Photographic Adventure

Mary Sparrow · 05-20-2004, 07:21 AM

Mike, after looking around and taking your directions into consideration, I finally settled on the dining room. It is the only spot in the house with only one source of light. Because I have been doing this exercise early in the morning, the room itself is very dark at this time of day, not to mention the walls are painted black so there isn't much light bouncing off of walls. Being 5-7 feet back in that room resulted in very muted light, and while I could Identify aspects of your diagram, I needed to move toward the window about 3 feet to get more visible results. Once there it was interesting to see that just the slightest variation in movement resulted in quite a different "picture" should I have chosen to sketch it. I don't think I have ever thought that much about it before. If I moved too close to the light the whole hand seemed illuminated, and reminded me almost of looking at a picture of a hand taken with a flash, to move it farther away from my midpoint, while I could obviously still see the hand there were no shadows of interest. However while standing in the chosen spot approximately 3 feet, maybe 4 from the window, I could definitely see rounded forms all over my hand and arm that resembled your diagram. Each little part on my hand, the finger tips, the knuckles etc, had their own little areas of light zones and shadow zones. I then pulled a white blanket into that dark pit of a room and placed beside me opposite the window. The results were very similar, however it added more of a "glow" to the underside of the shadow zones.

Mike McCarty · 05-20-2004, 12:01 PM

Quote:

I don't think I have ever thought that much about it before.

The question was once posed ...

Mike McCarty · 05-20-2004, 11:48 PM

I

Mary Sparrow · 05-21-2004, 11:01 AM

Mike, I have come back to that room at various times in the day. And there honestly doesn't seem to be that much difference in any of the day light hours. I also walked around other rooms at the same time and they all seemed pretty consistent. I think this is due to being on a very shady lot?

The black room, oddly enough seems as lit as the light green kitchen when looking only at my hand and not paying attention to the room itself. I think this is because there are so many mirrors (4) hanging in that dining room reflecting light.

I do, and will take pictures in my home, however the only places I would allow them in my house would be my living room, dining room, or covered porch. So I "need" to learn how to make these spaces work. However, I also understand the need to be able to make strange places work. What would you suggest I do from here?

Mike McCarty · 05-21-2004, 12:13 PM

Thanks Mary,

Your theory regarding the shaded lot is probably correct.

I know that you have a beautiful statue. In your best lighting conditions, I would like for you to center this statue in the dinning room window about 4-5 feet back. I don't want you to have it right up next to the window. Position yourself such that your shooting angle is 90 degrees to the window. Also, try not to shoot down at or up to the subject, but more horizontal. I would like to see just how much ambient light is in the room. My guess is not much, but the mirrors may factor in a positive way. If the statue is not movable try using a vase on a stand. In fact try both if you can.

Then, just to give us something to compare to, take the vase into the room with two windows and place it using your best judgment. Using the same camera perspective in relation to the light, show us the vase from the two rooms.

For this second room, try and determine your strongest light, and set up for it. Maybe you could somewhat restrict the secondary light if necessary.

Mary Sparrow · 05-21-2004, 02:46 PM

Ok, I got the statue done, only to remember you wanted me to try both after I got back to the computer. I will do the vase for you too but it may be tomorrow before I get a chance.

The first image is in the dining room, 5 feet from the north facing window. Since you asked to cut down on the background noise, I used a sheet as a back drop. If you would prefer I not do that, let me know and when I do the vase for you I won't use it.

The second image is in front of a South facing window that is NOT blocked by shade in my son's bedroom. It is also 5 feet from the window.

Mike McCarty · 05-21-2004, 04:04 PM

Mary,

What I really want is to see how the rooms existing ambient light affects the subject, without introducing any other reflected light such as the sheet. Don't worry about the background noise for now.

Nice images.

Mary Sparrow · 05-21-2004, 04:05 PM

Wow, what a difference an hour makes! I got the baby to bed, so decided to try it with the sugar bowl. (sorry, couldn't find a plain vase)

This bowl is in the exact same spot, taken with the exact same setting, but at 3:30 instead of 2:30. And WHY so blue? (this is an issue I can not figure out how to fix with this camera, maybe it is time to look at that gray card )

I didn't see that much of a difference in the two taken at 2:30, but this is blatant.