Studio Equipments and Lightings

Studio Photographic Media, Techniques & Technology 

(Unit Content 2)

In a studio you could use different lightings and equipments to create different moods and effects to an image. Everything what goes onto the light called a modifier. These modifiers can affect the quality, temperature, direction and mood of a photograph. So by changing the modifiers can make such a big difference to an image.

 Now I'm going to show you some useful accessories and lighting types what you should have in your studio. Also I'm going to describe the effects of each modifiers and show some examples to see what results they give.

• Accessories

                Tripod                                                                          Studio Stands

Flash transmitter/Flash trigger/Hot shoe                                  5 in 1 Reflector   

             Speedlite Flash                                                   Macro ring flash led light

                                                                                                                                   AC Slave Flash Lamp                                                                     Filters

           



         







               Product Photo Table                                                  Backdrop stand

• Lighting types:    * Natural     * Artificial -->

• Tungsten lighting - Tungsten lighting is a term used by photographers to distinguish from fluorescent lighting or strobe lighting. It's a continuous lighting and it's the same as your household lighting. The color temp is about 3200k which is quite warm and this causes the photos to have a strong yellow color cast. Tungsten lighting creates moody type photos , you can use tungsten for still, fashion, portraiture, wedding etc.

• Strobe lighting/Flash lighting - A lamp that produces very short, intense flashes of light by means of an electric discharge in a gas. The ability of strobe lights to "freeze" the motion of rapidly moving objects by making them visible for only a fraction of a second makes them very useful in photography

• Modifiers:

• Soft box - This piece of equipment creates an even and diffused light by directing light through a diffusing material. It spreads light quite widely and it makes the shadows nice and soft. It comes in many shapes and sizes and it's perfect for portraiture.

• Snoot - Snoot is a cone shaped object that creates spot light. Using a snoot allows the photographer to control the direction and radius of the light beam and also to stop spilling any light. Snoots are generally used in low key photography. Also, creates dark shadow so you can create very good moody and dark type of images.

• Beauty Dish - It directs a flattering soft light, the beam can be directed to the subject well without spreading the light over a wide area. The parabolic shape creates a soft light what's perfect for portrait shots. It gives a classic look to the image as it wraps around the subject face.

• Barn Doors - Barn doors allows to control the direction of the light beam. It can be use to create harsh shadows and give a moody feeling to an image. It is flexible to use and can create a focused light as well as a variety of shapes.

• Honeycomb -  It"s an attachment for studio flash with a mesh across the front and is use to obtain a hard lighting effect with distinct shadows.

Research - Creative Intent Photographer

Craig Cutler
(Unit Content 1)

Craig Cutler is one of my favorite creative intent photographer. I do like his pictures because he really shows the use of creative intent. The creative intent photographers work is independent and doesn't follow the wishes of an employer. Cutler has some very good and interesting idea about playing with shadows or with reflections. He arranged the subjects in a creative and good looking composition.

My point of view about studio set up

• One of his master piece is the banana skins that create a sun flower. I think the light is coming from the right, as you can see on the image the right side is much brighter. There aren't any strong shadows, so he might used soft box and a reflector on the left side to bouncing back some light.
• The one with the pins you can easily determine the number of lamps used, because you can see the little light spots at the top. Here I think he used 2 lights, one from above and one from the right in 45 degrees (maybe).
• The 2 images of the glasses, I like that he only used transparent materials and it's very interesting to see how they act together and create reflections. I think there is only one light shining from the back.
• The image with the folks, he played with the shadows and to get this effect I think the only light is coming from the right corner. 

Characteristics of studio photography

Understand the characteristics of studio photography

(Unit content 1)

Characteristics = distinctive features of types

Studio photography has 2 main characteristics

Creative Intent                                          Client Requirement

                                                                                                                             

Within these two characteristics, we've still got many distinctive features of types,

eg. commercial, fashion, macro, product, scientific, etc.

