Learning to light?

Hugh_C

Any suggestions from the pros or people like Fajitas who have done courses?

HughC - light illiterate

Fajitas!

Howdy - Haven't done a course myself, but have spent enough time working in the studio

Probably the best way is to jump right in - Rent out a studio for an hour, and get them t show you the basics, as in, hard and soft lighting, figure lights, hair lights and background lighting, different diffusers and so on.

It's easy to spend ages in a studio, and even easier to get good results. It's all a matter of playing - Starting off simple (Say, one very large soft source from a 30 x 60 softbox, or one very hard directional source, like a snoot. Plenty of time to get more and more complicated from there.

Grabbing a model is probably gonna be your hardest part if you're not in a club, but then again, that's where kids come in handy

There's quite a good book, called "Photographing People" - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Photographing-People-Portraits-Fashion-Pro-lighting/dp/2880466520

With some great setups in it - Bear in mind to get the softcover version of it though! No point in spending the extra few bob not to be able to squeeze it into your bag. It has a pretty complete dictionary of lighting, sources and diffusers, along with a source of loads of different photoshoots, which are broken down into brief, lights used, how they were set up, camera used, exif data/film notes and all the rest, and a 3D diagram of how the lights were set up.

ThOnda

Well, you could get a lot of information from Strobist ( - google it).

Placebo

there is an AMAZING dvd called one light, its so good it costs 250-300 $

Fajitas!

That good?

*adds to list for library to pick up*

Edit: Just checked out the trailers there, looks good, but I'll be sending it in for the college library to pick up, rather than splashing out myself!

YogiBear

www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157600003952521/

www.strobist.blogspot.com/

Fajitas!

I'd reccommend playing around in a studio with proper lights first... Much more user friendly, and you'll get a better idea of lighting, having more control over it.

I'm sure the Strobist-extremists will hang me for suggesting that though.

sineadw

I did my first studio shoot a few weeks ago Hugh, and I'd second Faj on this completely. Not that I really know what I'm talking about here I felt I learned more in the few hours of actually shooting and moving the lights around and just playing with them than any amount of theory would have taught me to begin with. Now I know the practise a bit more I'll be looking for the theory stuff to move on.

Its also brilliant fun

mobileblog

I’ve just started to get into this recently. The strobist blog is very informative and the flickr pool is great for skimming through to see the results.
I’m doing a basic photography night class at the moment and have just been watching a few videos on it, next week we’ll be messing around with some lights. So it should be interesting.

Thanks for the book link Fajitas should have it in a few days.

ttcomet

This book Light - Science and Magic is very good. But it is quite heavy on the science part so can be slow reading.

Strobist.com is very good, one advantage of the "Strobist" approach is that it is cheaper starting off.

@ThOnda you may want to remove the link before you get banned.

Placebo

Fajitas! wrote: »

That good?

*adds to list for library to pick up*

Edit: Just checked out the trailers there, looks good, but I'll be sending it in for the college library to pick up, rather than splashing out myself!

actually is very good, basically goes through utter basics of photohraphy quickly, then the exact equipment he uses and why and the alternatives, then he shoots from start showing how bad onboard flash looks etc etc then to umbrellas and you can see the setup+results

also
http://www.lighting-essentials.com/category/speedlights-and-battery-powered-lights/

ttcomet

Wizwow (the guy that runs that site) posts a lot on the strobist forum on flickr.com.

Hugh_C

thanks for the suggestions!

I'd had a look at the strobist sites and the group on flickr, but I think that's a little down the road for me. Might see about studio hire, that'd be a blast ...

mikeanywhere

Fajitas! wrote: »

That good?

Yes indeed!!

mikeanywhere

Hugh_C wrote: »

thanks for the suggestions!

I'd had a look at the strobist sites and the group on flickr, but I think that's a little down the road for me. Might see about studio hire, that'd be a blast ...

Actually using the flash is easier than you think and wont cost you a fortune in hire fees. This was my first attempt at proper Strobist and I think it came out very very well so anything is possible

AnCatDubh

Hugh_C wrote: »

thanks for the suggestions!

I'd had a look at the strobist sites and the group on flickr, but I think that's a little down the road for me. Might see about studio hire, that'd be a blast ...

I glad its not just me - can't seem to get into the strobist thing at all.

I give it a go every so often - usually when flash has just destroyed an image on me and i'm feeling frustrated with it - this maybe not the best time to approach it expecting miracles.

Now i appreciate that people come from a worshipping standpoint when it comes to strobist and i'm guessing that the reason i just don't get it is me rather than it, but nevertheless i find with 'lighting 101' that i probably need to start at -10 and it isn't available.

I've seen some fantastic results from those that attribute the final production to a strobist approach and i've seen what (only in my opinion) are dreadful concoctions which also are attributed to strobist approach.

Strobist comes from a standpoint of take your lighting off camera right? So how about anything which starts at the point where - you've just bought your first external flash and now what the heck do you do. Then with these basics right and an understanding of the wee lighting gadget terms, theory, differences to your on camera stuff, you could move on to strobist perhaps.

So i think if all the above is reasonable any recommendation for strobist should be grounded in having a little prep work and at least be at position 0 rather than -10. The only problem is - are there such prep work sites or online resources available or should anyone in that position be finding a course.

ThOnda

Well, I have read only one article, but I have watched few videos and checked(analyzed) pictures.
The basic work with light is there. I take it as exercise with lighting. There is no difference for me whether you are using flash, lamp or studio equipment. There are only two types if light - natural (the sun) and artificial.
Strobist is not a bible, but good guideline.