I took to pictures of my daughter lastnight and used 500watt halogen shop lights, they were awful...Is there anyway to use these lights for pictures, but add something more to the scene or to the lights to make great photos? I would like to have some kind of light for different moods in the photo. How can this be done? I`m needing any light that will not cost alot right now, I just need something for lots of practice. I have done all of my photos outside up until now, no problem there.
Should my light be on both sides of the subject and behind?
Also I have 18-55 mm and 70-300mm Lens, are these the lenes I need to make good pic of people?
Canon Digital Rebel
2006-11-26 02:23:48 · 5 answers · asked by Sandra♥ 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
Most Photography books will tell you to take portraits at 50,85 or 100mm. Usually the Prime lens the Author Liked Best. 55mm on your rebel is the Equivalent of 88mm on a film camera. Which should work fine. If you feel like you have to get in her face to get the shot you want, use the larger lens.
Halogen Lights are very harsh or direct and will give sharp shadows. They also look brighter than they are. You can feel like you are blinding the subject, and still have just enough light to shoot without a tripod.
Get creative and diffuse the lights; white Sheets in front of the light, or bounce them off a white wall.
As for where to position lights, entire books are written just on that, & it depends on the mood you want.
Find a portrait you like the look/feeling of (not the model) and then look at the Black in the Models Eyes.
You should be able to tell where the Flashes were when the picture was taken.
High to low, right in front or off to one side. Most of the time you'll see multiple highlights from multiple diffused flashes.
Try as best you can to approximate,
and Practice/play around with it. Your using digital. Take a shot with the lights in a dozen different places and a few different homemade diffusers.
Pick your favorite couple settings and use those for a 'real' photo shoot.
Good Luck!
2006-11-26 15:14:56 · answer #1 · answered by Ben T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is the set up I have used for many years. 200mm open up to your largest f/stop. Get a hand held shop light (the ones that takes a bulb) not the fluorescent type. Get your self a 12" reflector, not too much $$ at a local camera shop. You might need to find a local camera shop for it, get one that is gold on one side and silver on the other. You can do this without extra people to help you. The shop light should have a hook on it so you can hang it up. Put your camera on a tripod, use the timer setting, and hold the reflector by your self and aim the light at your subject. Also, don't be too shy to use the 50mm setting. Seems like too many people are hooked on the large lenses. ++++++ However, if you have some extra cash, buy yourself a high quality canon 50mm lens. Trust me on this one. The zoom lenses just can not replace the quality of the set lenses. You will be amazed at the difference in the quality of the shots. I have the zooms, however, nothing comes close to my 50mm lens. It is just manufactured to different specs and is amazing how the pictures just pop off the paper with the 50mm.
2006-11-26 02:50:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let's start with the focal length of the lenses...the most flattering for portraits is 85 - 90 mm, so your 70 - 300 set at 90 would be ideal...lighting is all about mood..;for basic portrait lighting, I would recommend one light, set a little higher, and three quarters on to the subject, with a white reflector set on the other side to illuminate the other side of the face..pose the subject so he/she is not directly straight on to the camera I.E turned slightly around, and experiment with slight modifications to the posing..as your photos get better, you can become more adventurous, and add a hair light etc. hope this helps
2006-11-26 02:43:12 · answer #3 · answered by murphy51024 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From photography and DSLR camera basics right through to advanced techniques used by the professionals, this course will quickly and easily get your photography skills focused! Go here https://tr.im/ZbMXr
By the end of this course you will have developed an instinctive skill-for-life that will enable you to capture truly stunning photos that not only amaze your friends and family... but could also open the doors to a brand new career.
2016-04-22 17:03:34 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you are using shop lights you should also do a custom white balance to get the best results.
2006-11-26 06:41:26 · answer #5 · answered by mark_stagi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