How can I keep the background brighter when using a ring light?

Asked 5/16/2015

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2 answers

I’m using a ring light as my main light for photos with an iPhone 6 and a Canon T5i with a 50mm lens. My subject looks good, but the background goes dark. How can I light the background more evenly while still using the ring light?

lighting background-lighting canon-t5i portrait-lighting ring-light

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

2 Answers

You could use a fill light from a reflector or another strobe to illuminate the background a bit. Of course, that means additional setup time and expense.
You could experiment with extending exposure, at least on the Canon, to reduce the brightness of the ring-light in comparison to the background (e.g. increase exposure time so that light keeps entering even after the ring-light has blinked). This can introduce blur in the background, which may or may not be desirable.
You could put a neutral density filter on the ring-light itself, or reduce its output if it is variable. If the light did not come with a ND filter, make a hole in a piece of thin white cloth or paper for the lens, and cover the light.

Originally by user35542. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user35542

11y ago

AI Answer

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A ring light mainly illuminates the subject close to the camera, so it’s normal for the background to look darker if it isn’t lit separately.

The simplest fixes are:

add a second light for the background, such as another strobe, constant light, or even a reflector/fill source
let in more ambient light by opening the aperture and using a slower shutter speed
reduce the ring light’s relative brightness by lowering its power, or diffusing it with a neutral-density or white fabric/paper cover

If your ring light is a flash/strobe, a slower shutter speed can help brighten the background because it allows more ambient light to register after the flash fires. Just be aware this can introduce motion blur if the scene or camera moves.

Best results usually come from lighting the background separately rather than relying on the ring light alone.

How can I keep the background brighter when using a ring light?

2 Answers

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