White On White: Terror On the Set
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The title of this tutorial is “White On White: Terror On the Set” because shooting a white subject on a white background is often enough to strike terror into the heart of a studio photographer! Because reflected light meter readings can be tricked by white on white subjects this tutorial starts off with an explanation of the differences between reflected light and incident light readings.
The section ends with two diagrams that illustrate the difference between reflective and incident light readings. Moving on to shooting a single white subject on a white background, the tutorial illustrates the pitfalls involved with using on axis lighting, explaining how shadows can be used to define the shape of the subject, and shows the importance of making sure the pure white part of the entire image is carefully assigned to the primary subject. Finally, the tutorial ends with a diagram drawn in front of the camera that recreates what changes were made to the lighting design that led up to the finished image.
Set Shop Tutorial Checklist
Call (800) 422-7381 or visit us online to purchase any of the products used in this tutorial.
- Lee Filters and Gels: The Set Shop carries the full line of Lee Filters and Gels.
- Professional Gaffers Tape: All of the Set Shop’s Professional gaffer tape comes from Shuretape formerly Permacel
- Clamps and Grip Heads: Set shop carries a wide assortment of clamps and gripheads like A Clamps and C Clamps.
- Toughlux 60″x15′ Roll Diffusion: Tough lux has been an industry standard for years. It is a neutral, heat stable diffusion material. It offers the perfect level of diffusion for most applications
- Light Stand: Set Shop has a variety of stands and equipment for backgrounds and lights.
- Foamcore: Our most popular size foamcore, this B/W 1/2 thick Foamcore is great for creating V Flats. May be used as a giant gobo, this Foamcore is great when adding black to a reflection or lighting setup.
- Show Card: Due to the fragile nature of most showcards a 5 card minimum (mix and match allowed) is required when ordering for Shipping. This ensures that your cards can be packed adequately and make it to your location in the best shape possible. For local pick up or delivery any quantity is accepted.
- Armature Wire: This economical aluminum wire is light weight and fully pliable for making large size sculptural armatures. Non-staining and non-corrosive.
- Saw Horses: They collapse flat for easy storage. Perfect for still life sets in the studio or on location. Great if you need a table in a hurry anywhere.
- Translucent White Acrylic: This Translucent White Acrylic Sheet 4′ x 8′ and 1/4″ thick. Often referred to as Milky White, this acrylic is glossy on both sides. A cheaper and safer solution to a real 4′ x 8′ glass, this Translucent White Acrylic sheet is a versatile plastic material that can be used in numerous applications and has great impact strength.
Steve Sint
Steve Sint has spent a great deal of his life walking down aisles backwards. Over a 40 year career, he has photographed over 4,000 weddings, taken over 2 million photographs, and shot over 1 million portraits for his own studio and others in the New York metropolitan area. As a commercial photographer he has photographed thousands of executives and still life subjects. His client list includes, or has included, the American Broadcasting Company, Time Inc., Hearst Publications, Yves St. Laurent, AT&T, NCR, National Semiconductor, Miller Freeman Publishing, MacGroupUS, and Hachette-Filipacchi Magazines. His photographs have appeared on the covers of over 60 national magazines including LIFE, Omni, Stereo Review, and Modern Photography.
As a columnist and contributor his words and photographs have also appeared in Studio Photography, Lens Magazine, Modern Photography, Popular Photography, View Camera Magazine, Railroad Model Craftsman, and he has authored 7 books on photography. In his most recently published book, Digital Wedding Photography: Art, Business, and Style, he shares his experience with his readers in the breezy, knowledgeable, and accessible style his writing is known for. At this point in his career he limits his assignments to 50 per year for a select New York clientele, photographs and writes about things he enjoys, and still finds time to lecture on professional photography, create and produce tutorial videos, conduct workshops on wedding, portrait, and still life photography, while still finding time to work on his model railroad.
His book, Digital Still Life Photography: Art, Business, and Style, was released in January 2013.
Steve Sint
Steve Sint has spent a great deal of his life walking down aisles backwards. Over a 40 year career, he has photographed over 4,000 weddings, taken over 2 million photographs, and shot over 1 million portraits for his own studio and others in the New York metropolitan area. As a commercial photographer he has photographed thousands of executives and still life subjects. His client list includes, or has included, the American Broadcasting Company, Time Inc., Hearst Publications, Yves St. Laurent, AT&T, NCR, National Semiconductor, Miller Freeman Publishing, MacGroupUS, and Hachette-Filipacchi Magazines. His photographs have appeared on the covers of over 60 national magazines including LIFE, Omni, Stereo Review, and Modern Photography.
As a columnist and contributor his words and photographs have also appeared in Studio Photography, Lens Magazine, Modern Photography, Popular Photography, View Camera Magazine, Railroad Model Craftsman, and he has authored 7 books on photography. In his most recently published book, Digital Wedding Photography: Art, Business, and Style, he shares his experience with his readers in the breezy, knowledgeable, and accessible style his writing is known for. At this point in his career he limits his assignments to 50 per year for a select New York clientele, photographs and writes about things he enjoys, and still finds time to lecture on professional photography, create and produce tutorial videos, conduct workshops on wedding, portrait, and still life photography, while still finding time to work on his model railroad.
His book, Digital Still Life Photography: Art, Business, and Style, was released in January 2013.
