Lighting Recipe Challenge
December 8th, 2011 | Photography TipsShot this at a wedding recently and a few people asked about how I did it. I am happy to share that plus the behind-the-scene setup shots to show you exactly what I did.
Before we get there, I thought it will be fun to have a challenge. Anyone who can guess the exact lighting recipe will win a 135-minute World Tour wedding photography instructional DVD which retails for U$100 each. Deadline is next Thursday, 15 December. Good luck!
updated 15 December 2011
This is how we did it…
At a wedding, I always have to improvise and work with mobile tools. For a reasonable good ring shot, it has to be focus and sharp to bring out the design, cut and colours. I have the SB800 & 900s, Lastolite softbox, 60mm macro, and a mirror of make-up kit from the make-up artist 
Always be nice to the make-up artists. They can be your ALLY!
I need to achieve a few things: background must be almost pitch dark, enough depth of field to show the details of the rings. And for these reasons, I couldn’t have used ambient light whether indoor or outdoor. It would have created a lot of spill. A softbox on the other hand, helps me to contain, shape and direct the light as I see fit.
Shot it at f11, 1/250, ISO200. The low ISO and shutter speed allow me to kill off most of the ambient light so I can get a near pitch back background. At f11, I get reasonable sharpness. It is still some distance from say a De Beers or Tiffany ad, which would require more powerful lights and lenses and camera with higher resolution for a pin sharp shot of the ring. Yet given the little time and limited equipment, I have to compromise between being as perfect as a commercial shooter and getting a good enough shot.
Many correctly predicted the use of a softbox from the left and wrongly assumed that I had a reflector on the right. From the early days of photographing small objects, I’ve learned that mirrors gives a more specular bounce than white or silver surface. This is helpful to bring out the details and colours of the sapphire.
I wish I have a smaller softbox. Lost too much power with the Lastolite 24″. A smaller softbox may help me gain 1-1.5 stop of light, and thus allow me to shoot at f16-18. Oh well, this is guerrilla lighting, not always perfect, but always mobile and effective.
Thank you for taking part in this. Since nobody made a perfect guess, I’ll bring the prize forward to the next recipe challenge. Cheers!
December 8th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
A Elinchrom BXRi500 with softbox on the top left. Since you got the Elinchrom light might be guessing it would be a good try to guess. Thanks
December 9th, 2011 at 4:46 am
On camera ring flash?
December 9th, 2011 at 9:06 am
2 light sources, one mirror and one white paper background on rails.
The setup, jewelry was placed on a mirror positioned so it was reflecting a black paper backdrop when looked from a camera’s angle. However, backdrop was black, as no other light source was pointed on a backdrop. Narrow rectangular softbox was placed on top of the jewelry left side, so no lights was escaping on a backdrop behind.
And another fill light used to place on the right side of teh jewelry with diffuser.. wild guessing based on my little product shoot knowledge
Pai Seh!!
December 9th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Shoot under natural day light at outdoor?
December 9th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
I agree with the softbox (camera left) plus there is second light source to camera right – I am guessing a white reflector, though it could be another softbox on a lower setting. I would also guess that both the light and reflector are pretty close to the rings.
December 10th, 2011 at 1:32 am
Handheld led torch front – left…..looks very precise for large light source.
December 11th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Using the Elinchrom BXRi500 lights from the top left corner, as Louis has that equipment. Another reflector on the bottom right coner for the fill lights on the side of the ring.
December 11th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
I’m only seeing one light source. From above and left. You can see a highlight on the inside of the right hand ring, which is reflecting and causing the highlight on the rightside of the left hand ring. The giveaway for me is the specular highlights on the upper left of both rings. I would say a speedlight into a medium sized soft box.
December 12th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Only 1 lighting source using small LED torchlight directly light up at 45 degree from left of the ring.
December 14th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Indoor. Natural light from a large door/window
December 14th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
My guess, a light source from top left as key, in softbox, highlight on the right using reflector as fill in
December 15th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!