Photographic lighting…?
Hey all!
Basically i have been taking photographs for the last couple of years. I have a nikon D80 Digital SLR and i am wanting to learn the basics in photographic lighting for a studio situation. I have tried looking for courses and what not but i cant seem to find a thing about lighting.
Is there another way to get the basics of lighting down without doing a course? I know experimenting is the best thing but i need a bit of knowledge of different kinds of lights ect.
If anyone has any ideas or advice please let me know, i would be very greatful!
Thanks, Kyle.
Try your local library. They will have books on photography, including lighting. Many libraries also acccept “purchase requests” if you see a book about lighting you cannot afford – ask the library to buy it for their collection- so you can read it free. Libraries also carry magazines…like Popular Photography, Shutterbug, etc. some even let you request magazine suscriptions, as with books.
Another source is your local bookstore. Many bookstores now have a coffeeshop. So get a magazine or photo book, sit down and read for an hour or so. Take notes, then go use what you learned.
However, the best advice? GO play!
Set things up, and take pictures. Adjust your angles, shoot again.
Hey, you have a very nice digital camera. It doesn’t even cost you to develop any film!!! Get spare batteries, and get shooting! If you have trouble remembering what you did last shot, make a sketch, and number it. Put a small or large ‘number board’ in the picture. Now you can refer back to the sketch, as well as the library book.
Instead of buying half a dozen Expensive Nikon flashes, get some cheapies on Ebay and buy slave triggers. Now your camera flash will set them off too. Then you can decide if you want to go the complete Nikon way. For your main flash, I suggest a top model from Nikon – mostly for the set of features. But also look into the top Sigma unit. Be sure you research the features of both. You would be very sad to discover that the Sigma did not trigger your remote NIKON flashes. I do not know for sure…check your local camera store, or order from a place that accept returns. Any flash will trigger slave units attached to flashes, unless you cover up the light sensor.
Some cameras use a coded flash that tell the remote to shut down. Nikon main flash and Nikon remotes-current models- will work great together. Electronically controlled by the in-camera light sensor. Not sure if a Sigma main would send out the exact signal.
If you use the cheapie flashes, then the only control you have is -when- the remotes fire. The flash settings and distances from the subject or background cloth, are all up to you and your best guess. Again, Go play!!! That’s how you lean!!!
After all, you got Digital!!!!!
Oh, don’t forget. Use some of the…ok, use as many as you can get..of the free photo programs on the internet for adjusting light levels, croppping, etc. Look up Picasa, Kodak, and more, for adjustments after you take the pictures.
But go take the pictures! You will learn from your goodies as well as your mistakes.
How to set up studio lighting
|
|
Understanding the Canon Speedlite 580EX II/430EX II $29.99 Sla 12v 18ahupg 85977/d5745 sealed lead acid batteries (12v; 18 ah; ub12180). Specs: used in ups backup systems, spotlights, flashlights, exit lighting & other equipment; 12v; 18 ah; ub12180. Refurb: n. Returnable: y. Warranty: one year……. |
|
|
Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography $24.99 Visions of Light is not just for film buffs. In fact, if the presentation of the Oscar for Best Cinematography is your cue to take a bathroom break from the Academy Awards, then this exhilarating documentary will help you see movies in a whole new light. Named Best Documentary by the National Society of Film Critics as well as several film-critic associations, Visions of Light traces the history a… |
|
|
Nikon School presents A Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting $32.95 Kit includes:♦ 1) Nikon School – A Hands-on Guide to Creative Lighting DVDLearn how to make light work for you with the power and versatility of the Nikon Creative Lighting System, featuring the SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600 and SB-R200. Nikon Speed lights deliver the ability to turn an ordinary subject into a striking image or even into a stunning work of art. Included in this edition of a… |
|
|
Fashion Flair for Portrait and Wedding Photography $19.99 Fashion Flair for Portrait and Wedding Photography teaches photographers how to take the concepts of fashion photography (including preparation, styling, props, lighting, posing and post-processing) and apply these techniques to their portrait and wedding photography. By adding fashion flair to their work, photographers can distinguish themselves from their competition and demand a higher price fo… |
|
|
Fashion Photography: A Complete Guide to the Tools and Techniques of the Trade $18.72 Fashion photography is glamorous. Fashion photography is hot. Fashion photography pays well! Now is the time to get into fashion photography, and thereâs no better way to learn all the tricks and tips of this trade than Fashion Photography. Insider Bruce Smith explores every aspect of fashion photography, from high-end couture and beauty for both editorial and commercial clients, to runway, s… |
|
|
Portrait Photography: Secrets of Posing & Lighting (A Lark Photography Book) $14.41 With easy-to-follow instructions and detailed photo sequences showing how to arrange lights and lighting accessories, this carefully structured course teaches all the fundamentals of portraiture, as well as a host of other creative techniques. It sets out everything the amateur needs to know to create a wide range of styles, from choosing the right equipment to composing the background to placing … |
Here Are Some Other Continuous Lighting Related Sites For You to Browse
Flickr: Discussing Continuous Lighting in Studio Lighting On A ...
Gadgets: Ebay Photos Look Professional with a Light Box
photography_beginners : Messages : 65147-65176 of 68580
Landscape encyclopedia topics | Reference.com
Seeking South Beach Serenity - WSJ.com
Flickr: Discussing putting continuous lighting into a softbox in Studio ...
Flickr: Discussing Continuous light for studio fashion catalog in ...
Strobe or continuous lighting for studio work - YouTube
New camera pushes limits of digital photography - CNN.com
Take Your Own School Pictures
