Excellent thoughts, Paul. Unless I'm wanting a light/shadow three dimensional look, I like the light fairly well balanced to reduce shadows. Your point about the angles is well taken, however. As you suggest, I agree that a third "light" can be of great help in managing shadows. I taking some gear a couple hundred miles to a family Thanksgiving gathering tomorrow and may have to record some attendees. I think some extra wine is the answer. ;)
Jack --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > The reason the two lights don't cancel the shadows created by each > other is that they're aimed in different directions. Thus, the "wash: > of each can't quite cancel the shadow of the other. This is typical > of a somewhat flat lighting arrangement. Better would be to allow one > to provide a shadow where yo9u want it, and aim the other to soften > it to a stop or less in value. In other words, they come at the > subject from different angles. One might be high from about thirty > degrees. The other might be low from about ten degrees. Lighting is > all about creating a shape and making the lights work for you. In > most case, one is the main light, the other is the fill. And by fill > I mean the shadow brightener. Think of it that way. The main source > lights and creates deep shadows on the subject and perhaps the > background. The second light reduces the value of those shadows until > they're attractive. From there you can add other lights. A third > light to create a highlight where you want it. Anothe > r light to illuminate the background. And so on. Lots of fun. > Paul > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: Charles Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > On Nov 21, 2007, at 15:58, Jack Davis wrote: > > > > > Only for the sake of discussion (actually I can't discuss the > > > question, > > > only raise it), why don't two lights (540 flash units for > example) > > > wash > > > out or cancel each other's shadows? > > > Example: one flash on either side on a plane with the camera, > lighting > > > a common subject. > > > Must assume perfection in placement with respect to all distances > and > > > angles even though it's not a requirement. Offered to avoid the > issue > > > being raised. > > > I've known for sometime that the 'wash out' doesn't happen, but > the > > > only answer I've ever gotten; "they just don't". > > > > > > > Can't answer the question, but I avoid the issue by doing it this > way: > > > > I use a flash in front of the subject (on camera) and a second one > > > behind the subject to light up the wall behind them. > > > > That way, the rear flash has more power (closer to the wall) than > your > > head-on flash and "tada!" no shadows. > > > > Example here (headshot for work) (warning! full-sized image!): > > > > http://charles.robinsontwins.org/photos/2007/imgp8627_heather.jpg > > > > This photo was taken with the camera rotated ccw, with the flash > > (af540fgz) rotated upwards and a sto-fen on top of the on-camera > flash > > to smooth things out. The Sigma EF500DG was on a table behind her > > > aimed upwards at a 45-degree angle to hit the wall. > > > > This ain't art, it's just a photo for work. :-) > > > > -Charles > > > > -- > > Charles Robinson - [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Minneapolis, MN > > http://charles.robinsontwins.org > > > > > > > > -- > > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > > [email protected] > > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above > and follow > > the directions. > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above > and follow the directions. > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/ -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
