Kathy C. Tugwell |
|
Portraits in Room with Fluorescent Light
Hi all,
I will be taking portraits at an Olympic celebration locally. The problem is it is in a room with fluorescent lights. The lights can't be turned off, so has anyone got suggestions on what to do? We have studio lights, and I also have an off-camera flash unit - a 500 super D (or something like that). My camera is a Nikon D70. Thanks!
January 20, 2006
|
|
|
Pete H |
|
Hi Kathy;
Unless you can get close enough for your flash to overpower the ambient light, you'll have a problem. Part flash and part fluorescent lighting will look bad. One or the other is the rule here. The D-70 has a fluorescent white balance setting. It works pretty good actually. If you're using any zoom more than 100mm, you may have to crank up the ISO.
Last option: Shoot in Raw and adjust the color balance in PS.
January 20, 2006
|
|
|
Kathy C. Tugwell |
|
Pete,
So no on the studio lights and the flash. I was afraid of that, I kinda knew but wanted someone else's opinion. I will be using a 50mm and, yes, I shoot in Raw and I know how to tweak it in PS, so I guess I will just have to go with it. I have used the fluorescent setting before, so I will do it again. Thanks.
January 20, 2006
|
|
|
Pete H |
|
The studio lights are OK if they can "overpower" the fluorescent. I was assuming these were candid type shots. If you are posing people, then your studio lights might be OK.
How many umbrellas and what is the W/s output?
Again, the flash on your hot shoe is OK, but again, only if you are close enough to overpower the fluorescent.
This is a perfect example when a incident light meter and a flash meter would answer your question. Mixed lighting can be a pain. If all else fails, get there early and do some tests.
If you switch from Fluorescent white balance and then back to flash or Auto white balance, make sure you are NOT shooting flash with the camera set to Fluorescent. I know that sounds stupid, but I've seen pros make that mistake.
January 20, 2006
|
|
|
Kathy C. Tugwell |
|
Pete,
Yes, I think we will get there early and try alot of different ways.
Thanks again
Kathy
January 20, 2006
|
|
|
Scott Morwitz |
|
Hi Kathy T., I'm a total novice and wish I had your equipment (I do have the D70). I just bought a DVD about the SB600 and SB800 flashes from Nikon and in many instances the pro simply uses a green gel in front of the flash. It worked wonderfully when he did it.
If these are going to be posed shots, you ought to use something as a diffuser (preferably a soft box or diffusion panel) and place a green gel between the flash and the diffuser. Just my thoughts as a beginner who has been reading a lot.
January 24, 2006
|
|
|
Kathy C. Tugwell |
|
Scott,
Hi thanks for the input. I went and checked out the room and what we could do. I just set my camera WB on Flouresent, speed 200, and f/4.5, also had the flash on and it seemed to do OK. We will have a background with a flag on it, maybe we will take our lights to just in case.
Thanks again,
Kathy
January 24, 2006
|
|
|
|
Log in to respond or ask your own question.
|
