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which light "filter" combination looks best

Mar 15, 2013

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    1. Wasn't sure whether to post this here or in the Visual Concepts thread...
      I'd like some opinions on what looks best, please.
      I have two white-skinned dolls and three dark-skinned dolls. This in itself presents a challenge in achieving balance.
      Tools I have available:
      - an Android Pantech Breakout 5 megapixel phone camera
      - a room light w/ 3 100watt energy-saver bulbs
      - a desk lamp w/ no lamp shade that uses a 100watt energy-save bulb. I sometimes cover it with a sock(s) to get less contrast
      - an artist's "daylight"/"natural light" tube light lamp. It has a bendable neck. Since I don't have filters or different colors of bulbs, I covered it with yellow tissue paper, and then with red tissue paper.
      - window drapes that are sheer =/
      - a piece of large cardboard to cover up my off-white wall

      All pics were taken using the Auto settings on my camera phone.
      (pics are in the following posts)

      What can I change to get better pictures?


      I appreciate you taking the time to read this n_n
       
      #1 Qwuilleran, Mar 15, 2013
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    2. 1)[​IMG] 2)[​IMG]
      3)[​IMG] 4)[​IMG]
      5)[​IMG] 6)[​IMG]
       
      #2 Qwuilleran, Mar 15, 2013
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    3. 1)[​IMG] 2)[​IMG]
      3)[​IMG] 4)[​IMG]
      5)[​IMG]
       
      #3 Qwuilleran, Mar 15, 2013
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    4. 1)[​IMG] 2)[​IMG]
      3)[​IMG] 4)[​IMG]
      5)[​IMG]
       
      #4 Qwuilleran, Mar 15, 2013
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    5. Just my two cents, but I'm a fan of photographing with white light and doing mood coloring in processing, unless you really have a very specific look you're going for (or have some great serendipitous lighting.)

      Of the white ones, 2 is my favorite because it gives the most detail. Again...processing can do the rest. I find the on-camera light sources to be blinding. In-frame direct lighting can be done, but it should be the focus of the shot. Think of a light source as the whitest white of the image...(even if it's colored light.) It's always going to have the highest albedo and so strand out. You really want the eye drawn to the characters, not the bare bulb. I'd pull the light sources out of the frame, myself, and then decide where you want the focus of the picture to be and try to angle the light source to bring out that aspect of the image.

      Also, you should always try different exposures, esp with multiple characters in a frame. If you find "washout" happening on the light skin, try adjusting your "brightness" setting on the phone. I checked the manual for you phone (download here) and you can manually adjust that. (These smart phone cameras are really pretty powerful...) What you want to do is avoid over exposing the white sections, unless you specifically want that effect. But I'd get the "basic clear image" under control first, then start playing with unusual.

      You can almost always find more detail and sharpen the contrast in the dark areas in a photo-processing software. Dragging detail out of an overexposed area is much more difficult.

      Hope that helps
       
      #5 Vindalootoo, Mar 15, 2013
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      • x 1
    6. It was very helpful, yes, thank you! And thank you for the manual link.
      I played around with the settings and am learning how to adjust them based on the situation, but it's a process...
       
      #6 Qwuilleran, Mar 19, 2013
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