Photo Lighting

I'm curious as to what type of lighting forum members are using for their indoor shots. I've been trying different things some good, some not good. I don't seem to get any consistency with whatever I use: incandesent or florescent.

Any suggestions

 

For 35mm film I use 3200K, 250 watt ECA Tungsten incandescent bulbs purchased from the local photo shop.

For digital images I use the room lighting itself along with the flash. For close up shots, I hold a piece of white tissue in front of the flash unit to soften the light from the flash.

 

Hi Loco,
Light is measured in degrees Kelvin, and at around mid-day outside, is roughly 55OO degrees Kelvin. Now, When using either 250 or 5OO watt photofloods, these are rated at 32OO degrees Kelvin so some sort of compensation filter is needed across the lens of a 35mm camera when prints are required. 1OOO watt lamps, are rated at 34OO degrees Kelvin so the compensation needed for 32OOK is slightly different to that of 34OOK. So what do you need.? One 8OA and one 8OB filter, these screw onto the front of your lens. The 8OB is for 32OOK and the 8OA for 34OOK. Again, this is only for COLOUR PRINTS NOT SLIDES OR DIGITAL. The best slide films to use are :- EKTACHROME 64T and FUJI CHROME 64T these are a Tungsten based film and are colour matched to 32OOK. so,no filter is required. The 64 means 64 ASA or DIN rating, so exposure is going to be long.
These are two very good slide films, and are professional films, so I expect you will have to order these from your local Photography shop. If you do buy one of the above and are not expecting to use it for a while, please place the film in the fridge to keep it cool, not in the freezer.

There is another source of lighting which can be used for both colour prints, slides and Digital camera's, and that is the use of FLUORESCENT DAYLIGHT TUBES, these tubes are rated at 55OO degrees Kelvin and are perfect match for colour photography. when using daylight type slide- print film or Digital, they come in 4' 5' and 6' lengths, and are only a little bit more expensive than normal household fluorescent tubes, and as they match daylight temperature no filters i.e. 8OA or 8OB are required for your 35mm camera.
Unfortunately, Household fluorescent tubes cannot be used because they give a greenish cast to slide or colour prints. You can buy a filter for use using the tubes, but I would not recommend it.
Most digital camera have a menu to change the colour balance or white balance to what ever lighting is in your room. I find it best to leave it on AUTO white balance for my Daylight Fluorescent tubes of which I have quite a number spaced on my ceiling at 18" intervals, these tubes are "Philips TL'D 58watt 950"

Have fun
Paul

 

Thanks to all the forum members who responded.

Ironhorseman: I have a digital - 4 megapixel Olympus that has all the bells and whistles - aside from automatic, every function has manual over - ride so I have control over all the camera features.

Doofus: I thought flash always washed out the colors but I'll try the tissue over the bulb.

Paul: I corresponded with you a few weeks ago on "The Gauge." My problem is that I don't have much room to hang a four to six foot fluorescent fixture from my ceiling. I haven' t had a chance to see if I can get a fixture small enough to maybe hang from a ladder. By the way - fantastic layout. It took a Brit to do a Yankee railroad right!!!!!!

 

I have had good luck just using the incandesent bulbs that light my layout, but I have lots of them (1300 watts spaced 48" and 48" above the layout). I do not use the flash.

 

digital, for film I use T64 with 3200K bulbs

With digital I use only room lights.

 

Thanks again guys.

My camera does have white balance that I can set and I have used it. I'm going to try a few new things. When I figure out how to upload to the site I'll send in a shot or so.

Great shots by the way.

 

Here is a shot I took in Michigan last summer. Real Americana!

Taken with Olympus 4 megapixel digital.



[ 29. May 2004, 05:44: Message edited by: Locobreath ]

 

Along these lines, I have a white balance on my Nikon 5000. I use it to set the camera for the lighting. But, I do not have a white balance setting for daylight or outdoor shots. (I do have one for cloudy.) I set it on auto for outdoor, sunny shots. Why no white balance for sunny days?

BTW, I, too, do not use flash for indoor shots. I am in the process of getting some type of transportable tripod thingy.

Further on lighting. I took pictures of a large layout inside a metal building with indirect outdoor light. It went from cloudy to sunny all day. Additionally, the layout had both incandescent and florescent lighting. My pictures were not too good that day.

[ 29. May 2004, 18:57: Message edited by: sapacif ]

 

The other photo problem in my life

Taking shots of individual models when there is no background. If I use a white wall - the extreme lighting of white against the model does not work well. Digital camera are too sensitive to light.

What kind of backgrounds do you use when doing individual models without the benefit of background scenery?

 

I use gray or black depending upon the color of the subject. For darker colors I use gray. For lighter colors I use black. I use poster-sized construction paper and shape it in a curve trying not to give the light a flat surface from which to bounce. You could also use piece of cloth in the background. A plain bed sheet or towel that is not too tightly bunched up. I try to contrast the background from the subject. A dark subject would have a light background.

 

Thanks Doofus.
Doofus:

I'll try your suggestion. Sounds good.

I'm learning a lot from this forum.

Thanks everybody!!!!!

P.S. Here is a shot I took with just a few incandescent lamps. I think it looks real good.


Comments are welcome.

[ 31. May 2004, 06:32: Message edited by: Locobreath ]

 

Thanks Doofus.

I'll give it a try. I'm getting alot out of this forum.

Here's a shot I recently took just using two incandescent desk lamps. I think it looks real good.

Comments welcome.

 

Uploads not working.

Will try again tomorrow.

Thanks.

 

Here it is again. A kitbashed switch tower lit with two incandescent lamps.

Comments welcome.