LCF – Studio set up and notes
Tola and Sam are setting up the studio so we can shoot 11 young designers and makers from the Peabody Threads fashion project. Here’s the set up & below some sound advice from LCF tech Sam.
Backdrop – crisp white as we’re going to be doing group shots
2 x umbrella lights Bowens 250, these are a type of flash unit that give a more reflective type of light we’ve set them up so the lights bouncing in. One of the umbrellas
Soft box ( 1m sq with boom arm ) – another flash unit that gives a softer tone of light, diffusing it.
Polyboard with the white side facing in to help get rid of shadows
Camera – Canon 5D Mark 2 Digital SLR / 24 / 105mm lense.
We set up the camera with an external flash unit ( monobloc Bowens head and controlled by a radio slave ) so that it syncs in with the lights. The camera is tethered to a Mac by USB so when you take a photo all the flash units sync and you see the image on the computer straight away.
It’s a big screen computer so that you can go 100% into the image so you can see straight away if you’ve got your contrast, lighting and focus right.
We’re using a light meter so we can measure the correct exposure. It shows you teh shutter speed and appature so you can get the setting right. Fastest way of getting an accurate reading is to get the model to hold it!
F Stop is a unit of light counting as counter balanced.
Sam’s advice – rule of thirds works for composition although of course rules are made to be broken.
As the photographer you have to make your model comfortable and direct them to get the best results. If you want them to have more energy you speak louder and create that atmosphere and using your voice and presence is a really important part of getting good shots.
Prep – have some images you like, ideas or tear sheets so you know what you’re going for.
Ask questions – what is your technician doing? Why? How does that piece of equipment work and what results does it create.
Watch out for : the shutter speed, if it is too slow the shots end up slightly out of focus
Balancing the light so your background or foreground aren’t over exposed
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