Added: 1 year ago
From: PhotoGavin
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  • the model needs some chapstick

  • is he calling him Lady...

  • What type of boards are those on the side?

  • @SincerelyAND It looks a lot like 2-inch (5cm) rigid styrofoam insulation board -- it's super lightweight and dirt cheap, and you can find it in almost any photo studio (and at builders' supply outlets).

  • good vid, but how is floor illuminated if lights behind subject? if its the key light its the same fstop as subject wont the floor be grey?

  • @xvoui It will usually be "white with detail", as opposed to 255,255,255 "digital white", and it's pretty easy to make it pure white in post if you want. If you made it a featureless digital white, as you are usually trying to make the background, you will get excessive bottom-up lighting on your subject, and you won't be able to properly block the light off of your subject's feet and lower legs.

  • i prefer a female model lol

  • When the model is doing squat, obviously the key light is too high.

  • hello, thank you very much for the tutorial.

    only one to ask? material that has the panels are on both sides and what measures do you have?

    Thank you very much ..

  • awesome as always, ive been a fan of yours since proshow producer now ive gotten into photography IVE GOT IT!!!

  • couldn't get a topless model then ?

  • why dont you just use a white card!

  • thank you, I have learned so much with your videos!!!

  • dude you have a very gadget show accent haha.

  • can you explain what the purpose of that camera over a dslr might be?

  • @trainlova12 That's a medium format camera. If you have a dslr, and you know that a full frame gives better control of depth of field, etc over an APS-C sensor.. imagine that scenario, but with a medium format over a full frame. So that's 50.7 x 39 (commonly) over 36 x 24. Hence the huge price (well including the larger amount of megapixels that DSLRs don't usually have)

  • @BrandonKingVloggin ok that makes sense. Thanks

  • @trainlova12 Sorry I meant 48 x 36, not 50.7 x 39

  • dude wats ur camera? :O

  • Great video, one of the best I've seen on controlling a white background. Thanks so much.

  • also what sort of light meter do you use to meter the background and model etc?

  • hey gavin what lighting setup do i need to achieve these sort of photos in a home studio

  • @steveohim custom set white balance is easier ecpecialy if your subject is closer to the background...

  • Hey Gavin. Great video thanks a lot. I have a question though. I recently bought the 3 head supersoftbox continuous lights from smick (thanks to your videos yet again), and I saw your tutorial about getting a pure white background with those lights. But I'm trying to figure out how to get the floor AND the background pure white, to get photos like in this video. Is there a way to get the same results with that kit ? I also have two umbrellas and a flash gun. I can't seem to get it right.

  • finally! what i've been looking for. Thank you

  • Congrats! So cool dude!

  • tx lot man u r great

  • 3:22 --> /watch?v=YHbizE2_Ngk

    lol

    Cool video Gavin, thanks!

  • Wow! I've definitely learned something new today. I never knew this was how you measured light and set up light correctly

  • @willyboydd3311 you increase the exposure on your background by increasing the light.. You either literally add more lights if your using regular light bulbs, or if you are using some type of strobe you increase the exposure on it

  • where can you get the side panels that you have in this video??

  • hasselblad all the way my freind has got a hasselblad ad im in love with it

  • I agree with muusers! :) But this vid has given me sooo many ideas and tips on making my photos better!!!! Thank you very much >_<

  • how did you increase the exposure for the background also what lens did you use you seemed so close

  • gav Im from argentina...and I would like to learn how to use the lightmetering because Ive learned on the class a way to calculate the background light but I dont remember..would you help me? thanks!

  • Really interesting, and very great pictures ! Your explications were very clear it's cool !!! thanks for your video :D 

  • Your really great at explaining what your trying to teach and have a great flow on the subject, to keep it interesting. I love watching you 15 min photochallenge too, I feel it helps me to get a idea on how to look at taking pictures better, and love seeing what you end up with after you done, which is so amazingly pretty even if it is a broken down building that stinks lol.

  • Is it just me or is that dude a giant?

  • Hi Gavin. Thank You for this cool high-key photo tutorial.

  • Gavin you ROCK!

  • nice one man...

  • Great lesson and really nice camera, how many children did you have to sale to buy that baby?!?!?

  • oooooo new camera I see xD nice!

  • can I achieve this with a two light set up?

  • Ahahah, "Don't look at me." xD

  • That was good, really good! Thank you.

    The shots were awesome, even considering the big buy model, the shots were so striking, compelling, and just awesome! Very, very impressed.

    I don't have strobes yet, just studio lights (2 spots, & 2 softboxes). But if I use your methods to meter, and take test shots, I should get good results, right?

    Thank you again!

