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While shooting portraits at the beach can be great fun, harsh lighting from the direct sunlight can result in blown-out highlights, distracting shadows, or squinting from your model.
This lesson will show a technique that we like to use for modifying direct sunlight.
(Click on any image below for an enlarged view.) |
Topics Covered:
- Shooting in a reflector tent
Equipment Used:
 Figure 1 |
This image shows our model on the beach with the early morning sun as the only light source. |
 Figure 2 |
Using 3 - 77" x 77" LitePanels, we constructed an outdoor shooting tent. The left side, facing the sun, has a translucent LitePanel fabric to transmit and soften the sunlight. The ceiling panel also has the translucent fabric.
The right side has a gold reflective LitePanel fabric to bounce light back into our model, creating a nice fill and rim light.
NOTE: Later in this lesson, we show how to construct this shooting tent. |
 Figure 3 |
We had our model stand inside the shooting tent. |
 Figure 4 |
Here is another angle of our shooting set up. |
 Figure 5 |
Here is the result of shooting in the enclosure.
Notice how the highlight is now on the right side (reflector side) of our model. The tranlucent screens have softened the direct sunlight to provide a soft, even light. |
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Below we compare the shot outside the enclosure with the shot from inside the enclosure. |
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 Figure 6 |
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Now, we show how the shooting tent enclosure was constructed.
We used 3 - 77"x77" LitePanel frames and fabric, 4 LiteStands, 4 Main & T clamps, 6 LitePanel connector clips, and 2 weightbags.
One person can build this enclosure in about 15 minutes. |
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 Figure 7 |
We set up the first two LiteStands about 7 feet apart. Main & T Clamps were secured to the stands' posts.
We built the first frame. |
 Figure 8 |
The frame is secured with the Main & T Clamps on the LiteStands. |
 Figure 9 |
The translucent fabric is secured to the frame. The fabric corners have elastic for quick placement to the frame. |
 Figure 10 |
We placed a weightbag on LiteStand braces to stabilize our panel. |
 Figure 11 |
We set up the second LitePanel frame and secured it to the other two LiteStands. |
 Figure 12 |
The gold panel fabric was stretched onto this panel frame.
This panel will reflect and "warm up" the sunlight. |
 Figure 13 |
We placed 3 LitePanel connector clips on each of the two frames along the top sections.
LitePanel Connector Clips are designed to secure separate panels together. Connector Clips are available in a set of six. |
 Figure 14 |
We constructed the third LitePanel frame. This is the ceiling panel. |
 Figure 15 |
This frame also gets a translucent fabric. |
 Figure 16 |
One section of the ceiling frame is secured to the connector clips on the top section of one of the other panel frames. |
 Figure 17 |
Lift the other end of the ceiling panel into place. |
 Figure 18 |
The frame is secured to the side panel with the connector clips. |
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Click here to view a more detailed version of this lesson, complete with camera set-up information, on Web Photo School. |
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Equipment Used:
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