Page 86 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 5 #2

Windows are almost always a problem. Given that
light reflects at the compliment of the angle with
which it strikes an object, sometimes moving a few
inches to the right or left of where I am standing can
turn a window into a mirror. I have had that happen
many times. I wanted to make sure that it didn't this
time.
Solving complex lighting problems, like this one, al-
ways requires thinking outside the box. Often, the
final solution is counterintuitive. To get to the point
where I can come to a conclusion, I first collect all
the data available to m: time, location, and all the
other information critical to understanding the light
in the room. I did just that here.

I knew that the mirror over the fireplace was go-
ing to push a lot of light against the windows at
an angle that would have caused a significant re-
flection.
I knew that putting the strobe in the room would
have had the same effect. In fact, the dark wood
of the walls and the wood of the furniture could
all becomes reflective surfaces.
I knew that Hurrell usually worked in rooms
that didn't have windows so his methodology
wouldn't work without modification in this situ-
ation.
So, I knew at least one of the strobes, the one I would
use to push the blacks up closer to the whites would
have to be placed outside the room.

Light reflects at the compliment of the
angle with which it strikes an object.

86 | Lighting the Un-lightable