Competing with the sun!!!

<p>My name is Charlie and I am an amateur photographer. For the past 2 years, I have shot at a fundraiser for the local SPCA where I take pics of dogs and owners attending a 5K run in front of a green screen and then place them on a mock magazine. I usually setup under an EZ-Up canopy outdoors in the park with very weak fluorescent bulbs trying to eliminate shadows (which as you know makes green screen editing a NIGHTMARE!!!) I have the benefit of a 4500 W gas-powered generator, so power is not really an issue.<br>

I am looking into buying some studio monolights (300 to 600 w/s with 2-3 heads) and I'm not sure if this is the best way to go. I was thinking two soft boxes (35" square) on either side angled at 45 degrees with another over head on a boom... is this the way to go?<br>

The event is in May in California, and I never know what the weather will be like, so I need to be flexible. If there is full sun, it tends to shine through the canopy and create unnatural shadows that I haven't been able to compete with in the past. This results in countless hours of editing on Photoshop CS. I would really like to be able to get the lighting right and offer finished prints on-site rather than mailing the finished photos 1-2 weeks after the event.<br>

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated by not only me, but the hundreds of animals that the money we raise goes to help. Thanks again for reading!</p>

<p>Charlie<br>

My equipment: Canon 50D with Speedlite 430EX shooting predominantly through f=24-70mm 1:2.8 and f=70-200 1:2.8 Canon glass</p><div></div>

<p>I'm really not a fan of the green screen work. Is there any reason why you can't shoot with a natural background? It seems silly to shoot outdoors at a park in the grass, and then green screen out the background so you can show the dog outdoors at a park in the grass!</p>

<p>Regarding the canopy shine-through: you really need to ensure that you're shading from all natural light that can bleed through with a color cast. Try a double-layered canopy this year to make sure you aren't getting weird color casts from the canopy. You might have to mod the canopy yourself if you can't find a good, thick, canvas type canopy or something that fits your requirement.</p>

<p>Since you're setting up in a park, you might want to keep the lighting more simple. 3 lights seems like alot, especially for a subject (dog) that's half the size of 1 person. Maybe you can pull this off with 2 lights. Since you're working in close proximity, I would think 600ws lights might be a little pricey (read overkill) for this venture. Maybe 200-300ws lights? Anyone else have more insight on this?</p>

<p>Are you wanting to light them so you can use the existing background/park or whatever, or are you wanting to continue using green screen? </p>

<p>If it is windy, you'll need to really have those softboxes tied down good, beauty dishes might be an alternative. If it is just one dog/owner at a time you wouldn't really need too much, unless you are lighting them and the green screen as well.</p>

<p>I have to agree--hate the telltale green screen reflections--underside of the dog's chest. How about using a photo-realistic background? I realize the advantage of the green screen, besides choice of background, is being able to layer the text under/over the image, but with careful planning and layering, you could still do that with a photo-realistic background.</p>

<p>Otherwise and anyway, you'd have to gobo off the canopy so the sun doesn't strike the set and so you can use the flash to overcome any daylight (especially important if using anything other than daylight color temperature). And perhaps gel the lights to match your fluorescent lighting so you can convert everything to the right color temperature at once. I've done these kind of shots for a local pet rescue organization, outside, and it is going to be difficult to maintain lighting ratios, etc. over even a short time, as the ambient light will change, the sun's angle will change, and you simply won't have enough time to fiddle with lighting if you have a steady stream of customers.</p>

<p>If it were me, I'd use just one large umbrella box (60") or something just to camera left or right. Big softboxes are kind of deep, and you don't have much space in one of those tents. You'd need a powerful monolight to overcome the daylight through a diffuser. Hair light would be fine, but be sure to get a grid for that light so you don't have spill. And yes, everything should be nailed down due to the wind. Not to mention frolicing puppies.</p>

<p>One really annoying thing about large light sources--they reflect in glasses big time, so tell people with glasses to take them off. Or provide a few different, glassless pairs in the most popular shapes.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your responses. <br>

