Lighting Art: Fluorescent Tubes For Photography

Fluorescent lighting is a popular choice for photographers due to its low cost and unique shape. It can be a fun and creative way to light a painting and achieve interesting results. Light painting, a type of long exposure photography, involves using various light sources, such as fluorescent tubes, to paint or draw in the frame. This technique requires patience and practice to achieve the desired results, but it allows photographers to create mesmerizing images that go beyond traditional techniques. When using fluorescent tubes for light painting, it is important to consider the colour temperature and how it will affect the colours in the painting. Additionally, photographers can experiment with different techniques and movements to develop their own unique style.

Fluorescent tubes are a cheap alternative to studio lighting

Fluorescent tubes are a popular choice for photographers due to their low cost and unique shape. They can be used to create interesting lighting effects, such as soft, even lighting that shows all the details of a product, or light painting. Light painting is a mesmerizing aspect of long exposure photography that involves using light sources to "paint" or draw in the frame during a long exposure. Tube lights are one of the best light sources for light painting as they are big, bright, and colourful, and can easily create large light shapes.

To use fluorescent tubes for light painting, you will need a camera with manual functions, a lens (18mm to 35mm), a tripod, a wireless remote, fluorescent tubes, and a powerful flashlight. Set up your camera on the tripod and connect your wireless trigger. Configure the camera settings to bulb mode, ~ISO 800, and f/5.6. Insert the flashlight (one or two) inside the tube and turn it on. Go behind your model, ensure they are not moving, press down and hold the trigger, wave the light, and release the trigger.

It is important to note that fluorescent lighting may have some drawbacks. For example, fluorescent light is lacking the colour magenta, which can make toning photos tricky. Additionally, fluorescent lighting may not be as portable as other lighting options. When considering fluorescent lighting for portraits, it is also worth noting that the CRI (colour rendering index) ratings of fluorescent bulbs are only a crude approximation of spectral properties. Thus, it may be preferable to use bulbs with a CRI of more than 93 for photography.

Fluorescent lighting lacks magenta, making toning photos tricky

Fluorescent lighting is a popular choice for photography due to its low cost and unique shape. However, one challenge presented by fluorescent lights is that they lack the colour magenta, which can make toning photos tricky. While this is usually not a serious issue, it is something photographers should be aware of.

Fluorescent lights are typically perceived as close to white, but they are actually missing the colour magenta. This can result in skin tones appearing greenish and unhealthy, especially in sports photography where fluorescent lights can interfere with the camera's shutter speed, creating inconsistent colour casts in the same shot. To avoid this issue, photographers can adjust the colour balance, especially when shooting RAW images. However, this can be tricky during the colour transition.

To compensate for the lack of magenta in fluorescent lighting, photographers can use a "skylight filter" on the lens. This filter has a magenta cast that helps to neutralise the bluish light of open shade. Another technique is to use a certified neutral Whibal card to perform a custom white balance, taking into account the specific strobes, diffuser, reflector, and room wall and ceiling colours. This ensures that the lighting setup matches the flash wb setting on the camera.

Additionally, fluorescent lights tend to have a tint on the green/magenta axis, which can further impact the colour balance in photographs. Photographers should also be cautious when touching the metal prongs of the plug while unplugging fluorescent lights, as it can be dangerous. Overall, while fluorescent lighting offers an inexpensive way to achieve extremely soft light, it requires careful consideration and experimentation to overcome its drawbacks in photography.

Fluorescent tubes can be purchased at hardware stores

When purchasing fluorescent tubes for photography, it is important to consider the lighting fixtures you will use. Look for fixtures labeled "shop lights," which are typically lightweight and come with mounting chains or hooks. These fixtures can hold one or two bulbs and are available in various lengths. For example, you can find 48-inch fixtures that cost around $10 USD each.

The tubes themselves also come in different colors, such as "cool," "warm," or "daylight." Warm lights emit an orange hue, while cool lights appear more blue. Daylight-balanced lights may appear white but tend to have a similar color temperature to cool lights.

When shopping for fluorescent tubes, you can also choose between standard fluorescent bulbs and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. CFL bulbs are designed to replace incandescent lights in home settings and have a compact, spiral, or foldable design. They offer the same energy-saving advantages as traditional fluorescent bulbs while providing a stylish option for home lighting.

Whether you're an amateur or professional photographer, fluorescent tubes offer a cost-effective and creative lighting solution. By visiting hardware stores and exploring their fluorescent lighting selections, you can easily obtain the necessary equipment to set up your own fluorescent lighting kit for photography.

Long exposure photography allows for creative light painting

Fluorescent lighting is a popular choice for photographers due to its low cost and unique shape. Light painting is a technique that involves using various light sources to "paint" or draw in the frame during a long exposure. Long exposure photography allows for creative light painting and opens up a world of creative possibilities.

To get started with light painting, you will need a camera with manual functions, a lens, a tripod, a wireless remote, and a light source. The light source can be a fluorescent tube, a flashlight, a glow stick, a light brush, or even a smartphone. When using a fluorescent tube, you can insert a flashlight inside the tube and wave it behind your subject to create interesting lighting effects.

It's important to set up your camera on a tripod to avoid camera shake and ensure sharp images. You will also need to configure your camera settings for long exposure photography. This includes determining the base exposures of the ambient light before adding any light painting elements. Set your ISO to six stops higher than your desired ISO to figure out the exposure time in seconds. Once you have this, set the ISO back to your desired value and check the exposure in minutes.

Light painting requires patience and practice to achieve the desired results. Experiment with different techniques and movements to develop your own style. You can create up-and-down or side-to-side strokes, similar to working with real paint. Light painting works best in low-light environments, so it's often done at night or in dimly lit spaces to make the light sources stand out.

Fluorescent lighting casts a blue tinge, enhancing cool colours

Fluorescent lighting is a popular choice for photography due to its low cost and unique shape. It emits a cool, bright light with a blue tinge that can enhance certain colours in a photograph. This colour temperature is measured in Kelvins, with fluorescent lighting typically falling between 3000-4000K.

The blue-tinted light of fluorescent tubes can be particularly flattering to cool colours like blue and green, enhancing their vibrancy. This can be utilised in photography to create interesting and creative effects. For example, when photographing a subject with a lot of blue and green details, fluorescent lighting can make these colours pop.

On the other hand, warmer colours like yellow, orange, and red may appear dull under fluorescent lighting. This is because fluorescent light lacks the colour magenta, which can make toning photos tricky. However, this challenge can also be turned into an advantage. By using fluorescent lighting, photographers can create a unique, ""icy cold clinical" look that sets their work apart.

To achieve the best results when using fluorescent lighting in photography, it's important to experiment with different techniques and movements. Photographers can also adjust the Kelvins of the bulbs to achieve their desired effect, with lower Kelvins resulting in warmer lighting. Additionally, using fluorescent lighting in combination with other light sources, such as a powerful flashlight, can create mesmerizing light painting effects.

Overall, fluorescent lighting with its blue tinge can be a fun and inexpensive way to enhance cool colours in photography, allowing for creative and unique images that stand out.

Frequently asked questions