back light - low budget option

[bigteethproductions]

i've had to shoot some things lately on low/no budget and little time.

I find that I'm spending a big chunk of time trying to eliminate very big shadows and I think that much of this has to do with my lack of a back light in most shots.

My "kit" (for lack of a better word) is just a few photo lights and whatever fixtures I have in a room to work with - i do plan on assembling a DIY kit based on suggestions from this forum, but will do so when I have more room to store it.

In the meantime, does anyone have suggestions as to how to back light subjects - usually people in interview type situations - without the proper equipment to back light with?

thanks.

 

[bcheong]

I use a household PAR38 bulb in a practical fixture with some blackwrap. Does the trick perfectly in creating the necessary rim/backlight on the subject.

Just as a headsup backlight will not eliminate big shadows. I'm assuming you mean shadows in the background?

 

[R!ff R4ff]

Back/hair light should be felt not seen (unless you're going for that effect). Dark haired people will need more. We use a dimmable fixture with a clamp on it. We also use a par38 bulb but the blackwrap sounds like a terrific idea, thanks bcheong.

 

[bigteethproductions]

bcheong,

when you say "practical fixture", for those of us not so technically inclined, does that just mean a regular light fixture?

if there aren't any normal fixtures around does anyone rig up a setting in any not too difficult way?

thanks for the responses so far, I look forward to hearing more.

 

[bcheong]

when you say "practical fixture", for those of us not so technically inclined, does that just mean a regular light fixture?

Basically yes. It's a medium base household socket with a cord extension and some kind of inline switch. I carry some that I bought at a camera shop meant to take photoflood bulbs. You can also buy something similar at a home depot type store. If you know a little bit about electrical you can wire them yourself also. I've done a few with porcelain sockets to help with the heat.

In a pinch you could probably use a desk lamp. Just make sure you use the correctly rated wattage for that particular lamp!

 

[smelni]

eliminating shadows is not necessary - shadows are natural and normal and should be there - they should be primarly from one direction.

What I think you want to do is soften shadows - this can be done by adding diffusion in front of the light or a frame with silk - the softer the light source the softer the shadow

 

[pmg]

To eliminate the shadow on the background, pull your subject away from the background. Then the shadow falls prior to the background.

 

[bigteethproductions]

To eliminate the shadow on the background, pull your subject away from the background. Then the shadow falls prior to the background.

this is something I figured out during the shoot, but had to move my subjects to a different location within the house.

I guess its a matter of more experimenting with some light set ups when you can't move the subjects.

thanks for all the help so far though. I do appreciate it. And I am planning on putting together a DIY light kit that will be better than what I have now at least.