Smitty wrote:
I am learning more and more about light and how to use it. I need some help how to properly light my subjects when I am doing shoots. I have
1 strobe with umbella, and 2 12 inch floods with umbrellas. Looking for direction for proper placement to get better lit images

A lot of my nudes are done with one strobe firing into a umbrella, or the same strobe fired in a homemade soft box, and one mirror to soften the shadow side.

Your floods would also work.  (I have even done shoots using candles.)

I suggest photographing a plain white coffee cup, on a table, for practice. Watch where the shadows fall, and how harsh they are. Think of the cup handle as the models nose, when looking for shadows.

Keep the lights backed off or you will have blown out highlights.  (highlights so white that there is no detail in them.)

If you are using film, and doing enlarger printing, the lighting contrast can be a little higher, than the same image done with a digital camera, and inkjet printed.

Just remember to keep it simple, get good with one light, and then start adding additional lights as you need them.

John Pringle wrote:
The short stick is your subject is the center of the clock.
The camera sits at the six o'clock position.
The background sits at the twelve o'clock position.
Main light travels from 03:00 to 09:00
Accent light goes the rest of the way behind your subject.
Higher than the nose is usually for headshots.
Light boxes that reach full length is usually used in fashion.
Under the nose or even with it is usually used as a fill.
Light intensity from light to shadows is latutude.
Slide Film has about 1/2 -1/3 latitude.
Color negative film is about 7 stops latitude.
B/W film is about 9 stops latitude.
Digital chips have about 11-14 stops latitude.
B/W paper has about four stops latitude.
If your light is F-11 and your shadows is about F-5.6
You should have a normal setup.
Artistically, it would definately vary.

Wow, thank you!

Paul Ferrara wrote:
You appear to be having problems metering.  The 2nd shots of Krisi and Jeanette are both underexposed.  The first one of Jeanette is overexposed.  I guess I'm curious as to why you don't see that.  Buy an incident meter and take your reading from the highlight side of the subject's face.

Regarding strobes, they won't work well with hot light unless you use the latter for the background.  Same rule applies; get a flash meter and meter for the highlight side of the subject's face.

Paul

To be frank, I only have a camera that I've had for around a month, a couple of nice lens, and some homemade backdrops. I bought two complete lighting kits tonight, and a meter. I've only been pursuing photography for around 6 months. The underexposed shots were from the flash not firing (my fault, wrong settings), but I thought they had some artistic merit, in any event. The overexposed is due to my love of high contrast pictures, and an overzealous Photoshop slide. Again, forgive my inexperience at thinking it had artistic merit.

Both girls were working on a TFCD basis, because they know that I'm new to all of this, and need experience, and were kind enough to sit for me.

I'm still learning (obviously). That's why I take help where I can get it.

Paul Ferrara wrote:
Well, sorry.  I clicked on your port thinking you were the OP.  Criiticism applies though.

I'm not sure why you wanted two complete light kits.  Strobes are the way to go.

Paul

Thanks for the criticism, I'm not bothered by it.

I should have been more clear when I said light kits. What I bought was 2 strobes, 2 lightbox, 2 stands, and 1 slave. To me, this would be a kit. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

Smitty wrote:
...I have 1 strobe with umbella, and 2 12 inch floods with umbrellas. Looking for direction for proper placement to get better lit images

This is not a valid question by itself.  What do you consider "better" and "proper"?  Either you will have to ask how to lit a specific image or you are looking for general lighting technique to light an image concept already in your head.  There is no one right answer to your question.

I agree with many others.  Get a few lighting books based on what you are trying to accomplish (fashion?  glamour?  Nudes?), then try them out.  Better yet, learn the physics of photography.  It will save you time, money and frustrations.

I disagree with the "strobe is the way to go" comment.  Depending on the use and style, hotlights, flourescent, HMI can all be very useful in many occasions.  Continuous lighting is also a much better learning tool than strobes.