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Hi everyone;

I've been playing with twin lighting in large groups, and I am having difficulty lighting everyone evenly.
I've noticed that dragging the shutter and allowing some ambient light in helps but I would like some feedback about how best to set the two lights.

Currently I like using the Main light to the Right or left and the fill with the camera. I'm using the main light at a 45 degree angle from the camera.

Any thoughts.

Thanks,
Jennifer

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Jennifer, could you show us an example? I need to see the photograph to know how best you might improve the lighing.

Lighting is not an easy thing to learn, but the old adage "less is more" can certainly apply here.

Sheila

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Hi Sheila....

I tried to attach a photo but is apparently needs to be a zip file, and I can't do that. I will upload one to my gallery and you can see it there. The photo I've sent is just an test example of a small group.

You'll see that the mother and baby are much brighter than the father (although he's tanned!). I think you see what I mean.

I have a large indoor group shot comming up, and I'm worried about lighting it. I'm worried that subjects closest to the lights, will be obviously more exposed than the subjects furthest from the lights.

Thanks so much for trying to help me out. It's appreciated!!

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Jennifer, I looked at your test photograph in your gallery and responded to it there. But as I read your post again I wonder how close yo have the lights. What kind of lights are you using? What's their output? Are you trying to light individuals or are you using general lighting? How big is the group? Are they going to be in your studio? Think about how wide you're going to have to shoot and how you're going to group them to kee the shot from being too wide.

And get yourself a book on basic lighting.

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Hi Sheila:

These test shots were done in my studio (which is pretty strong) but I have full variablity with my flashes. They are Esprit 500's with variable outputs.

Those test shots were taken at f-8 and a fill of 5.6 in a rembrant style. I could light them with frontal light which would produce even lighting, but I think it will look too flat. Isn't there a way to light large groups with twin lighting? Perhaps I need to raise the lights higher or aim them in a different direction. I don't know.

The group that I'm doing is going to be in a larger room than my studio, but will also consist of about 10-15 people. The room is quite dark, and so there isn't much ambient light floating about.

I plan to group them on tiers as I have stairs available.

To be honest, I have a million books on lighting, but none seem to cover group lighting. I guess I haven't found the right one. Any suggestions???

Thanks again.
I appreciate your help.
Jen

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Jen, I honestly don't know how to help you further. I wish I did.

Basically, I think your light is too hot and you need a softer fill and then some help in Photoshop.

You could try emailing direct to some posters you think knowledgable...

If I think of something I'll let y ou know.

In the interim, ask you group to be not to wear dark clothes or very light clothes if you feel you can.

Sheila

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Thanks again Sheila.

You've been very kind.

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Jen,
When I used to work in advertising, we used to do large room scenes with flash especially if we were using models in the shots. We used umbrellas with the flash units and then dialed up or down the power into those umbrellas. Some of these umbrellas were metallic and others were a soft white. Do you use umbrellas or are you just shooting directly at the group? Bouncing your light would give you a much more pleasing lighting and would not be flat as long as one of your flash units was used as the main light and your other one was used as a slave or secondary light.

When shooting room scenes we used as many as 8 to 10 flash units at a time. If you don't have umbrellas you could also use some sort of a defracting material to cut down on the light.

I couldn't find the example you talk about that Northbeach commented on either.

Ponder

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Thanks ponder. I use a soft box on the main light and an umbrella for the fill.

It will be quite difficult to bounce light for this shoot as it is in a church, with high ceilings, although I do have a lumiquest which I could use to bounce.

I need to figure out where to place the main light and fill(s) to achieve the proper lighting pattern without overpowering anyone.

When you used 8-10 flashes, I'm sure some were aimed at the background, which I'm not too worried about, but please tell me where the other (main and fill) lights were placed.

I removed the example photo from my gallery, as it's just a test shot, and I'm not a fan of it.

Thanks again, for your feedback ponder. Everyone's help is great.
Jen

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So, how did it turn out? Were you happy with the results? I'd love to hear.

Sheila

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Hi Sheila:

Thanks for asking. They turned out quite well. I used a 4:1 ratio of lighting with the main light directly over the camera and the secondary light 45 degrees to my right.

I've attached the photo for you to see.

I'm pleased with the results.

Thanks again.
Jennifer

Attachment: image000016.zip
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