Help with lighting.

[Paul Swift]

Hi All,

I am having problems lighting a white background.

I have a large white cloth background and two 400watt lastolite lights from the Lumin 8 range – I bought the package from Mark Cleghorn.

I am not a big fan of the white background but it seems to be what I am asked for more often than not, even when I suggest sometime else.

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

[tenchy]

I think most here use two lights one each side of the white BG.
I guess that then leaves you with none for the subject?
Some have used one though. I don't know studio lights myself, but I guess a powerful one may be OK?

[Chris Hawkins]

You probably need to be clearer about the specific problem.

[Paul Swift]

I can get an even light onto my subjects, but the cloth behind ends up looks just like a cloth with creases here and there and not and empty background.

It does seem like I need more lights.:sulk:

[chaz]

You need to light the background separately, the subject requires their own lighting in cases like this.

[tenchy]

That's why I went for a black background :)
Need to keep the light off that, so cheaper!! LOL

[Garry_Edwards]

Well, if you must use a white background the trick is to

1. Light it separately, it's a separate subject
2. Light it evenly, the more even the lighting the lower the lighting power you need to use
3. It needs to be overexposed relative to the subject, but keep the level of overexposure to the bare minimum - a half stop is enough
4. Have as much distance between the main subject and the background as possible, the more distance you have, the less likelyhood there is of unwanted light reflected from the background bouncing onto the subject and degrading the fine detail, lowering contrast and creating flare.

See these videos on the Lencarta website
Photographing against a white background (http://www.lencarta.com/2009051174/video-backgrounds/index.php)
Photographing on a white background (http://www.lencarta.com/2009051177/video-on-white-background/index.php)

[Paul Swift]

Thanks Garry, that’s great. Not keen on the white myself, but what the customer wants………….

What backgrounds do you prefer? I remember you saying your not keen on black either.

[Garry_Edwards]

Thanks Garry, that’s great. Not keen on the white myself, but what the customer wants………….

What backgrounds do you prefer? I remember you saying your not keen on black either.

I don't like white because, unless it's done realy well (and it rarely is) there is usually a loss of contrast and often lens flare and destruction of fine detail e.g. hair. Also, both white and black backgrounds make the subject look as if they've been pasted on, in other words the shot looks two dimensional simply because there is no sense of perspective.

I think one of the things that may have driven the 'Venture' lack of style, with flat lighting and white backgrounds, is that it's just so easy to do, or at least it is when there is plenty of space. In other words it de-skilled the job and made it possible for untrained photographers to get acceptable results. Problem is, people then want to produce the same results but without the space that's needed.

I like to use backgrounds that look real, for example roomsets, work environments - I suppose the ultimate shot of a violin maker would be to show him with tools in hand, working away in his/her workshop.