interior lighting revisited

[marc gerritsen]

I promised way back that I would post, once I experimented with more lighting.

The lighting technique that I used here, is having the camera on tripod and me walking around
with a remote trigger for the camera and a trigger for flash or tungsten light
I douse light at particular locations and then stack the exposures where I want them.

H3d39 + elichrom ranger

it really slowed me down, but I enjoyed the slower and more deliberated pace.

here are some photos and a behind the scenes movie

2 projects an hotel and a residence

cheers
m
 

[haefnerphoto]

Marc, I think the results are great!  Will you be a little more specific and tell me what type of strobe and trigger do you use?  Is exposure a trial and error method or more sophisticated?  Thanks, Jim

[Rob C]

Marc - do you mean that you stack them in the sense of melding several separate files into one or, on the other hand, do you mean you simply use the old-fashioned still film technique of multiple flashes on one frame? Works nicely; we used to do a variation on that type of shot in my distant past, where jet engines stood on end or in their gimbal rigs were photographed with a moving hand-lamp providing the illumination over about a minute or so. Painting with light, if you like. That was on 4x5 with slow films such as - if memory serves - R10 plates. Remember glass plates? So flat... no distortion in the enlarger regardless of length of exposure, no need for cold cathode heads.

Oh to be young again!

Rob C

[Snook]

Great work and beautiful house to shoot..
Congrats..
Snook
Were they all single shots and lit or lit separately?

[Dick Roadnight]

the camera on tripod and me walking around
with a remote trigger for the camera and a trigger for flash or tungsten light
I douse light at particular locations and then stack the exposures where I want them.
cheers
m

This is a technique I have been thinking of using, with my 4 Metzs, pocket wizards and apo-digitars with Schneider Electronic Shutters, enabling use of full movements.

Stacking gives much more control, as each exposure can be edited individually... and you can re-do individual exposures... if you can post-process on site, you can make additional exposures for missed areas.

[Abdulrahman Aljabri]

Marc - do you mean that you stack them in the sense of melding several separate files into one or, on the other hand, do you mean you simply use the old-fashioned still film technique of multiple flashes on one frame?

Rob C

I think he is doing the first thing. Watching the video confirmed this for me.

[Abdulrahman Aljabri]

Thanks for posting this Marc. Do you mind posting the original scenes without any added light?

[rethmeier]

Marc,
are you trying to break into the American market?
I prefer your old style,
Best,
Willem.

N.B It looks o.k actually,maybe a bit over-lit ?

[tesfoto]

Marc,
are you trying to break into the American market?
I prefer your old style,
Best,
Willem.

N.B It looks o.k actually,maybe a bit over-lit ?

+1, your old work with natural light have much more sensitivity.

[marc gerritsen]

Marc,
are you trying to break into the American market?
I prefer your old style,
Best,
Willem.

N.B It looks o.k actually,maybe a bit over-lit ?

Hi Willem
no not breaking into that market, altough......
just wanted to experiment with a different style
this kind of lighting does really well in the hotel industry
can't see myself doing this on every job as it slow going.
Since I came to these shores here 5 years ago. I saw a lot of people copying my more natural style
and feel I need to have something else up my sleeve. don't want to be a one trick pony!!
Also finding out about it all, expirimenting and then shooting 2 projects and finally doing the retouch
was very exiting, something new.
cheers
m

[JonathanBenoit]

It's a very interesting technique, but I also think its a bit over lit. Then again, I prefer more natural lighting

[marc gerritsen]

Marc - do you mean that you stack them in the sense of melding several separate files into one or, on the other hand, do you mean you simply use the old-fashioned still film technique of multiple flashes on one frame? Works nicely; we used to do a variation on that type of shot in my distant past, where jet engines stood on end or in their gimbal rigs were photographed with a moving hand-lamp providing the illumination over about a minute or so. Painting with light, if you like. That was on 4x5 with slow films such as - if memory serves - R10 plates. Remember glass plates? So flat... no distortion in the enlarger regardless of length of exposure, no need for cold cathode heads.

