Dissect setup in this scene

[starcentral]

Anyone know what that is that looks like big black flags everywhere?

57519

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

Anyone know what that is that looks like big black flags everywhere?

57519

A badly setup bedouin tent?

It look to be an attempt to 'shape' light around the girl seated, and cut out 'sky light' from the direction were the 'tent' is setup.

[starcentral]

It looks slightly overcast judging from the lack of hard shadows being cast to the right side of everything in that photo.

I guess by eliminating light from the right side of the talent, it would thereby create a more contrast look, perhaps bringing it back to a more sunny/daylight look instead of dull and flat.

[Finnegan]

Looks like a four by floppy being used as negative fill to me.

[David W. Jones]

Agree 4x4 floppy.

[starcentral]

I gotta get me one of those!

[RickyC]

I gotta get me one of those!

I love em, have 4, wish I had 4 more. They are great for blocking out windows, and most importantly= shade :)

[Shooter]

Could be negative fillas others suggest and could be doubling as a wind block for the audio guy

[sonofaresiii]

is negative fill really going to be that useful in such an open space? i mean if it was blocking out light from the water sure, but... it's what, blocking reflections from a hill a hundred feet away?

[Moseph]

is negative fill really going to be that useful in such an open space? i mean if it was blocking out light from the water sure, but... it's what, blocking reflections from a hill a hundred feet away?
It does look poorly set up (although I can't say for sure since I obviously wasn't there), but the idea is to block light from the sky. This is the easiest way to get more contrast / harsher light when it's overcast. An overcast sky is one giant source that comes from all directions above the horizon, sometimes that's not desired.

[Tolin]

is negative fill really going to be that useful in such an open space? i mean if it was blocking out light from the water sure, but... it's what, blocking reflections from a hill a hundred feet away?

When you got very flat light, such as that during overcast, it means you have light coming from all directions (sort of). By placing a negative fill close to the subject you are effectively reducing the light from that direction, even if it's just by a little. This, as Moseph mentioned helps to create a less flat look.

[starcentral]

I guess this could easily amount to 1 or more stops of light difference. Take your light meter and meter it towards and away from light source (or overcast) and I guess that's the idea. It all makes very good sense indeed.