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Light bouncing around too much?


f_k2

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I was using Alien Bee B800 in a friend's basement, which has a low ceiling and

tight spaces. The walls are white. I used a silver umbrella for the strobe. I

notice that the light effect in the pictures isn't like what I saw with the

modeling light. It seems that everything is light up. I'm assuming that even

with a low setting the light from the strobe seems to bounce around in the

basement too much, illuminating parts of the picture that I don't want. How do

I better control light spilling? Thanks.

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Hi Fievel, (High Five!:) I think your suspicion is probably correct. White walls will bounce light like the dickens. Try hanging up dark cloth - I used an old, beat-up black muslin backdrop I had sitting around with good effect in a similar situation that almost covers one entire wall. It helped a lot. Good luck!
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Well I'd still darken the walls by hook or by crook even if you want the white background. Let's say you do hang up something dark on the walls or just paint them a dark shade of gray. Now you want a white backdrop? Time to check out either B&H or Adorama for some white, seamless background paper and a stand to hold it up. It usually comes in two sizes: 1) Too big and 2) Not big enough. I'd try the second option first 'cause it's cheaper. (Seriously though, I think it's 6 feet wide) Set your light(s) up; you may need one light for your subject and one light for the white backdrop - assuming you have two. If you only have one light, just use it. Crank it up pretty good and control the exposure on your subject by stopping down your lens.

 

Here's a shot using 6 foot wide pink seamless background paper (Savage makes it (lots of colors) and an inexpensive stand to hold it; both can be had at either B&H or Adorama): http://www.photo.net/photo/5627396

 

Here's a shot using white seamless paper: http://www.photo.net/photo/5458642 (Notice I didn't light the background evenly - a technical "no-no". That's because the "model" was toasted and I didn't feel like messing with it at the time... but you get the idea)

 

Another with white seamless paper: http://www.photo.net/photo/5284533 - Again, I could've done a better job lighting the background.

 

All shots were taken in the room that I hung up the black muslin to keep the light from bouncing around like crazy, btw.

 

Good luck!

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You can also try big black panels around your light - in a way that does not stop light falling on the model, but stops spreading in different direction. You will need at least 2 for each light - may be 4-5 ft in each dimension. I guess that easier it to darken the surrounding walls
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