the lights. Be careful not to have the material touch the lights, because especially with halogen, the heat could be a fire hazard.
Geography
The cheapest lighting, of course, is natural light. While it cannot be controlled, it can be used wisely. Sunlight is best if filtered through clouds because the clouds act as diffusers. When shooting in bright sunlight, make sure the sun is to one side of both you and the subject. If it's behind the photographer, it will cause glare on the subject.
Enhance your photography skill,The Top Secret Photography Techniques
. If it's behind the subject, it will throw off the exposure.Considerations
You can use indoor light, too. Most digital cameras have light sensitivity settings that can be adjusted, just like with film types, for the light available. If it's a dark room, use a higher sensitivity. Move the lighting to make the best photo. If your subject is a family sitting on a couch, try to have a ceiling light on and/or lights of equal brightness on either end of the couch. A photo manipulation program such as Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements will allow you to make color, brightness and other corrections later, but only to a certain point. A really dark scene can be punched up, but it will lose quality and tend to be filled with "noise" that is hard to get rid of in software.
Strobist
www.strobist.blogspot.com
The world's most popular free resource for learning how to use off-camera flash.
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