Lighting Question

[brucedraw]

Sign above my desk at work says: "There are no stupid questions, just stupid mistakes". So, before I make a stupid mistake, let me ask one of "those" questions: I'm a real novice with a lighting question - I know that "photo lights", strobes, etc. are "color corrected" and very expensive for an amatuer just messing around. Incadescent bulbs tend to give a yellowish tone. I have not used the flourescent bulbs much but the question in point here is: can halogen lights (similar to the worklights I have in my garage workshop) be used for photo lighting?

[andyz]

I have seen posters using these. You can color correct in camera and in post. I think what gets difficult is when you mix these and correction gets harder.

[danchez]

Have you checked out Alienbees, not too expensive and decent quality with great customer service.

[bondarnes]

Shop lights will do OK, but you probably want to diffuse them with a white bed sheet, a frosted shower curtain, or something similar. Even though they seem really bright to your eye, your camera will want a slow shutter speed, a wide lense opening, a higher ISO, or some combination of all three. Halogens ARE incandescent lights so set that for your white balance. If you shoot RAW and edit in Lightroom or Adobe ACR you can adjust color balance in post. And as mentioned above do not mix incandescent with any light source that is no also incandescent unless you are looking for bizarre results.

Next time post in Lighting Discussion Forum.

[HotHolly]

hee hee. we call those 'ghetto lights.' and ghetto lights are better than no lights imho. what don said - diffuse the light or it'll look nasty. also be careful you dont burn anything. my work lights are really HOT.

and andy is right about mixing color temps - getting a true WB is really hard when your light sources are different temps. i wouldnt combine unless you like the rainbow bright look.

[toverman]

Wouldn't be bad to start out with, at least to get you used to positioning them on a subject. Just make sure the subject can take the heat!

There's also this free, giant glowing orb that rises above the horizon every morning in the east. Always good in a pinch and with reflectors and some practice, you can harness its power for your photography. Well ... during the day at least!

[Cajungaltx]

Google: DIY Ghetto lighting- GREAT website for info on how to do it.

[texxter]

Most studio photography until strobes were established in the 1940s was done with either natural sunlight or tungsten light. Of course at the time color temperature was less of an issue because photography was in b&w.

Halogen lights can be used for portraiture. Their color will be different from sunlight, but that's ok as long as the white balance on the camera or in post-processing is balanced with the source of light. You can use an inexpensive gray card as a test, and set a custom white balance to match the card - or do it in post. The light doesn't have to be yellow unless the white balance is set incorrectly.

So go for it, shoot in raw, and learn to set a custom white balance with a gray card.