8 Foot Ceiling…Is that high enough?

[TGM123]

Hi,

Now that I have, thanks in large part due to this board, have some studio lights/gear (AB800, PLM 64”, YN560II, YN RF-603, stands, etc) I have been playing around with it - one light, one light plus reflector, two lights, etc. I have been learning a ton.

One issue I am running into is my ceiling height which is 8’. Specifically I am trying to get the key light at a 45 degree elevation angle. I am currently using a Buff 64” PLM soft sliver with the diffusion sock. Due to the design I can’t elevation it too high (it’s about 5’ in diameter). Maybe a softbox (buff has one that is 24” x 36”) will allow for a better angle? Is this a ceiling height issue or a type of diffuser issue? Any other thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[hotdog321]

Ceiling height with a big modifier can be a pain (especially if there is a ceiling fan--snort!). Yes, you would be able to get more controlled directionality from overhead with a smaller/shallower softbox or umbrella. 5-foot is awfully big for a low ceiling.

Or you can fire the strobe into the ceiling and use the ceiling as your "softbox." I did this recently when shooting a bunch of computer rack components and it worked great for shadowless images.

 

[24Peter]

hotdog321 wrote:

Ceiling height with a big modifier can be a pain (especially if there is a ceiling fan--snort!). Yes, you would be able to get more controlled directionality from overhead with a smaller/shallower softbox or umbrella. 5-foot is awfully big for a low ceiling.

Or you can fire the strobe into the ceiling and use the ceiling as your "softbox." I did this recently when shooting a bunch of computer rack components and it worked great for shadowless images.

My ceilings are also 8ft so I feel for you. A smaller diffuser might help but 8ft is going to be limiting in many situations regardless of the size of the light source.

If you can't raise your lights/ceilings, try lowering your subjects. For instance, when shooting portraits seat your subjects.

And while I realize the issue is the angle of your lights, you may also run into situations where the ceiling is visible in certain shots. Here a longer focal length lens with a narrower field of view might help. I shoot models for apparel clients from time to time and I can get full body shots with 6'2" models using my 70-200 lens.

 

[Peter Berressem]

TGM123 wrote:

Maybe a softbox (buff has one that is 24” x 36”) will allow for a better angle? Is this a ceiling height issue or a type of diffuser issue? Any other thoughts?

By design, the center of a rectangular (or square) softbox of same surface area than the octagonal can get closer to the ceiling.

 

[kenyee]

24Peter wrote:
If you can't raise your lights/ceilings, try lowering your subjects. For instance, when shooting portraits seat your subjects.

+1

8' ceilings are too short. 13' ones are not...

 

[Sailor Blue]

Like the others, I battle an 8' ceiling. With my 40"x40" softbox I can get a 45° for standing portraits, but just barely and only with the softbox at about 6' from the subject (normal distances for this softbox are 5'7" to 11'4") Being this close gives me great soft light but while feathering helps I really need to add fill light or the shadows on the far side of the face get to be pretty dark.

Personally I like doing portraits with a standing subject since it is much easier to move them to new poses than when they are seated, but that is a relatively minor point if you want to move the light further from the subject to achieve the desired effect and you can't do it because of a low ceiling.

Of course you can always use a smaller softbox to get the same lighting at smaller subject to diffuser distances. If you didn't already have the PLM I would suggest you get the 30"x60" foldable softbox but since you have the PLM I think the 24"x36" fordable softbox would be an excellent choice. An alternative would be the 35" foldable octobox. Use the softbox for waist up or head shots and the PLM for standing portraits.