It’s “Tricky Tuesday,” a way for me to share some of the tricks, tips and techniques I’ve used over the years when shooting portraits in the studio. Last Thursday’s post was about making portraits using continuous light, a frequent topic on this blog but using light bulbs. Today we continue with part 2 of this theme of using this simplest and least expensive light source while celebrating yjr International Day of Awesomeness.
Today’s Post by Joe Farace
“I didn’t know what time it was, then I met you.”– Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
The International Day of Awesomeness, is celebrated on March 10 and is a day where anybody, no matter who they are, may celebrate their awesomeness. No one is perfect, to be sure. Everyone is amazing in their own way. Use this day to share the joy by telling others how wonderful they are! One of the most awesome models I’ve ever worked with is Pam Simpson, who is featured in today’s post.
Light is Light
A wise photographer once told me the above quote about lighting. The most important characteristics of any studio lighting setup are the quality, quantity, direction and color of the output. The kind of hardware you decide to use has an impact on these aspects and the quality of the light can further be affected by using light modifiers. This is just as true when talking about continuous lighting as it is about electronic flash.
Continuous lighting is “on” continuously, much like the sun, enabling you to use your camera’s built-in light meter to measure the light that’s falling on your subject. Because these kinds of lights can be relatively inexpensive, they are a good starting point for anyone wanting to shoot portraits on a budget.
Continuous studio lighting sources typically use quartz or photoflood bulbs that can be hot for both photographer and subject leading to them being described as “hot lights.” For a while fluorescent lighting kits were popular; they were inexpensive and did a good job but…Although CFL bulbs may be safely recycled, they’ve fallen out of ecological fashion and lighting systems, like the Westcott D5 that Ive used before, are no longer available. An increasing number of newer continuous lighting kits are being offered that use LED lighting sources producing what might be called “cool hot lights.” But what about using light bulbs as a light source? Light bulbs! Yup, today’s portrait was made using two LED light bulbs from Home Depot and…
…Gary Fong’s $44.95 Lightbulb Adapter Kit contains the company’s Lightsphere Adapter that, for this portrait, was mounted on a Light Socket Adapter with an AC power plug attached. The Adapter is compatible with Fong’s Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount and fits atop any lightstand. When paired with a Lightsphere Collapsible Speed Mount Diffuser and an LED light bulb, according to Fong, produces “true-to-life skin tones.” When the Light bulb Adapter Kit is paired with a SpeedSnoot, the result is a spotlight effect that’s useful for adding impact to a background.
How I made this portrait: I photographed the awesome Pam Simpson using two LED light bulbs. (See lighting setup above right.) She was photographed against a Savage Economy Background Support Stand using their white backdrop. One Gary Fong Light Bulb Adapter is placed at camera left between the subject and white backdrop. The other Light bulb Adapter is at camera right with the Fong Speed Snoot and grid attached and used a color-controlled LED light bulb (set on magenta) so the only part of Pam’s face is in natural color with colored light spilling on her neck and arm. The camera used was a Canon EOS 60D with EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens with an exposure of 1/60 sec at f/2 and ISO 800 with a minus two-thirds stop exposure compensation.
If you want to try some studio lighting techniques for your next portrait without going broke give Gary Fong’s products–this is not a sponsored post–a try and visit your local Home Depot or Loews for some LED bulbs and make some portraits.
If you enjoyed today’s blog post and would like to treat me to a cup of Earl Grey tea ($2.50), please click here. And if you do, thanks so much.
My book Joe Farace’s Glamour Photography is full of tips, tools and techniques for glamour and boudoir photography and includes information on all of the cameras used as well as the complete exposure data for each image. New copies are available for $39.65 with used books starting around thirteen bucks.as I write this. The Kindle version is $19.99 for those preferring a digital format.