In class, our tutor asked us to make a 10 minutes presentation (in a group of 3) and then demonstrate our knowledge of this first content in front of the class. My part of the presentation was to explain - What is creative intent? - and also I had to show some of the creative intent photographer's images and talk about the possible studio set up, compositions, etc.

1. Creative Intent

Creative intent is when the ideas come from the photographers. The photographers are using their own imagination and creativity to produce a piece of work. They aren't working for a client therefore they have more freedom to create and be as creative as they can. Creative intent has the potential to lead to commercial success. 

2. Client Requirement 

Client requirement is the opposite to creative intent. Here, the photographers either has a client or an employer. They may have given a brief of direction of what the client/employer wants from the photo, so the photographer need to produce an image of their choice,but sometimes they have some free to do something more creative. Client requirement is more commercial as it's often used to advertise products.


Now I'm going to compare the 2 characteristics by showing examples of each one. Both image is made by Craig Cutler.

• The first picture is an example of creative intent. The scrap metals create a city with skyscrapers. It really shows the use of creative intent. I think the photographer did a plan first about how to arrange the subjects and decided what material/s he's going to use. By using different size/tone of metals, he could totally reach the effect of high buildings and create a part of (NY) city. This image is not part of an advertisement, this image shows how the photographer carried out his idea.
  
  * no client * photographer's idea and creativity * freedom to create

• The second image is an example of client requirement. This image is part of an advertisement. You can see the name of the glass company at the bottom right and the catalog number at the top right, so this is clearly an advertisement for Steuben. There is a few distracting point on this image, the dog and the ball, however the focus point is still on the glass because that's where the light is stronger and people's eyes are always looking at the brighter part first. Here, the photographer payed by the client so he had to photograph what the client wants and comply with the request.
  
  flow chart could be this   * company * advert agency * client * photographer * image

Health & safety in the studio

Health & Safety

   There can be many things in the studio that could be a hazard, so you should know some rules about how to behave in a studio to prevent any accidents. Here are some rules that MUST be applied:

• Never leave the studio unattended
• Advise people about the possible hazards in the studio and show them where the things are.
• Make sure there is enough space provided for everyone to move around without a hazard. (Organize your amount of people before you start using the studio)
• Tripping: Ensure the lights/fittings are secure on the stands (camera stand,props,tripods,light stands). Ensure all cables are laid where they do not create a hazard. Use tape if this cannot be done.
• Hanging lights, soft boxes are also could be a tripping/collision hazard.
• Light: Flashlight is very strong  and harsh and can damage the eyes, everyone should avoid unnecessary exposure to flash.
• Covers need to be removed before switching on the lamps and fittings should be attached prior.
• Heat: Flashlights/Tungsten lights become incredibly hot and could cause several burns. They should never be handled and when closing down allow them to cool first. 
• Darkness: The low light presents a hazard in itself. Various props, wires, stands are less visible. Extra attention needs to be paid, taking an extra look around before making movements.
•  At the end of a session all equipment should be safely put away. 

+1     Set up lighting properly: 1. Studio stand   2. Flash head    3. Modifier (soft box)

Always have the eg. soft box pointing over a leg, so you put the weight of light over a leg and it's less chance to fall. Use bigger stand for bigger attachment.
 
                   Wrong                                                                        Right                         

Unit Introduction

Studio Photography

  This unit introduces the characteristics of studio photography and the ways in which studio photographs can be created through the effective use of photographic technology, techniques and media in the studio. Successful studio photographers plan their studio set in advance, drawing on their visual skills to develop their ideas. The studio environment must be controlled very effectively to produce imaginative results. Sometimes professional photographers work with others to realize an idea which has been developed by a team. The knowledge of the tools of photography enables the photographer to concentrate on the client requirements and the specific qualities of the subject to be photographed. This permits the photographer to create a unique visual environment to present the subject in a way that realizes the creative intentions. 

Learning outcomes: On completion of this unit I will be able to:


1  Understand the characteristics of studio photography
2  Know about studio photographic media, techniques and technology
3  Make photographs in a studio
4  Review my own studio photography


+1    I will also develop an understanding of the importance of health and safety in the studio environment.