Strobes and sun have a similar color temperature and generally work well together. Because this is a mixed lighting situation, we will take 2 readings: One for the sunlit background and one for the strobe on the face. To create contrast between our subject and the background, we will intentionally underexpose the background by 1 stop to make our subject “pop” out of the background.
1. Meter the background
2. Set the power on your strobe to be one F Stop brighter than the background (take meter reading off subject when strobe is fired). For example, if the background reads F11 at 1/250, then have the reading on the subject be F16 at 1/250. Remember to have the ISO in the meter and the camera set the same. Shoot at the reading on the subject, F16.
3. Shutter speed controls the background, NOT the strobe. Bracket by shooting at a slower shutter speed to lighten the background. Try F16 at 1/125. Then F16 at 1/60. Then F16 at 1/30. You can blow the background to white without changing the exposure on the subject. Remember to keep the power on the strobe the same. If you change it, you’ll have to re-meter.
Demo # 2:
Fashion shoot on a colored background.
After delegating specific students as photographer, photo assistant, model, art director, and stylist, we did a demo on how to shoot a fashion-type portrait on a solid color back drop. To have the color appear as one sees it, the meter readings on the face must be the same as those on the background. To darken the shade of the green backdrop, lessen the light on the backdrop by one stop. To lighten the green, pump up the strobes on the backdrop 1 stop. We used 2 softboxes to light the background evenly and one strip bank and a fill card to light the subject. Students chose portraits from fashion magazines and in class we discussed how each would duplicate this type of lighting situation to recreate the photo in our studio for next week's assignment.
