FDPiech
3rd October 2006, 12:43 PM
I made up this sheet this weekend for my cheet book showing all of my gels on the same background for me to use as a reference. Just passing it along.
Gels are gelatin filter sheets used over light sources to either correct the light balance or create dramatic lighting effects. They are also used to change colors of backgrounds and there are diffusion gels to help with diffusing light. Gels can be taped to a reflector or placed in frames and mounted to the reflector or light source.
Here is an example of a reasonably neutral background without gels and then with each of the gels included in the Alien Bee filter pack.
As you can see, if you are limited on backgrounds and are interested in matching outfits to your backgrounds, gels can be a great way to accomplish this.
The only trick in working with gels is to keep your main and fill lights from spilling on the backgrounds and contaminating the effects of the gel on your background light. You will never get true, vivid colors if your main and fill are washing out the effect of the gel.
Obviously, you can mix two gels together if you have two background lights or stack them to achieve the combined results of the two colors.
Hopefully, this will prove helpful to some of you.
All taken within minutes of each other. Subject lighting 1/125@f11 - Brolly Left - Silver Umbrella Right - Background Light at Camera Left
Gels are gelatin filter sheets used over light sources to either correct the light balance or create dramatic lighting effects. They are also used to change colors of backgrounds and there are diffusion gels to help with diffusing light. Gels can be taped to a reflector or placed in frames and mounted to the reflector or light source.
Here is an example of a reasonably neutral background without gels and then with each of the gels included in the Alien Bee filter pack.
As you can see, if you are limited on backgrounds and are interested in matching outfits to your backgrounds, gels can be a great way to accomplish this.
The only trick in working with gels is to keep your main and fill lights from spilling on the backgrounds and contaminating the effects of the gel on your background light. You will never get true, vivid colors if your main and fill are washing out the effect of the gel.
Obviously, you can mix two gels together if you have two background lights or stack them to achieve the combined results of the two colors.
Hopefully, this will prove helpful to some of you.
All taken within minutes of each other. Subject lighting 1/125@f11 - Brolly Left - Silver Umbrella Right - Background Light at Camera Left