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White Lightning 2-Light Sample Portrait Setup
Written by Administrator Monday, 14 April 2008 15:42
This sample two-light setup uses two Blazzeo™ ProMax Flash Units to light both your subject and your backdrop, and gives you the effect of a "three-light" performance with the use of the reflector panel.
This setup could be used for portraits and/or products shooting.
One flash unit (unit 1) is used as a Main Light, softened with our Large Octangula softbox or Large Foldable softbox. Using the softbox produces a soft, diffused light source with a rounded catch light. The closer that the octabox is placed to the subject, the softer the output will be. You can begin by placing this light as close to your subject as it can get while still being outside of the framed shot, then adjust forwards and backwards. This unit is set as the most powerful flash in the setup, positioned at roughly a 45-degree angle.
The second “light” is the Reflector Panel. The white bounce side of this 5-in-1 reflector panel kit is used as a Fill Light, to "fill in" the shadows cast by the main light (the silver or gold bounce surfaces may be used here as well using the white surface creates a soft, natural bounce). The panel is positioned on the opposite side of the subject so that it catches light from the main light and bounces it back towards the subject. The can be held by an assistant or used with Reflector Kit Mounting Arm on either a 10-foot or 13-foot light stand.
The second flash unit (unit 2) is used as the Background Light, diffused with the Shoot-Thru Umbrella. The unit can be positioned on a 10-foot stand, on a 13-foot stand or on the short backlight stand, angled up towards the center of the backdrop behind the subject’s head. Depending on the size of the backdrop area that will be visible in the frame, you can adjust the positioning of the unit and choose a stand that gives you the flexibility that you need for height adjustment. Using the “shoot-thru” white umbrella will soften the total output while spreading it out to cover a wider area.
With a white backdrop, begin by setting the output of this unit at full power, then adjust the output as you take your meter readings, metering the background separately. To ensure that the background is bright white and that the shadows from the subject are overpowered, the background should meter approximately two f-stops brighter than your subject. With a dark or textured backdrop, you can begin by setting the output lower.
Using two ProMax 600W units allows you to get a true "What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get" modeling preview, as you can adjust each unit's modeling lamp output simultaneously with the flashpower output (adjusting both sliders together) to maintain the accurate preview despite output adjustments and various accessory use.
To connect your setup, you'll simply plug each flash unit into your standard Ac power source (or Vagabond system). You can then connect one flash unit to your camera with the provided sync cord, and allow the other units to fire simultaneously with their built-in slaves. You could also use the Radio Flash Trigger One system or Wired Remote to control triggering and/or output.