1930's or 1940's look

i am trying to arange my small studio light set so i can get a old 30' and

40's look im not to sure how i should place my light set it will end up going

from color to b/w, does it matter how i do it? i want to achieve the best look

possible. i have not messed around with this theme yet, i was just asked today

to do it!! please let me know if anyone has any advice.

 

here is what my small light set consists of:

 

2 12 inch REFLECTORS

3 SOCKET & CORDSETS WITH STAND MOUNTS

2 33 inch WHITE UMBRELLAS

2 UM4 UMBRELLA MOUNTS

3 RAVEN RS8 8 FOOT ALUMINUM STANDS

1 MB110 MINI BOOM

4 ECT 500 WATT PHOTOFLOOD LAMPS

2 ECA 250 WATT PHOTOFLOOD LAMP

1 LIGHT CART ON WHEELS

WITH LIGHT GUIDE

 

THIS IS A 3 LIGHT 1250 WATT SMITH VICTOR MINI BOOM KIT WITH AN EXTRA SET OF

TWO 500 WATT AND ONE 250 WATT BULBS. THIS IS AN EXTRA BULB FOR ALL THREE

LIGHTS. THESE POWERFUL TUNGSTEN PHOTOFLOOD BULBS WILL GIVE YOU THE LIGHT YOU

NEED. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO START YOUR STUDIO IS HERE AND COMPLETE. THESE

ARE CONTINUOUS LIGHTS

 

i also bought two UmbrelSoft? II Soft Box style umbrella by DynaPhos.

 

im not sure if this will help.. thanks for your help

 

gary<div></div>

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "old 30's and 40's look".

 

If you're talking about old Hollywood glamour photography, they used a lot of fresnel spots.

yes that is what i want. the old hollywood look. what is fresnel spots?.

A lens that goes over the light that makes it harsh and contrasty to some degree.Like a follow spot light use in plays and shows. Photogenic used to make some nice fresnel lights....

ok i just googled it lol. thanks. any ideas if i can pull it off with my light set?

Try using those lights WITHOUT the diffusers. For example, here are two images taken minutes apart. The version with the two dogs was lit mostly with a modern softbox. Soft, even lighting. The image on the left was shot with the straight light, without a diffuser (like an umbrella or softbox), with the light placed overhead. Sure, they're dogs - but you get the idea.<div></div>

Do a search on Ebay for "Hollywood Style Lighting DVD" This guy's DVD has the information

you want.

try:

one light as the main. front 30 degrees from the camera axis, and about 45 up. i would try

it with a softbox for now.

 

one light on the background. modifyer of choice. often the background had an 'effect' on

it, as in it was lit with a diagonal shadow or something. i would have this one around 1

stop down from the main light, either by distance or dimming.

 

set your third light about 1 stop down from main light, as a hair light, behind the subject,

45 degrees off axis, pointing at the head, snooted (with blackwrap or a cereal box). then

play. it is a lot of fiddling both with the light and the position to get the right look.

remember that in that period the images were often very soft and low contrast, partly

because they were large format.

 

t

Google George Hurrell and Joe Zeltsman.

I second checking the work of George Hurrel. I have one book of his stuff and as soon as I can spare the xtra money will get more. With the images of Hurrel in front of you, you can attempt to copy the lighting.

 

Zeltsman will give you the set up.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hurrells-Hollywood-Portraits-Mark-Vieira/dp/

0810934345">Vieira's book on Hurrell's portraits</a> has some descriptions of his lighting

and setup - there are a couple photos of Hurrell at work. And it is full of great reproductions

of his classic images. Helped me really get a handle on his lighting approach.

The 30s and 40s look is defined by (a) hard light with (b) strong fall off. It's a generalization, but I think it'll do.

 

You can achieve this with a fresnel, like another poster mentioned. These can be expensive, and in a pinch a tight (10 or 20 deg) grid will do.

 

I suggest the following setup as a start. Use strip light to provide fill at -2f. Light face in butterfly with 20 deg grid. Don't position the grid to incident on face directly, but rather tilt up until you begin to feather. Add a snoot for hair light at +1f or +2f, depending on hair color. Light background with a burst from a grid and for additional effect project some shadows on the background (e.g. shoot through a milk crate - these are awesome). Process in b/w. Rinse and repeat.

 

For additional glamour, add two silver umbrellas on either side of the subject, at back, for rim lighting at +1f to start.

 

The strip fill may not be needed, depending on how tightly you compose.

thank you everyone for helping. i am looking at Hurrell's Hollywood Portraits and i will try all the set ups you all have sugestted once i complete the shoot i will post the pictures to get more help. thaks all.

Also, Hollywood Portraits by Roger Hicks. It's a great book.

I also teach 1940's Hollywood Glamour lighting. You can achieve this look w/out new equipment. What piece of equipment are you most comfortable with using, then we will go from there.

 

Also, if you want to check out my video on youtube, it will show you some samples of my work in this category as well.

 

Hello to all My Fellow Hollywood Look Lovers!

My Name is Lou Szoke And I am a 27 Year veteran Master Photographer from Illinois. I was directed to this discussion by a Professional Photographer who just had taken my Hollywood Lighting Seminar I did In Portland Oregon for a group of professional photographers!

I have been doing the Hollywood Glamour Lighting style of photography in my studio for over 20 years now and have done seminars throughout the US and Canada on this very subject!

I also have a DVD out on Hollywood Lighting which contains over 90 minutes of discusion about lighting, lights to use and live shoot demonstrations. I understand your love for this lost art and my DVD has helped many pro's as well as amateures achieve their goals.

Go to

www.hollywoodlightingdvd.com

to see all offered.

Best wishes to all!

Lou Szoke

Master Photographer<div></div>