  • This is a really good video, thankyou for uploading. I had no idea that all this lighting had to be quite as precise. Thankyou for opening my eyes! x

  • I have just been trying this and I am not getting it. :( I am using two soft boxes and a SB600 flash on stand with a shoot through umbrella. The umbrella with flash is what I am using for the background and getting a reading of F 5.6, the reading on my daughter is F3.6 but the picture is really over exposed.

    Is this because I am not using screens to block out the background light?

    Paul

  • @pjos111 I'm no expert, but did you try turning the SB600 off and getting the exposure on your daughter settled?

    Also, it seems really critical the distance between the model & the backdrop. Most advice is to keep that distance = to or greater than: the camera to model distance.

    Are you using a wide angle lens? Have you tried a longer than standard lens? 85mm, 105mm, or 135mm equivalent? Best of luck with that.

  • to bad the reading from his back was ok, it would have been interesting to see how you would solve that problem without getting it greyer again.

  • geez - the model looks like a giant when you stand next to him! how big is he?

  • why you're not using your Canon camera?

  • "It's nicely exposed on the lady"

    Wait, what? Haha.

  • what kind of camera and lens are you using?

  • Hey gavin, was that a beauty dish you used as your main light?

  • Bad Gavin you removed my comment...

  • Another great video, some fine tips I was totally unaware.

    What lens were you using, and at what ISO were you shooting? Thanks.

  • Great as always! The only critisme I can imagine I would like to know what you did and what your thinking in PS. But Like the "rule of thumb", nice tip!

  • Another great video Gavin...keep em coming enjoy learning from you

  • i'm lovin it,great inside information.great shots.

  • Love the black and whites,please do a tutorial.

  • Man, must have been fun workin' with the 'Blad.

    That's my idea of fun.

  • great, thank you! how would you do this without a light meter?

  • i've been a fan for quite a while. i work as a professional photographer and my favorite is the white background studio. i use a four light set up for mine most of the time, but i like a three light set up better as it gives warmer skin tone. to my surprise we use the exact same reading on the meter. keep up the good work mr. hoey, i've learned a lot from you and i am happy to inform you that i was able to apply all the tips and techniques in my works as well as in my personal shootings.

  • Thanks Gav another tip to keep in my book...oh crap i sound like a geek !!

  • Is there no way to get such a clean white background and lit subject with only one light?

  • Great video, I need a light reading tool that you are using, what is it called and what one do u recommend Gavin?

  • When did you put the Canon away and statr shooting Hassleblad ??

  • thanks!!!

  • Hey Gavin, great video as always! What software do you use to edit your videos?

  • @tinymug Lightroom 3

  • @PhotoGavin

    Lightroom for editing videos ? Hmmm...

  • @PhotoGavin Really good Gavin straight to the point not like the American vids talk talk talk about nothing and you feel like saying for fsake get on with it ... more please

    Martin Eccles

  • That camera is 30,000 american dollars.......DAMN! very nice though.

  • Very good video, nice to point out about taking the bounce light reading as well.

    Must say for a model his nails are not very good.

  • @devonmale69 that is not the point of the video dude!!!!

  • @beautifulgooal Thank you. I've been waiting for someone to point that it's a video about lighting.

  • @PhotoGavin ha ha ha !!

  • 1.39 - "Delaney crush, Delaney smash - rarrr!" Sorry Gavin, had to be done, but thanks anyway for this video; I have just received my background kit today and was wondering why I it was coming out grey *he now has flashbacks to Gavin's video where GREY backgrounds are made white or black*. Your videos and blogs are an absolute God send and when I return to the UK, I will definitely be requesting to attend your workshops.

  • Gavin, I've been watching your videos since last Septemberish, and got a Nikon D3100 for Christmas (yay!). I know this is unrelated to the video, but I am looking to buy a new lens and am looking to buy one of the following: Wide Angle, Macro and Fish Eye. Which do you think is the best to get for a first lens (second including the 18-55mm lens kit). P.S I only have a budget of £100-£150.

  • Great video, awful subject

  • Well I always run from taking pics with my white back drop. I have never mastered it, but I will try this technique and hopefully I will have this problem solved with your advice! Thanks very much Gavin!

  • cool tips cool camera :D

  • and thank you for the awesom vid

  • MODEL?

  • @PhotoGavin The website music4yourvid.co.uk doesn't work :-(

  • @duszeczek Oops that should be music4yourvids.co.uk

  • i just watch these for your awesome accent!! just kidding, your videos are very helpful :)

  • You Sir, are a Wizard :-)

  • Excellent tutorial as always Gavin...Thank you so much!!!!

  • Hey, this looks like it would be good stock photo material. are you making this for stock?

  • @ManicEightBall Not stock. Delaney is a rapper, so these were a small part of the shots I did for his PR needs.

  • Thanks, always wondered why fashion shoots needed the panels either side of the model, now we know. Where abouts did you get the panels and the small stands that they slide into. Will have to pop down and see you sometime, just dawned that you are in the Hasselblad studios. All the best and interesting shoot!

