Assignment: "Ghetto Lighting + Reflector" May 13- May 27

[Saralonde]

So how is "Ghetto Lighting + Reflector" working out for you? I like to use natural light as much as possible, so I need a little practice with artificial lighting, too. I had to think about this one, so last night I grabbed my daughter, sat her down in a dark room, and shined a 60 watt light bulb in her face. She was game for a 5 minute experiment, even when I told her it would be SOOC with no editing and no time for makeup. Anyway, the first image is just the harsh light bulb on camera left. I used a black background in a dark room to reduce any other reflected light. In the second, I added a piece of white posterboard at camera right reflecting upward. I own reflectors, but I really wanted to do this DIY and as cheaply as possible. You can see the subtle light that was reflected on to her hair and arm on the right side of the pic, but I did get a surprise. The addition of the reflector seemed to soften the light overall. The hotspots on her face in the first shot were no longer there. Other than the reflector (and forgetting a slight smile!), there was no other difference. I've never really done a direct comparison shot with/without a reflector before, so I found this rather interesting and I'm going to explore this a little more some other time.

Keep in mind these are not great images; there are far too many unflattering shadows and bright spots. I just wanted to do a quick comparison. My daughter made me promise I'd put up a more flattering picture next time, LOL!

SOOC, ghetto light camera left, no reflector:


SOOC, ghetto light camera left, posterboard reflector camera right:


Here are a few things that might help:

How to Take a Perfect Head Shot with a Single Light Positioning reflectors for a portrait, although these are not DIY

Studio DIY Examples of homemade reflectors

Shooting Portraits like a Pro On a Budget

Plus, check last week's assignment on "Ghetto Lighting" for a definition of ghetto lighting.

If you are still struggling with this topic, check out everything Asterismos researched on the subject in the 365-Dps Assignment group on flickr. There are some good links in there.

Please mention what type of light you used.

As always, the rules...Please note the change in closing time.

Just a note to new posters: DO NOT start a new thread for your post. Please just hit the reply button at the bottom of any current post and put your image there.

1. Your image you submit should be taken between the 13th of May and the 27th of May. Each week as an assignment closes on the Wednesday, it will be AUTOMATICALLY deemed *CLOSED* after 8am GMT ( 3am EST) and any posts after that time will not be eligible for the assignment competition. Don't wait until the last minute to post!

2. Your post must include "Assignment: Ghetto Lighting + Reflector" (to show your permission to count it for the contest) and the date the picture was taken (to show that it is a valid entry).

3. EXIF data should be intact. It helps if you can include the main points (including camera, lens, date taken, ISO, shutter speed and aperture) in the text of your message.

4. Only one entry per member (if you can't restrain yourself until the end of the first week you can post two or three separate pictures but your entry should be in a separate post and the only marked with the text above).

5. Remember the cross-site image size limit (800px on the longest side).

6. If the image does not exist in post at the end of the contest, it is disqualified. If you modify anything on flickr and re-save the image then the link is broken and the message needs edited to link the picture again before it will be included in the contest.
For everyone, please do not repeat other people's photos by quoting them until the contest is over. If you want to comment on or discuss an entry you can use a link to it (or just delete the picture from the quoted text).

7. If you are looking for the winners of the mini-contest, please check the front page of the DPS blog Saturday late afternoon (EST) and here.

After a few weeks of lighting practice, let's try an easier topic, so we'll try "Abandoned".

[GwenieThePooh]

I call this my GREEN EGGS



I used double sided tape to secure the eggs from rolling and I used flashlight to shine through a GREEN CD Case for reflector

EXIF:
Camera: Nikon D50
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 80 mm
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off
Date and Time (Modified): 2009:05:17 20:43:59
Date and Time (Original): 2009:05:17 20:43:59

[lisa]

"Assignment: Ghetto lighting + reflector"

For this shot i used a mirror placed against a wall to the right to reflect the light of the torch back at the flower. Hope using a mirror is allowed?



Exif:
Taken: May 18th 2009
Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 70 mm
Exposure: +1.45
ISO Speed: 250
Exposure Bias: +5 EV
Flash: No Flash

In full: http://www.flickr.com/photos/puckers52/3541520877/meta/

[lisa]

Another i did.

[WildRain]

Go Pack Go



Canon S5-IS, iso100, f/3.5 @ 1s, 13.5mm focal length. Date taken May 20, 2009

Session Strategy: LED flashlight, mirror tile reflectors, blacklight CFL.

[duna]

Desk lamp with white cardboard reflector on camera left to bring up the shadows.



Taken on May 20, 2009

Camera:	Nikon D40
Exposure:	0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture:	f/4.0
Focal Length:	50 mm
Exposure:	+1.00
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	-2/3 EV
Flash:	No Flash

[Trader]

***Assignment: "Ghetto Lighting + Reflector" May 13- May 27

I love using reflectors and I have several of them. For this shot I used a white 22 in. by 28 in. poster board. One sheet for a background and another sheet to reflect the light onto the bud and leaves. Here's the shot:




Camera: Nikon D300 . . . f/5.6, shutter speed 1/90th of a second, ISO-800

Camera Data (EXIF)
Exposure Mode: . . Manual
Focal Length: . . . . 105.0 mm
Length in 35mm: . . 157.0 mm
Max Ap Value : . . . f/2.9
Flash : . . . . . . . . . Did not fire
Metering Mode: . . . Pattern
White Balance: . . . Auto

This is what the rose bud looked like prior to setting up the shot:



This is my "reflector/background":

[NathanO]

Assignment: Ghetto Lighting + reflector



What a better "free" product lighting setup. I was mighty thirsty so I was staring in the fridge for a while. The light started to hurt my eyes and then it happened. AHA!! I'm gonna put something in the fridge and take a picture of it!! Perfect!

EXIF:
Camera Model Name
Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
Tv(Shutter Speed)
1/15Sec.
Av(Aperture Value)
F5.6
ISO Speed
200
Lens
EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Focal Length
55.0 mm

[cmencer]

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Shutter 1/60
Aperture f/4.5
Size 3.8MB
Original Date 5/19/2009

[karan110]

I took photograph when the sun rays were reflecting on the flower from a pond nearby