Page 62 - Lighting the Un-lightable 2015

the images can look pixelated as well. By the way, we never recommend using a high

ISO when using strobes or Fresnel lights. Loss of image quality will be significant and

the whites in an image likely will be blown out.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. I decided, when I received the Cine Reflectors, that I

would outline a project that would take me through the process of integrating Fresnel

technology into our work flow. Since I knew that there would be numerous challenges,

I wanted as much control over the potential variables as was possible. A few weeks

before this shoot, I did just that. With Marquaysa Battle, I was able to effectively use

one Cine Reflector and a Profoto Octo 5' light box. The next step was to use both Cine

Reflectors.

I quickly learned something else about Fresnel lights. They diffuse differently than

strobes. The "core" of the light they emit, the "inner" third of the light, remains intact

longer than the light from strobes with soft boxes does. This significantly changes

where the lights can be placed.

There were other things to consider as well:

First, It was after 8:00 PM when we arrived. Despite Daylight Savings Time, there

was virtually no daylight left. In fact, the last of the cobalt blue sky that accompa-

nies sunset was nearly lost.

Second, the light in the room would require a very long exposure or a very high

ISO. Neither would produce desirable results.

Third, Katie's skin was highly reflective. Skin that is highly reflecttive can become

mirror-like and can easily become so reflective that all detail is lost. How did I know

Katie's skin would reflect more light than it absorbed? The answer is simple - and

I learned it early in my career - just look at the model's face, neck, hands, and any

other exposed area of her body. Are blood vessels visible? If the answer to that is

"yes" then her skin absorbs more light than it reflects. If the blood vessels are not

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