  • LOve this Gavin, I wish I could afford a studio set up like that! Can you do lots more videos on lighting?!

  • Gavin I thought you had said in another video that the background had to be Two stops brighter? Can you recommend a cheap light meter please?

    Thanks for another great video !!

    Paul

  • @pjos111 if you have an iPhone then check this out, "Pocket Light Meter in the app store." sorry it will not let me link it to you.

  • @MikeFendtPhotography Fantastic tip! Thank you very much!!! I'm lucky we have it on the Brazil Store. Not that many good apps in here :-(

  • Omg yesterday evening i searched for a tutorial on this. Gavin you are a genius!

  • Very nice tip again Gavin. Thanks for sharing...nice camera too. How do you compare it with other DSLR?

  • I like that, "Don't look at me".....

  • model and camera both are huge.

  • thumbs up for the great tip Galvin!

  • If it's not too much trouble can you put a diagram of how the light is set up at the end of your next video for people who want to set up there own. Thank a lot for your tutorial I love them.

  • so simple and so good photos

  • I really didnt like the shadows round his eyes, maybe the Key Light could of been lowered to your shooting angle.

  • I notice that you use a light meter in this shoot... but how about shooting without light meter?... can I use the built in DSLR light meter to get the proper reading before the final shoot? hope you can make a tutorial on this for studio shoot and landscaping shoot. Thanks.

  • I remember watching your video where you had your lovely daughter on a cheap piece of white cloth, playing with some toy balls. A hat with a ball on top and an old 350D being your tools.

    Now here you are holding a Hasselblad, clean and professional studio environment, fancy lightmetering stuff and all... Great job. But i do hope you'll keep making videos for us enthousiast amateurs!

  • @muusers Don't worry, I gave the camera back at the end of the day. Nice idea but not the camera for me, but it was fun to play with the big toys for a day.

  • @muusers He has reache richie rich status.

  • 3:24 Blue Steel!

  • you - are - a - PRO :D

  • for me, great video, but if I didn't have any prior knowledge about studio lighting, I probably would not have understood everything (eg, lighting diagrams, strobe terminology, what your metering is telling you, why the white background isn't 'white' unless you 'over-expose' it). My favorite tip: meter from the back of the subject. Also I really enjoy seeing the results immediately during your video (and I thought they were good results! I enjoyed the composition and contrast)

  • Note that the Hasselblad H4D-31 (the 31 MPixel version, with all the same features as the H4D-50 Gavin used in this video, only with a smaller resolution sensor) is now only £8,995+VAT, so Hasselblad quality and medium format is now a lot more affordable.

  • 3:10 I always smile when people rotate square format cameras (oh... unless this one is masked somehow)

  • @fredNielssen It's a 645 format sensor, so not square... sorry.

  • @PhotoGavin ah righto :) I feel stupid now

  • @fredNielssen Zing!

  • @fredNielssen Ownd!!!

  • I saw at 3:45 that you have highlight alert at the LCD, was that your purpose and is there any chance to recover such amout of lost detail in LR or PS?

    Regards

  • @ogisto100 Any detail would no longer make it a pure white background, which is what he set out to achieve.

  • @ogisto100 This video is about creating pure white backgound without any darker detail.

  • @ogisto100 thought I'd jump in on what others have stated - yes, Gav was going for a pure white background, but what wasn't explicitly stated by the other replies was that to get "pure white" on your digital sensor, you essentially need to completely over-expose those pixels. (otherwise they wouldn't be "white")

  • @jkddaddy

    Thanks

  • I saw at 3:45 that you have highlight alert at the LCD, was that your purpose and is there any chance to recover such amout of lost detail in LR or PS?

    Regards

  • Gavin, my man, these shots are incredible!

    The combination of years of experience, a good eye and a solid understanding of the theory is a rare combination, and you have it in spades.

    Love your work.

  • Hi Gavin. Thanks for alle of your great videos I lovet it :)

    But what aperture did you use in this setup ? (camera)

    Best regarde Dennis

  • @usausb it was likely about f11 as this is what he metered the key light at - so for 'correct' exposure when you meter the keylight at f11, you should set the camera to f11. The being said, of course you can artistically over or under expose from there (but this can also be done in the digital darkroom - usually it's best to capture the image with the most information possible (read - most light))

  • @usausb it occurred to me after my first reply, that you may have been asking about aperture due to the "depth of field" shot of the headphones. Gavin will have to tell us for sure if he changed the aperture, but remember that depth of field is also highly influenced by focus distance. Notice Gavin is fairly clost to his subject when he focuses on the headphones. I'm not sure if it's enough to get those results at f11... so he'll have to tell us for sure OR you could grab a camera and try it

  • @jkddaddy You're correct. it was f/11 on all shots and the shallow depth of field is simply a result of working at the minimum focus distance on that lens. Sometimes the simple solutions are the best :-)

    I like your ... try it yourself... comment, bravo!