@Hal: I suggested 600 w/s in my post as I was looking through the B&H catalog and they were available in 150, 300 and 600 w/s in 2 or 3 heads and with 2 softboxes or 1 softbox and 1 umbrella. I figured I could also dial down the power if 600 was too much, but I don't know if that is even possible with a monolight. I think the year this was shot, I had NO (none whatsoever) idea what I was getting myself into. The grass background was kind of an afterthought and I shouldn't have taken a picture in the grass and then edited it out only to put it back on grass (Giant amazon grass at that!). I like the idea of a natural background, but this is an event with over 6,000 in attendance and finding a clear shooting area can be tricky. I will definitely consider lining the inside of the canopy and using 2 300 w/s heads.</p>

<p>@Nathan: I am wanting to continuing using the green screen. I have no idea what a beauty dish is!?! (Amateur remember :o) ) The natural background is an option, but there is always a theme and I try to match that with the magazine cover (see the 2009 example below). Much easier (?) with a green screen. The other issue is that sometimes it is just a dog; sometimes it is a group of dogs and owners together (as many as 4 each). A bit tricky...</p>

<p>@Nadine: I "love to hate" the green screen. It does allow me to do layers, but it has its challenges. Due to the fur on long-haired breeds, I end up spending a lot of time editing out the green from the perimeter and chest as they are sitting right on the green screen. It can be a little daunting with a line of customers and the end results are hit or miss. I have always asked people to take off their glasses for that very reason. I think I will bring an umbrella and a softbox and be flexible through the day and afternoon. P.S. I use saddle bags and have 6 of them available for use.</p>

<p>It seems like the constant theme is properly tenting my canopy. I plan on using a Costco 10'x20' canopy with the front 10'x10' for entry and taking orders and the back half skirted with black cloth to black out the sun. Thanks again for all your advice. If I decide to scrap the green screen altogether, I'll try and talk to the organizers about giving me a picturesque backdrop and just using a 10'x'10 canopy for taking orders and taking advantage of the park scenery. Another other suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Charlie</p>

<p>Thank you all for your responses. <br>

@Hal: I suggested 600 w/s in my post as I was looking through the B&H catalog and they were available in 150, 300 and 600 w/s in 2 or 3 heads and with 2 softboxes or 1 softbox and 1 umbrella. I figured I could also dial down the power if 600 was too much, but I don't know if that is even possible with a monolight. I think the year this was shot, I had NO (none whatsoever) idea what I was getting myself into. The grass background was kind of an afterthought and I shouldn't have taken a picture in the grass and then edited it out only to put it back on grass (Giant amazon grass at that!). I like the idea of a natural background, but this is an event with over 6,000 in attendance and finding a clear shooting area can be tricky. I will definitely consider lining the inside of the canopy and using 2 300 w/s heads.</p>

<p>@Nathan: I am wanting to continuing using the green screen. I have no idea what a beauty dish is!?! (Amateur remember :o) ) The natural background is an option, but there is always a theme and I try to match that with the magazine cover (see the 2009 example below). Much easier (?) with a green screen. The other issue is that sometimes it is just a dog; sometimes it is a group of dogs and owners together (as many as 4 each). A bit tricky...</p>

<p>@Nadine: I "love to hate" the green screen. It does allow me to do layers, but it has its challenges. Due to the fur on long-haired breeds, I end up spending a lot of time editing out the green from the perimeter and chest as they are sitting right on the green screen. It can be a little daunting with a line of customers and the end results are hit or miss. I have always asked people to take off their glasses for that very reason. I think I will bring an umbrella and a softbox and be flexible through the day and afternoon. P.S. I use saddle bags and have 6 of them available for use.</p>

<p>It seems like the constant theme is properly tenting my canopy. I plan on using a Costco 10'x20' canopy with the front 10'x10' for entry and taking orders and the back half skirted with black cloth to black out the sun. Thanks again for all your advice. If I decide to scrap the green screen altogether, I'll try and talk to the organizers about giving me a picturesque backdrop and just using a 10'x'10 canopy for taking orders and taking advantage of the park scenery. Another other suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Charlie</p>

<p>Here is the sample mentioned in the above comment...</p><div></div>

<p>Hard to suggest anything without knowing the locale better. One thought is using one of your lights pointed straight up into your tent and letting the tent bounce light back, nice and even...assuming your tent is white. As for the background, I'm also not a fan of greenscreen, but if that works for your needs then that is fine. Beauty dishes, they are big reflectors that are not as flimsy or wind-catching as umbrellas, but if you are in a tent then wind probably won't matter much. </p>