Oh to be young again!

Rob C

hi rob
each shot i take gets one dash of light, sometimes when using flash I have time for two flashes in a 10 sec exposure
then they get stacked and i rub out an unlit scene or myself
with the rig I use I can choose to use tungsten or flash
but for flash I have to put a filter on, since there is more tungsten light over all
when I use the tungsten light I move it around as a large paint brush.
m

[Abdulrahman Aljabri]

It's a very interesting technique, but I also think its a bit over lit. Then again, I prefer more natural lighting

I like them and I think they are the best alternative to no lighting. From my experience natural lighting requires windows and lamps to create mood. Otherwise ceiling mounted top to bottom light creates very flat lighting.

I think if you saw those pictures without any added light you would prefer the ones with the added light much more.



Marc,

Did you miss my question 5 or 6 comments up? Is it possible that you post the same pictures without any lighting?


Thanks

[marc gerritsen]

? Is it possible that you post the same pictures without any lighting?

here they are

I must say I would also really like to light naturally over this technique,
but when shooting in generally dark apartments with an overall tungsten environment,
then a bit of extra sparkle is not bad
and it brings the color in the details more out.

cheers
marc

[Abdulrahman Aljabri]

The video makes the lighting method look extreme but the before and after pictures show a subtler, but still important, difference. The horse picture looks particularly good with your lighting. Though, one thing I might have left are the dark shadows at the top to keep the drama. Given the type of interiors, those pictures illustrate good lighting

[KevinA]

I like the effect, there are a lot of natural light interiors around that are looking a bit snapshot.
I do remember a few years back, I was asked to do some Stately home interiors, at the first meeting the client sheepishly brought out a few transparencies they had just had done by another photographer. They were after my opinion of the results, probably some of the funniest pictures I have seen. The chap had used a painting with light technique, there were ghost images of him all over the shots holding a halogen light, a torso here a head there. I can't believe he actually sent them to the client with a bill. If only he had dressed in period costume he might of got away with it!

Kevin.

[Dick Roadnight]

N.B It looks o.k actually,maybe a bit over-lit ?

Hi Willem
no not breaking into that market, altough......
just wanted to experiment with a different style
this kind of lighting does really well in the hotel industry
can't see myself doing this on every job as it slow going.
Since I came to these shores here 5 years ago. I saw a lot of people copying my more natural style
and feel I need to have something else up my sleeve. don't want to be a one trick pony!!
Also finding out about it all, expirimenting and then shooting 2 projects and finally doing the retouch
was very exiting, something new.
cheers
m

One of the pictures with just ambient or room lights I prefer, but most IMHO, could do with a little fill.

I was thinking that if I was to use this "painting with flash light" technique, I would start with the room lights and ambient/window light, and then use the technique for a little fill where needed.

Where there was little other light, I would create two sets of pictures, one for the modeling or key light, and one for the fill, and merge these two sets into two pictures, and then merge the two pictures to give the right balance/modeling.

With a leaf shutter, even with open windows with sunlight pouring in, it should be possible to use (manual) flashes without filters, and adjust the colour temperature for the shots lit by tungsten or other artificial lighting.

[pixjohn]

I personally like the added light shots, It give a little more depth to the image. Look at the legs on the the horse shot compared to the unlit shot. Maybe its me since I shoot a similar style, but available light shots you can't see the detail in color or fabrics that designers like to see.

[KevinA]

Our before & after images - so you can see what was done - which is kind off fun:
http://www.ampimage.com/behind-1.htm

 

What a great marketing idea and use. It answers the question "why use a pro when the cleaner has a good camera" So obvious, so why didn't I think of it.
Great pictures to.

Kevin.

[Dick Roadnight]

Our before & after images - so you can see what was done - which is kind off fun

It is nice to see some quality work, which its technically and artistically great, showing the ambient sunlight and room lights to the extent that the pictures look as if no photolights or reflectors were used.

I hope Europe (or the world) is big enough for both of us?