Gel Test Shots

Here's a few shots using some rosco gel samples I got from BHphoto for $.01. The fit in the diffuser slot of my Vivitar flashes. I got this tip on the gels from the strobists.com website. Lots of useful info for those shooting with hotshoe and off camera flashes. BTW there was no pp other resizing a bit of wb correction.









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markhyo

those are neat. what color was your background to start with

thanks
gary

markhyo said:

Here's a few shots using some rosco gel samples I got from BHphoto
for $.01. The fit in the diffuser slot of my Vivitar flashes. I
got this tip on the gels from the strobists.com website. Lots of
useful info for those shooting with hotshoe and off camera flashes.
BTW there was no pp other resizing a bit of wb correction.

Click to expand...

Very nice job... and that was just a test, eh? Wow!

Hmmm.. I have to admit.... I think that's better done than I have done it myself... and I'm supposed to be an experienced pro !!

Good for you, Mark.
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Regards,
Baz

Besides using the gels for the BG, try using them as kicker lights on the subject (depending on the subject), which can really alter the mood of a given setting.

-proudfather

Gary,

The background was white to start out with. It was a collapsable B/W Botero 5x7 backdrop.

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markhyo

Proudfather,

Thanks for the tip about the kicker. That was on my list to try but I haven't got around to it yet or rather had a subject that I thought I could try it on.

I must say I love it when you can do more with less.

Here's one more shot with my niece.



Thanks all
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markhyo

I'm surprised they're that intense on white. How far in front of the background was your subject? I don't see any color spill, which can be something to watch for when filtered lights are used on backgrounds. Thanks for posting these.

Next step is to add light shapers (gobo) and the gell to project
light shapes onto the background.

Maybe add some color gel on the hair and/or lightly in the fill.
This can be over done for most client work, but great for fashion
and the more wild glamor stuff.

You will start dreaming of various combinations and it is a whole other
world when you add the light shapers to your lighting.

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Does B & H sell those online? I gave a look and could not find them on their site. Great pics by the way!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a good one!
Stephen M. Alberts

Stephen M. Alberts said:

Does B & H sell those online? I gave a look and could not find them
on their site. Great pics by the way!!!!!!!!!!!

Click to expand...

Yes, search keyword is: Rosco swatch

Item 8807 is $0.01 at B&H. Adorama marks it up to $2.50.

I have just started experimenting using a 430ex spedlite sitting on the floor, low power and fired just to add a bit of coloured lighting on the subject:





I have a few other colours to try soon! But think it yields a cool look in the right scenario.

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http://www.scottwright.co.uk
http://www.dreamshock.com

Congrats on some great lighting with a minimal kit...

So there's no post work on the BG to intensify/even-out the effect? If not, I'm really impressed... white is often difficult to "gel", so your results are quite nice.

Do you mind giving a few more specifics about flash position as it relates to the bg? My main in my studio kit is an alien bee, but the "other two" lights in my studio are slaved sunpak 555's (that i use mostly on location...).

I'm a huge "small flash" advocate, so I'm glad to see someone get as good results as you have.

Good one!
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cheers,
Shelby
http://www.shelbylewis.com

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Have a good one!
Stephen M. Alberts

Shelby Lewis said:

Congrats on some great lighting with a minimal kit...

So there's no post work on the BG to intensify/even-out the effect?
If not, I'm really impressed... white is often difficult to "gel",
so your results are quite nice.

Do you mind giving a few more specifics about flash position as it
relates to the bg? My main in my studio kit is an alien bee, but
the "other two" lights in my studio are slaved sunpak 555's (that i
use mostly on location...).

I'm a huge "small flash" advocate, so I'm glad to see someone get
as good results as you have.

Good one!
--
cheers,
Shelby
http://www.shelbylewis.com

Click to expand...

Shelby,

I don't have much room for a studio either so I like the portable backdrop and things I can use to simulate studio environments.

The subject was about 5 feet from the background. On the shots of myself I had the gel'd flash directly behind me shooting at the backdrop. The flash power setting I'm almost positive was at 1/16 but possibly 1/4. It seems the lower the power setting the more intense the color. The higher the power the less the intensity and you risk melting the gel if used too fast.

None of the backdrops were pp at all except on the shot with my niece. I have the gel'd flash posistioned to the left outside of the camera view about 3-4 for feet from the back drop. This created a less intense hotspot on the left side of the picture. So on her shot I did darken the left side a bit. The other shots were not altered at all.

If you need any other details let me know and I'll try to explain as best as possible.

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markhyo