Portrait Help

[Gary]

I am interested in getting into portrait photography. I have tried for a
while, and I have came to the conclusion that I need proper lighting. Can
someone direct me, or provide information, as to what kind of lighting I
need? I'll be shooting in a 12X16 room with an 8' ceiling (if that helps),
and using a 35mm camera. Thanks in advance.

[Hondo]

Along the same lines, I have wondered if there are books available or
sites that have info on make-shift or homemade (i.e. inexpensive)
lighting for the photog who does not want to make a major investment in
lighting until he is sure that studio lighting is really what he is
after. Any help is appreciated. In searching I have found no real "make
it yourself at home" type of sites.

Brian

[Peter Madeley]

The message <374C20F6...@digital.net>
from Hondo <bt...@digital.net> contains these words:

> Gary wrote:
> >
> > I am interested in getting into portrait photography. I have tried for a
> > while, and I have came to the conclusion that I need proper lighting. Can
> > someone direct me, or provide information, as to what kind of lighting I
> > need? I'll be shooting in a 12X16 room with an 8' ceiling (if that helps),
> > and using a 35mm camera. Thanks in advance.

You would be amazed how far you can get with a flash gun using a
small clip on spotlight to provide some idea of modelling. That is
about as cheap as you can get. Then you need to start experimenting
with light modifiers, such as scrim screens to soften the light or
snoots (Rolled card) to get spotlight effects. Use your clip on spot
to preview the effect then replace it with your flashgun. A decent
camera with TTL takes care of exposure or get a flashmeter.
Alternatively just use the tungsten spot but use a blue 80A filter on
the camera to remove the orange cast. This looses you two stops of
light, so no problem if your shooting still life, but if its
protraits (hence this NG) I wouls stick to flash to freeze any
camera/subject movement.

Be warned, it won't be too long before you will be wanting to buy
proper studio flash.

--
Regards and phrantic fotography 2U
Peter (DPS Design & Photography Services)

[zeitgeist]

You will have to look long and hard for a book by Dean
Collins called Tinker Tubes.
He make plans for all kinds of devices made from pvc pipe,
joints, clips, and various fabrics. I really wish I didn't
loan mine out to a friend. He got a sponsorship from som
manufacturer and took the book off the market.

Hondo wrote:
>
> Along the same lines, I have wondered if there are books available or
> sites that have info on make-shift or homemade (i.e. inexpensive)
> lighting for the photog who does not want to make a major investment in
> lighting until he is sure that studio lighting is really what he is
> after. Any help is appreciated. In searching I have found no real "make
> it yourself at home" type of sites.
>
> Brian
>

[zeitgeist]

First, do a deja.com search on some keys words about
lighting, key lights, fill lights etc for some recent
threads, do a search on my posts as I've covered this
several times, or repost in a couple days and I'll give it a
proper answer cause it will take a while, I'm tired, this
house buying heebee jeebee's are driving me crazy....