Figure On Cheap Lighting II: Blocking Light
While lots of light glorious light looks good, sometimes a figure calls for a different mood, such as the PSE-01 figure I recently reviewed. Sometimes you just want a sliver of light and a whole lot of shadow. It’s really a simple thing to do:
One of the great things about figure photography is a lot of times it doesn’t cost that much to replicate expensive lighting equipment. On professional lighting gear there is an accessory that many systems have called a barn door. Its job is to cut down on the spread of light. Any opaque black material will work to block out light, but I use black poster board since it’s easy to take a box cutter and cut, score, and fold to make it stand on it’s own, plus it’s cheap.
This pretty much works on whatever light source you’re using, such as a continuous light source like I use (i.e., desk lamp) or if you use a remote triggered flash. The further away the barn door opening is from the light source, the more defined the light/shadow line will be. If you want a softer bleed for the edge of the beam, position the doors closer to the light source.
Keep the lighting on the side if you want more dramatic shadows. You can use a diffuser for these types of shots. I did with the PSE-01 shots, but didn’t use the diffuser on the video to keep it simple.
Hopefully, this gives the growing number of figure bloggers an idea for an easy way to mix things up for their figure review shoots. Plus those of you who want to get that uber dark background can use the same method to keep light off your backdrop.
I used this focused beam of light for PSE-01 to make it look like someone had just opened the door to her room and light was spilling in from the hallway or maybe a beam of light from the moon or something.
The video tutorial was inspired by Lev-Vespers excellent post on Dakimakura, which you’ve probably seen by now. It looked like fun, so gave it a whirl.
Comments
Leave a Reply
Len-Vesper
on July 4th, 2008
Excellent. Simply excellent.
I love the fact you displayed how to change the cut-differential for light when using shadow, I didn’t know how to achieve that effect before. I think I’m beginning to understand what I was doing wrong with the Kasugawa-schoolswimsuit photo shoot when I took my first shots inside.
I’m glad to see the vimeo bug is catching, Super Rats. I’m confidently speaking for myself and other figure-snappers when I say: Moar tutorials!! XD
Adun
on July 4th, 2008
That’s a very interesting technique to use. I’d have to try it one day but I don’t think I have a figure that would suit that kind of mood. But damn, you sure have a lot of space to work with to do your photography work on, mine is probably half of that.
Hirvine
on July 4th, 2008
@Len-Vesper agrees. Showing how you manipulate the light beam was highly interested. I did not notice your pair of tutorials until now. Their both very interested and I will both take on the advice.
Great to see the ‘cheap’ techniques. Guess buying expensive camera’s isn’t all it takes :P.
@Adun, I just get down to the floor.
Danny Choo
on July 4th, 2008
Nice tutorial.
Your dog was cute ^^;
Blowfish
on July 4th, 2008
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I absolutely love your Tutorials.I wouldnt mind seeing them more often.
Hmm…it seems that Len-Vesper inspired you with the Videos huh^^
Ill try to make my first “real” Photoshooting the next days following your Tips.Im excited how theyll turn out
ron~
on July 4th, 2008
nice video tutorial
definitely going to try that, since it’s true that some figures (especially the glossy ones..) need plenty of shadows to make them good, heh..
bigearl
on July 5th, 2008
My dog went a little crazy when he heard your dog
!
Cool tutorial
!
~ fuwa! ~ » Blog Archive » vPost 04 : Q&A and Updates
on July 5th, 2008
[...] Super Rats’ demo: http://www.happysoda.com/archives/441 [...]
super rats
on July 5th, 2008
Len-Vesper, showing how the light changes is really why I decided to do the video. A lot of lighting is like that, something so simple that sometimes it eludes us if it isn’t pointed out.
Adun, it’s a drawing table that I don’t use for drawing anymore, so it is a decent size, 48 inches wide I think.
Hirvine, you don’t even need an expensive camera. Something decent works fine, but my camera is a pretty old entry-level dSLR.
Danny Choo, she is cute, which is why I can tolerate how annoying she is!
Blowfish, hope it gives you some ideas.
~ron, look forward to seeing it.
bigearl, my dog went crazy too when she heard herself when I played it back to see if it uploaded correctly.
Belela-san
on July 5th, 2008
Nice going rats, you should do more tutorials like this ^_^
priss
on July 5th, 2008
Wow! Super cool stuffs! It’s great that you take the time to bestow wisdom and share! Thanks! I’ll have to do some experimenting myself ^_^
You doggie sounds like a little one - what breed is she?
ceasol
on July 5th, 2008
Great Tutorial I found it visiting foo-bar-baz today.
Nork22
on July 5th, 2008
Nice little video tutorial.
It’s good to see a video tutorial on how you get your lighting to work for you as often times it will take me a bit to get how it all works if it was written down.
Hirvine’s moments » Blog Archive » Reinforce Zwei (Alter, PVC Figure)
on July 6th, 2008
[...] second shoot, following both tutorials of HappySoda (light and blocking light). I also followed up the tips from Shino who I think is from the lololol blog. Building my [...]
Persefone Loki
on July 6th, 2008
I love yours photo tutorials …
super rats
on July 7th, 2008
Belela-san, I should, but I probably won’t. ;p
Priss, Icchan is a shih-tzu / bichon mix.
ceasol, there’s a lot of great things on foo-bar-baz…I wish I could read it.
Nork22, it’s definitely easier to see the concept in motion.
Persefone Loki, thank you.
marvin
on July 7th, 2008
Incredible shots! amazing tutorial! thank you for sharing that tutorial with us Super rats!
rechie
on July 12th, 2008
for you
Eddie
on July 13th, 2008
Such a simple technique and it works so well! Thanks for making the video and thanks to Len-Vesper for linking it from his blog
Now to have fun taking pictures :O
valho
on July 13th, 2008
I have seen this technique being use for external flash, have nvr thought of using it for figure shoot, but it really does give some nice effect.
世界一最強のメイド?! Saber « いつも いつでも いつまでも
on July 30th, 2008
[...] more self conscious than usual after reading posts by blowfish (flying pussyfoot) & super rats (happy soda). Someday I really want to make some progress with my shots but for now I gotta work [...]
Sano
on July 30th, 2008
Wow, thanks for this great tutorial! Now I just need a fitting figure…