Minimalist Lighting · Professional Techniques for Studio Photography by Tuck, Kirk -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

A New World

1. The Inside Story on Lighting Inside

What Constitutes a Studio?

Space Considerations Other Amenities

What Kind of Photography Requires a Studio?

Classic Portraits Still-Life and Product Photography

Getting Started

Obstacles Design Objectives The Garage: The Modern Iteration of the American Workshop No Garage? Try Shoving the Couch Around Commercial vs. Residential Spaces

Moving Forward

2. Light and Lighting Explained

Color Temperature

Different Light Sources, Different Color Temperatures Avoid Mixing Light Sources Use Blue-Channel Compensation to Reduce Noise

Direction

A Single Source, A Single Direction The Effects of Direction

Soft Light or Hard Light Falloff

Background Control Portraits Multiple Subjects Using Reflected Sunlight

Fill in the Blanks

Controlling the Tonal Range Passive Fill Light Practical Example

Motivation

3. Yippee! Let’s Go Shopping for Stuff!

Battery-Powered Flash

Positive Attributes Budget Solutions Drawbacks Camera Compatibility Batteries

A/C-Powered Flash

Positive Attributes Monolight Systems Pack-and-Head Systems Battery Packs for A/C Strobes

Tungsten Lighting

Still-Light Photography Cost and Power Fashion and Portrait Photography Safety Equipment Practical Example

Fluorescent Lighting

Balancing with Ceiling-Mounted Lights Equipment

Free Light!

Practical Example

My Recommendations (and Predictions) Things You Might as Well Just Buy

Light Stands Tripods

Your Basic Inventory Computing the Cost of Computing

Computers and Monitors External Hard Drives Printers

4. Zap. Flash. Buzz: Modifying the Photons You’ve Got and Making the Light Work for You

Anything Goes Reflectors

How It Works—And Why Practical Example Controlling Reflected Light Flat Panels V-Flats Pop-Up Reflectors Positioning Reflectors

Umbrellas

Types of Umbrellas Tuning Your Umbrella Feathering the Light My Favorites My Recommendations

Softboxes: Origami Meets the Umbrella

The Birth of Softboxes What to Purchase The Pros and Cons

The Overlooked Lighting Modifiers

Parabolic Reflectors Beauty Dishes Spill-Kills Magnums Grids

Hair Trigger: Getting All Your Lights to Fire on Time

Sync Cables Optical Slaves Radio Triggers Infrared Triggers Other Options

The Manual Mode Incident Metering

5. Putting It All Into Play: Portraits

The One-Light Portrait Adding a Second Light Adding a Third Light

Rim Light Hair Light Glancing Backlight

My Favorite Way to Shoot a Portrait Some Additional Tips for Portraiture

Set Up and Test in Advance Have a Plan Fix It Immediately Give Direction Take Your Time Be Prepared with First-Aid Makeup

6. Putting It All Into Play: Still Lifes

Your Objectives

Decide on a Camera Angle Create a Look and Feel with Lighting Evaluate from the Camera Position Consider Continuous Sources Adjust the Color Balance

Opt for Softboxes Adding Fill Shooting a Product Against a White Background

Setting Up Start with a Top Light Photographing Transparent Materials Using a Plexiglas Background Shooting Tethered

Single-Plate Food Shots Adding a Blue Glow Another Demo: The Wine Bottle Some General Rules of Thumb for Lighting Still-Life Images

It’s Not About the Lighting Lay a Good Foundation Evaluate the Needed Depth of Field Light the Background First Add the Main Light Add Any Needed Fill Keep it Simple

Some Final Thoughts

7. Up Against the Wall: Choose Your Background

Seamless Paper

Seamless Does Double Duty Colorizing with Gels

Muslin and Canvas Custom Designs Portraits Against a White Background: Step-by-Step

Prepare the Seamless Light the Background Frame the Subject Add the Front Light Shade Your Lens

A “Dramatic” Case Study

8. Additional Tips for Studio Photographers

Magnifying Your Studio

Get Rid of Clutter Stick with White Use Light Blockers Get Some Elevation Choose the Right Lens

Getting the Studio Ready for Business (or Personal) Projects Temporal Quicksand (Or, “I Can Fix it Later in Photoshop.”) Control Your Spending and Stay in Business

The Wrap-Up Resources

Web Sites Magazines Good Books Your Local Camera Stores

Index

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