Lighting Set Up One

BOOM! I'm bang on time. It's 9am and I'm present without coffee. I may or may not have sprinted the last half mile but that is completely beside the point. We all know what Chris is like for punctuality and attendance.

I’m a little bit sleepy, and I begin to watch Chris set up something that involves all sorts of photography witchcraft that instantly make me doubt my ability. This term, I decided it would an absolutely Einstein idea to draw out the set ups. This might be helpful as I’ve got a pretty good memory but I wouldn’t be able to remember everything perfectly. I’m frantically scribbling away in my notebook as well as taking photos of the set ups.

Chris begins talking about the set-up and here’s the notes I’ve taken:

-Editorial vs Advertising. Who is the target audience? With that in mind casting your model is critical.

What we’ll be using today:

• Big Boom
• 2 lights on stands
• 2 softboxes
• Beauty Dish
• Diffusers 
• ‘C’ Stands – These are used on film/tv sets as they are really strong.
• 
  
• Camera: Canon 550D

Lenses: 

• 50mm (Which isn’t great for beauty)
• 85mm
• 100mm (Macro photography)
• Sync Lead
• Tether Cable
• Mac, using Capture1

Camera settings:

• ISO 100, F8, 1/160

Here’s the set-up drawing. It makes sense to me.


After a few test shots it’s important to mark the floor for the model to stand when you’ve worked out where the best light is. Nothing more frustrating that having them in the wrong place because they moved slightly.

Don’t light too much under the chin in this set up

When shooting for this unit, use the first shoot as practice. Make sure you've got any tearsheets or pose ideas with you.

Use a reflector to light up the eyes, you just angle the reflector differently. It’s easy to see this as a photographer. It puts a nice glow in the eyes.

Always use Capture1 to compare photos. You can always adjust the levels in Capture1.

Chris has us do the awful “Take a photo of someone then swap”  I’m sorry. I’ve run half a mile, my mind is boggled, I have no make-up on, I’m in a class with models. Greeeat. Thankfully I get mine out of the way. Doesn’t matter how flattering that light is, it’s not doing me any favours today. While other photos are being taken I’m getting twitchy because I pay attention to minor details and having a best friend who has a septum piercing I am aware of the importance of having a straight piercing. I can’t tell you how many selfies have been deemed unworthy by my bestie back home because ‘IT ISN’T STRAIGHT NICOLA’ So I gently call out for Lia to straighten her new piercing and it chills me out.
 
Thankfully the Chris Overend™ lightbulb goes off when we’re halfway through the class and he goes on what I like to call an ‘ Inspiration Mission’ and he rearranges the set-up (in record time no less)


*Black polyboards and a direct overhead light work better for men.

Now, to my favourite part of the lesson and this truly had captured (HA PUNS are still cool) my interest. I love macro photography after this lesson. I’m honestly going to be looking so far into this.

So here’s a little bit of a heads up:

Every single movement effects the overall photo.
It can be challenging to get the photo in focus, but the photo pay off is worth the challenge.

Avoid photographing:       

• Ears
• Noses

We did some really cool eye shots. I was so chuffed that I managed to get my photo in focus on my first frame. I can see why it’s challenging. Something I’ve thought of is that it’s probably easier to have your model sat on a stool when shooting close ups. It means they won’t get as tired as easily.


My shot of 

My eye, because it just looked awesome (Photo credit to Harriet Gulliver)

Can’t wait to do this again!