  • @usausb The camera was set to f/11 for ALL the photos in this video.

  • Gavin you bawler :P

  • Amazing! Thanks Gavin. Great as always!

  • Can I work for you as an intern? OMG you are amazing!!!!

  • I like that model.

  • Omg..the images are so crisp

  • how did you measure the light ?! what is the name of the small device in your right hand?!

  • @tamim4ever it's a light meter; many types and brands out there; this one is slick because it has a radio trip (eg pocketwizard) built in to fire the strobes (as opposed to waiting to "see" extra light, or using a sync cable to fire the strobes)

  • @jkddaddy thank you dude! your videos are awesome! I've been watching each of it! keep it up!

  • Hasselblad... my dream camera. And finally a good video on how to light your white background. I have been following all your videos ever since I started getting into photography. Been very helpful

  • What can I do if I want you to photograph me? I live in Canada! :(

  • Thank you!!

  • Is that your body guard?

  • Thanks for tip,Gavin! By the way - where did you got this Chippendale? Did he watched a Hasselblad while you enlightened us? (LOL) He definitely qualify for Model #1 2011! :)

  • holy fuuuuc you are good

  • Brilliant video!

  • Thank you so much Gavin :)

  • forget the background!!! I want that Hasselblad!!! :)

  • i love this guy, and thank you for making these videos, you have helped me so much, really appreciate it

  • nice tip on metering the back of the subject, I never thought about that! I used to have a lot of trouble with light spilling onto the subject

  • I've always used a 2 stop compensation between subject and background, but if it works, great. Great vid by the way

  • thumbs up for 15 minute video challenge :)

  • The shutter sound is epic

  • he needs a chapstick and a bigger jacket!

  • I'm jealous! Of the camera, of the studio ...

    and of your skills :)

  • Hey Gavin - when you opened the aperture value to I'm guessing 1.4 when you took the DOF shot at 4.00 in the movie, how did you compensate with the lighting? I'm using two strobes/softboxes and a home studio and tried this with my daughter but the light killed the image even at 1/8th power. Did you lower the lights power or compensate with faster shutter?

  • @jddonba The aperture never changed... f/11 on all photos. The shallow DOF was simply a result of getting VERY close to the headphones.

  • @jddonba You can shoot at wider apertures. Turn lights on lowest setting, use the lowest iso for your camera and then from there you could try using an nd filter on your camera. Or you could use nd gels on your lights. You could go to a larger soft box /modifier and move it back a bit further. Or you might have to add extra diffusion material to your modifier. This will all vary depending on the size of you studio etc etc but yes it can be done.

  • @HighMarkAdventures I did get it to work like this, using one light as low as possible and as far away as I could. Photo was pretty good, but on a black background I realised I still need a rim light or something to illuminate from behind. More saving I guess! Thanks!

  • @jddonba if you want to use wide apertures like f2.8 or f1.4 on a prime lens with studio lights, it can be done with a simple trick of using dark filters, but to get the affect Gav done is simply use a telephoto lens and get close up. A 24-70mm f2.8 set at full zoom around f11 can give you a good washed out look if you simply bring the talent closer to the lens. I hope this helps.

  • @MikeFendtPhotography Thanks, I've only tried a few shoots (my daughter (11) now dreads them haha), but all with a 50mm prime. I do have an 18-105mm but it only goes down to f3.5, probably smaller at 70mm. Will give that a try at the weekend when she's back from the hair dressers!

  • Wow nice! The hassie is nice but I would never justify spending 28k on a camera when you could get a 2 year old porsche for the same price or less! I know for pros it is probably worth its weight in gold but even if I was a pro I think I would be happy with a 1d mk4 etc! But at the moment im perfectly happy with my 550d!

  • is that bert stephani when he is younger

  • can a hasselblad shoot raw? okey for 28 k i hope so xD

    but with a 60 MP sensor, how big are those files? 5 petabytes?

  • @Spaeckli Yes it shoots RAW. I only used the 50MP version and a RAW was about 75-80mb in size... Ouch!

  • @Spaeckli As always great tips, Question when using reflectors in the above situation how should i meter if bouncing flash off the reflector ?

  • How tall is that guy...?

  • @isoSkroting I think Delaney must be over nine feet tall, or I was standing in a hole. So he's a true giant in the music world ;-)

  • just don't drop that thing xD

  • Is a video with black (muslin) backdrop on its way by any chance...? They are quite hard to work with... Video on that would be awesome!

  • HOLY CRAP a large format camera!

  • I wish my shots were so sharp. Damn you Hassleblad! ;p Great vid Gavin... as usual ;)