How to use lights to control honeycomb light for portraits

Introduction: When you use a flash to light, do you feel that the flash always brightens the entire shooting area? You cannot control the light to the local area that needs to be brightened. Is it good? Or do you feel that the light produced by the flash lacks some delicate and changing layering?

Nikon D70Sigma 24-70mm F2.8, manual mode, aperture f9, shutter 1/200 second, ISO 200, manual white balance. Model: Na Xiaomi

If readers feel sad after seeing this, then let the author introduce to you the honeycomb light control that can control the range of light exposure and make the light have a quite layered feel. use.

Generally speaking, when you want to control the irradiation range of flash light, you will probably use the following methods. Let’s take a look!

1. Change the external flash The focal length range of the flashlight

Generally, the focal length range of the flash can be manually adjusted for mid-to-high-end external flashes. The main purpose of this flash zoom function is to change the range of the flash projected on the subject according to the different focal lengths of the lens. The closer the focal length setting range is to the wide-angle end, the larger the area projected by the flash light, making it more suitable for use with wide-angle lenses. On the contrary, when the focal length setting is adjusted toward the telephoto end, the projection range is more concentrated, creating an effect similar to local light control.

Adjusting these data and the actual projection distance will affect each other. If you are not very familiar with the flash characteristics, it will be more time-consuming to operate. And when the flash we use is not an external flash (such as a shed light or a portable shed light), there is no way to use this method to control the range of the flash.

Nikon D70Sigma 24-70mm F2.8, manual mode, aperture f8, shutter 1/200 second, ISO 200, manual white balance. Model: Li Yixuan

By partially filling in the required light in the required area, the integrity of the light layout will be ideal.

2. Adjust the distance between the flash and the subject.

When the flash is closer to the subject, the illuminated area becomes more local. The further away from the subject, the wider the illuminated area. The concept is very simple, just like we use a flashlight to shine on a wall. The farther away from the flashlight, the wider the light will shine, but the light intensity will decrease. The closer to the flashlight, the more concentrated the light will shine and the best light intensity.

3. Use appropriate lamps to control light

If you want to have a good light control effect, but also want it to be simple, fast and effective, in fact, it is best to use appropriate lamps to control light. a method. Of course, every lamp will have the characteristics of changing the range of light exposure, but in terms of local light control, the best one is the honeycomb chip light control that the author will introduce next.

Nikon D70Sigma 24-70mm F2.8, manual mode, aperture f5, shutter 1/125 second, +0.3EV, ISO 200, manual white balance. Model: Milky

When the light has clear levels of light and dark, the captured images will also have a very charming atmosphere.

What is a honeycomb sheet (cover)?

A honeycomb sheet is actually a piece of black plaid shield installed in front of a flash or lamp. It looks like a honeycomb or grid with neat lines, hence its name. When the flash light source passes through the grid pattern of the honeycomb sheet, the light will become directional light due to the restrictions of the grid pattern, so that the range of the flash light irradiation is limited to an area. The actual light produced will gradually lose light from the center to the periphery. The smaller and denser the grid of the honeycomb cover is, the more obvious the light loss effect will be, and the range of light exposure will be more localized. The light emitted through the honeycomb sheet has good directionality and rich and obvious gradient changes between light and dark.

Honeycomb cover for flash

Honeycomb cover for flash can be found in major camera stores.

Honeycomb cover used for shed lights

Honeycomb cover used for shed lights has a larger range and better effect.

Analysis of shooting works: single light with radome and honeycomb film

The light emitted through the honeycomb is like a projected stage light, allowing the focus of the image to be focused on the bright area. Such concentrated light with rich levels of light and dark is actually quite charming. The author uses a simple white wall as the background, and with a single light and honeycomb film, he can take a very attractive image!

Light layout

The author of this photo Use Nikon SB-900 to install it behind the radome through an adapter ring and place it at a high angle on the left front of the model.

Through the 49-centimeter radome and honeycomb light control, the bright light range can be limited to the area around the model's face, and the areas between bright and shadows will produce beautiful gradients due to the honeycomb light loss effect. feel. In this scene, as long as the author adjusts the light position, I can use techniques to guide the expression of the model's body and charm.

Analysis of shooting works: The use of dual lights with honeycomb films

When we use honeycomb films to create the effect of local light, the light will be limited to a specific range. Backlit areas fall into shadow. But these areas in shadow may be an integral part of the subject (such as hair or body curves). In this case, we can add a light to the area that needs to be brightened to fill in the light.

Nikon D70Sigma 24-70mm F2.8, manual mode, aperture f8, shutter 1/200 second, ISO 200, manual white balance. Model: Li Yixuan

Light layout

In this photo, the light that illuminates the subject is a Nikon SB-900 with a honeycomb chip placed in front of the right side of the model. The flash is placed at a 45-degree angle with a honeycomb lens, so it only illuminates the area directly in front of the model. The backlit areas (back and hair) fall into shadow because they cannot make up for the light. So I added a Nikon SB-800 behind the model to highlight the back and hair area. The SB-800 behind it also adds a blue color filter to change the color temperature of the flash, and uses the difference in light color on the front and rear sides to create a sense of fashion.