How Best Can I Light This Without Any Lights?

Kintarō Hattori · 31-01-2011 2:17am #1

So, here we are on the top floor of our apartment complex. In the evenings just before sunset it gets a lot of light and is really well lit up. I would like to take a photo of her good self while sitting in the window. The problem that's happening is the camera can't strike a balance between the bright outside and inside so as a result she isn't correctly exposed at all.

Now I imagine (and you can help me along here) that in a properly setup shoot there'd be flashes and probably lights and so on. My problem is that I don't have any accessories like that and probably won't do for quite some time.

Is there anyway I can gently light her up to take a well exposed photo of her good self in the window without blowing out the blinds too much? Would multiple reflectors help at all? I know I should use a good lighting setup but that's off the cards for the moment.

dazftw · 31-01-2011 3:04am

Use a roll of tin foil/white paper and card board. Maybe some desk lamps as well pointed at the tin foil/paper.

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

yep

oshead · 31-01-2011 3:19am

A big white bed sheet should do the trick.

Fajitas! · 31-01-2011 9:11am

Yep, a large reflector would help throw light back from the other side of the room. Or if it's a particularly sunny day, get a large sheet of scrim (any diffusion material - even a bedsheet if it's REALLY sunny) will soften the light down if you didn't want to shoot right beside the window.

Edit; Whoops, didn't see Oshead's comment on the bedsheet. D'oh!

nilhg · 31-01-2011 10:06am

Another option would be to take a couple of different exposures and blend them,

http://vimeo.com/6397772

With a tripod and a patient model it might give a nice natural look.

eas · 31-01-2011 12:38pm

do you have a lamp?

iamstop · 31-01-2011 12:58pm

could try using spot metering on herself and then move the camera a bit to the left to get the positioning you have there. Less of the outside will probably be visible though.

Pete67 · 31-01-2011 4:57pm

A large reflector just out of shot on the models left should do the trick nicely. You can improvise with anything white, I've taken a door off it's hinges in the past to use as a reflector and position it where I wanted it (8 screws, only takes a couple of minutes)

Or shoot raw, make two different conversions at 1 or two stops apart and then merge in photoshop. But try the reflector first!

Thecageyone · 31-01-2011 5:40pm

+1 for reflector. Even a D.I.Y jobby. Large sheet of cardboard wrapped in tin-foil will do as good as a silver side reflector. It doesn't have to be neat, crumbled is better.

I bought a 5-in-1 set for €8 on ebay, best money i ever spent. Has silver/gold/white/black and a shoot through diffuser all in one easy fold up set.

Kintarō Hattori · 31-01-2011 7:18pm

eas wrote: »

do you have a lamp?

I'm afraid not hence the thread title!

eas · 31-01-2011 7:21pm

you literally live in a house without any lights?

Kintarō Hattori · 31-01-2011 7:55pm

eas wrote: »

you literally live in a house without any lights?

I actually live in a cave....... that's not really my apartment.......

newbridgemom · 31-01-2011 8:56pm

besides the reflector, turn her to face the window. you stand at the window to get her beautiful face in the gorgeous light coming into the window like this. no flash or reflectors, just window light. Dan+and+Fidelma+LR-52.jpg