Questons about Dark Muslins and Clothing

[RV]

Wow, nice, very nice.

That is the effect I would like to get with my photographs. Granted I will not have the time for the perfect posing etc, as this is a party/dance.

Mike you you be so kind as to describe your lighting setup or post a diagram?

[photolando]

Originally Posted by RV

Wow, nice, very nice.

That is the effect I would like to get with my photographs. Granted I will not have the time for the perfect posing etc, as this is a party/dance.

Mike you you be so kind as to describe your lighting setup or post a diagram?

It's actually a very simple set up. I use a Lastolite brolly box as my main. It's a midsize one 48" inch? Had it about 3 feet from the subject. I also have a med. size Chimera strip box for my hair/separation light. And then a large reflector subject left. I moved it in and out for the desired fill. I liked the less fill. Others shots with it too close killed the mood.

I never light my background. It's a natural vignette that Old Masters type backgrounds have and usually do ok when not lit. It does pick up light from the main and some from the hair light.

However, your doing a dance so you really need to have lights set for all since you won't have time to adjust each one. I'd suggest pretty much what I did but replace the reflector with a fill light that's maybe 2 stops less than you main. I personally don't think your subjects will like a pure black background but more of something about like this. At least a little vignette of a light. "Clients", more times then not don't have a clue and think something will look nice or "cool". It may to them but they have to be sure the guests like it as well.

[photolando]

Thought it was bigger? Oh well. Guys always think so, right? hahaha

40'' Umbrella Box W/8Mm Shaft LL LU3226 - Umbrella Box | Lastolite

This is what I use for my main light. Softer than an umbrella but no quite as much as a softbox. For me it's "just right" for portraits.

Brolly box. Softlighter. Goes by many names by many companies.

[deluco]

Originally Posted by patterfr

Not sure why Jim is so adamant about no bg light if done with some finesse you can keep a black bg with a central dark dark grey area and that would be easier than kickers etc
But whatever you want

Because the poster's client asked for a black background....not a black with grey. I thought it would be safer, since the poster has nothing to show them, that he do what they ask and not try to finesse. There are many backgrounds and background lighting patterns that would work in this situation. Mike's examples are excellent and they aren't totally black either. If the poster had more experience and some options to show the client...they can come to agreement. However, from what I read...they asked for black. Why give them something else unless you can show it to them?

[Steven G Webb]

Originally Posted by patterfr

Not sure why Jim is so adamant about no bg light if done with some finesse you can keep a black bg with a central dark dark grey area and that would be easier than kickers etc
But whatever you want

It's that finesse factor that gives rise to the strong suggestion to avoid the background light. We do not know what the photographer's innate skill set is nor do we know what lights and modifiers are available to him. We do know the kind of photography this is and the time constraints involved. We also know the client requires a black background. That indicates to me that the client wants the background to appear black in the finished product, not that the client simply wants to see a black background being used.

Like most things photographic, there are many possibilities and "ifs". It is best sometimes to take the route that produces reliable results over the broadest circumstances.

Steve

[patterfr]

It is a black bg with or without a bg light
But whatever you guys want I wasn't there.

[Bobby Deal]

Wow talk about over thinking it. Black on black is no more complicated then any other background. Keep subject separated from background as much as possible add a kiss of rim and expose for the skin tones. Black on black can have a very elegant look as long as the rim light is controlled and does not add more then a few pixels widhth of glow. Subject exposure must be spot on though so expose for the skin tone.

The idea of a gridded strip box on a boom above and behind would be my choice as well not only can it be tightly controlled but it will provide a wider coverage for when your group size grows beyond a single couple and it will. At these types of events you should planon groups sizes of single subject all the way up to more then will fit on your background. As the party goes on and the alcohol flows the groups will get larger.

I am a bit confused though, I though the Army Dress uniform was green and the Marine Dress was black on blue? Either way though keep it simple, don't over think it, nail your exposure and add a kiss of rim and you will find the end result will be quite acceptable to the soldiers and the C.O.s

[Steven G Webb]

Originally Posted by patterfr

It is a black bg with or without a bg light
But whatever you guys want I wasn't there.

C'mon Fran don't get sensitive and throw out a knee-jerk blanket statement like that. A black background could be black or any shade of grey up to and including white with a background light.

[RV]

Originally Posted by Bobby Deal

I am a bit confused though, I though the Army Dress uniform was green and the Marine Dress was black on blue?

The Army still has the Army Green uniform, but will be phasing it out in early late 2013. The Army Service Uniform or ASU will replace the Class A or Army Greens.

[patterfr]

Originally Posted by Songman45

C'mon Fran don't get sensitive and throw out a knee-jerk blanket statement like that. A black background could be black or any shade of grey up to and including white with a background light.

I'm not getting the least bit sensitive. I'm being sarcastic.
I posted examples of what I would try to do.
Pointing a gridded light or a snooted speedlight at the center of a bg so that it gives a built in vignette like Mikes uniform portrait isn't that hard. In fact is probably easier than a rim or kicker light to "finesse"
The fact that you can blast a black bg to white has nothing to do with the conversation. And I would assume that when someone says I want a black bg they don't mean a pure black bg that makes it seem like they are floating in space, I think its safe to assume that having a bg with a little bit of depth(which pure black doesn't give) will make the portraits better, I have no idea why someone would argue that it has to be pure black because that is what the client supposedly said. It would then be a good idea to try to convince them otherwise....and definitley not that flag bg.

But this has now become more about arguing a point than giving help, so......