Help with my project please

Hi,

Don't know if this is the right forum so if not I apologise.

I have been given a project and my twist to that project is taking photographs of a model as if in the 1950/60s (Black and White): I have the model which I know and should make it a bit easier for my first time photographing someone other than family, she is not a professional, an indoor setting and some props etc, it's just the lighting that I am really worried about.

Now I could make life easy and not go this far but I want to try and learn and do something different for me. After all if you don't stretch yourself how do you learn.

I want to know if you can still take good indoor photographs with a retro feel without all the fancy lighting. I hope on the day there will be good natural light from a large window and lighting from table lamps and over head lights. I have a reflector disc which can be silver, white, gold or black. Can any of you give me some constructive advice and if there is a way of perhaps utilising other lighting which I might not have thought about.

I look forward to your reply's.

Carol

This is easy. Most if not all photo editing software has the ability. Buy photoshop elements. Its a $100 program. You can simply remove the color information.

If you don't want to do that or are not comfortable all digital cameras can select a black & white mode. Sepia can be done too in an instant.

Its always best to shoot color and remove it later since you have all the information there. You can also look into a plug in for photoshop called Topaz Labs and they have more effects. You need the main software first.

If you are using a Mac computer iPhoto has it built in to the program. The great thing about a Mac is that IMO its built for the photographer or videographer off the bat. I have a mac and use photoshop but in simple terms if I was new I would not need to if all i needed was basic stuff.

Their are online tutorials from Lydia.com on a myriad of topics including editing software to using a spreadsheet.

Last, yes you can do this without lighting. This is where and you do not mention the camera and lenses you have. I assume you are Not using a point & shoot?

Need to know the camera and lenses. Use a tripod and cable release, use natural light when possible even placing the subject by a window and then use diffusion.

An accessory external flash is a good thing to invest in for portraiture. You can also add one of the Gary Fong lighting accessories in certain situations.

B&H photo in NYC is a resource to buy gear.

Oh, if you do use external lighting do not use Hot Lights, strobes are the best solution for people and the right way to do it. Again, need to know what specific gear you have for the job to help more.

Car629 said:

Hi,

Don't know if this is the right forum so if not I apologise.

I have been given a project and my twist to that project is taking photographs of a model as if in the 1950/60s (Black and White): I have the model which I know and should make it a bit easier for my first time photographing someone other than family, she is not a professional, an indoor setting and some props etc, it's just the lighting that I am really worried about.

Now I could make life easy and not go this far but I want to try and learn and do something different for me. After all if you don't stretch yourself how do you learn.

I want to know if you can still take good indoor photographs with a retro feel without all the fancy lighting. I hope on the day there will be good natural light from a large window and lighting from table lamps and over head lights. I have a reflector disc which can be silver, white, gold or black. Can any of you give me some constructive advice and if there is a way of perhaps utilising other lighting which I might not have thought about.

I look forward to your reply's.

Carol

Click to expand...

Lighting was pretty much flashbulb and very stark and hard lighting. They didn't use diffusers on their gear back then.

Google "Photos from the 1950's" to see the styles and then try and duplicate those. Lots of 1950 photo galleries out there.

Mack

Hi Guys,

Thanks for getting back to me re my request for help.

Never thought to add equipment to my post sorry, this is what I have:-
Canon 1100D
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens
Tripod - borrowed
I have been offered a Canon Flash Light which has a swivel head.

Any thoughts.

Carol

Also, I should have said I use Paintshop Pro 9 a very old version now but still enough for what I need and I do have a large diffuser disc.

Carol

Thanks Mack,

I did have a look at old photographs and a tutorial on youtube but they had all the fancy lighting, I could not find anything on improvising re the lighting.

Carol

Do you have examples of the lighting style you want to achieve, high contrast, harsh look, or low contrast flat look or medium contrast. Are you lighting a large set or an intimate portrait, all affect what you could use for light, are you sure you don't have all you need in the way of lighting.

Depending on how much time you have, if black and white isn't something you've done much of, I suggest you spend some time shooting black and white and learning to "see" black and white images, regardless of how you shoot the actual project, I think it will help if you understand that what may look like an outstanding colour image, may not look as good in black and white, no matter what you do to it in post.

Also if you have time, and perhaps some budget, check any nearby libraries, second hand book stores, or photographic clubs in your area, they may have books, including how to books from the period that will help you. A photographic club may even have someone who did it then and can share information.

Hi Photodanceau,

There are no photographic clubs that I am aware of in my area. I have decided not to be too precise about this project as I did not realise when I decided to do it that it would be so difficult. I am going to take some B&W photographs and see how they turn out and if I don't like them I will photograph in colour. Will post here if I am happy with them for some critique.

Thanks for all your thought and help.

Carol

Is the flash a Canon EX550 or above? If so, use the flash, pulling the light diffuser out until it clicks, just before you would turn it down. "DO NOT TURN IT DOWN OVER THE LAMP". Leave it facing straight out. Aim the flash straight up at the ceiling. Try shooting Av at -1 EV. The goal here is to properly expose the white clothes while putting a nice fill flash on the faces. You may have to experiment on metering the clothes, then setting the carera settings in M, then taking the shot. You can then home in on the correct settings to expose properly, by adjusting your shutter speed, aperture, or ISO.

Good luck.