Finished the third segment of the stop motion class. For me, this one had the least of interest in it, since I’m likely not going to need a full-fledged stop motion animation program, and much of the time was spent completing some of the set design from last time.
The lighting, though, was really interesting and worth it for just that part. My setup is for photographing miniatures without shadows (a few light sources and a white tent to diffuse the light), but apparently that’s all wrong. It’s more appropriate for photographing something to sell it, rather then to light a realistic set.
Instead, I should be *trying* to cast shadows (just like in real life) by using one main light source and positioning it wherever I want the sun/moon to be. Then the diffused light is a fill light meant to add detail to to the darker areas without casting any additional shadows. They also had all kinds of ways to highlight a single element (by bouncing light to it with a mirror) and to create darker areas (by cutting them off from the light source.
I’m incredibly enthusiastic about the next (and final) class, which is all about bringing your characters to life through posing. This is where I find out whether my jointed dolls are any match for their wire-frame doll, in terms of poseability.
February 3, 2017 at 8:35 am
That’s very exciting and I hope that as you progress with your blog you’ll include some information about lighting in your posts about creating the stories. Lighting is my biggest problem, again partly because of having to work in a doll house instead of a set. Nevertheless, I’m sure some of the same principles apply!
February 3, 2017 at 9:08 am
Lighting my dollhouse (I have Lily, Rosie, and Daisy’s room in a wireframe bookcase), has been very hard to figure out. Right now, I’ve covered the top of the “set” with tiny LED lights,but obviously that’s not how a real room is lit. I need to figure out how to create pools of light, and then how to add some light coming in through the window. Lots of learning left!