Illuminant
Light is the most important element of photography
Site Navigation
[Skip]
What is Illuminant?
How does it work?
A photoshoot with Illuminant
Tips & tricks
FAQ
Support
A photoshoot with Illuminant
(Photos are untouched other than some exposure adjustments)
© Robomagic Software 2013
[Back To Top]
![We are in a dark restaurant at night. It is all mood lighting. Candles on the tables, a small fixture by the entrance, and some light coming in behind the model on the right from the bar. This is what we get without any external lighting. [ No lights. Pentax K5, Revuenon 55mm f/1.2, 1/15s, ISO 800 ]](_Media/filllight_20130903_k5_21301_hr.jpeg "We are in a dark restaurant at night. It is all mood lighting. Candles on the tables, a small fixture by the entrance, and some light coming in behind the model on the right from the bar. This is what we get without any external lighting. [ No lights. Pentax K5, Revuenon 55mm f/1.2, 1/15s, ISO 800 ]")
![The first thing one could do in this case is, pop the flash on the camera to light the subject. Of course that would cause the obvious on-camera flash, deer in the headlights look. If only there were some external lighting available… Unfortunately all the strobes and the triggers are at home. What to do? [ On camera flash. Pentax K5, Revuenon 55mm f/16, 1/15s, ISO 100 ]](_Media/filllight_20130903_k5_21305_hr.jpeg "The first thing one could do in this case is, pop the flash on the camera to light the subject. Of course that would cause the obvious on-camera flash, deer in the headlights look. If only there were some external lighting available… Unfortunately all the strobes and the triggers are at home. What to do? [ On camera flash. Pentax K5, Revuenon 55mm f/16, 1/15s, ISO 100 ]")
![Good thing we have our iPad with us with the Illuminant app loaded (if not, the the app would have worked on the iPhone as well). Here, we set the app to full Softbox mode without any catchlight patterns, and get close to our model. You can see a nice reflection in her eyes, and the light wraps around very smoothly. [ Illuminant in Octobox mode, Daylight setting. Pentax K5, Revuenon 55mm f/1.2, 1/20s, ISO 800 ]](_Media/filllight_20130903_k5_21312_hr.jpeg "Good thing we have our iPad with us with the Illuminant app loaded (if not, the the app would have worked on the iPhone as well). Here, we set the app to full Softbox mode without any catchlight patterns, and get close to our model. You can see a nice reflection in her eyes, and the light wraps around very smoothly. [ Illuminant in Octobox mode, Daylight setting. Pentax K5, Revuenon 55mm f/1.2, 1/20s, ISO 800 ]")
![Now for some play with catchlights. We set Illuminant to display a beauty dish pattern, and warm up the light a bit. [ Illuminant in Beauty dish mode, Tungsten setting. Pentax K5, Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2, 1/20s, ISO 800 ]](_Media/filllight_20130903_k5_21319_hr.jpeg "Now for some play with catchlights. We set Illuminant to display a beauty dish pattern, and warm up the light a bit. [ Illuminant in Beauty dish mode, Tungsten setting. Pentax K5, Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2, 1/20s, ISO 800 ]")
![Now, to duplicate some studio lighting setups. We cool the color a bit, and shoot with the umbrella pattern. [ Illuminant in Umbrella mode, Overcast sky setting. Pentax K5, Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2, 1/100s, ISO 800 ]](_Media/filllight_20130903_k5_21324_hr.jpeg "Now, to duplicate some studio lighting setups. We cool the color a bit, and shoot with the umbrella pattern. [ Illuminant in Umbrella mode, Overcast sky setting. Pentax K5, Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2, 1/100s, ISO 800 ]")
![Watching the sun set through the windows? [ Illuminant in Window mode, Golden hour setting. Pentax K5, Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2, 1/30s, ISO 800 ]](_Media/filllight_20130903_k5_21346_hr.jpeg "Watching the sun set through the windows? [ Illuminant in Window mode, Golden hour setting. Pentax K5, Zeiss Distagon 35mm f/2, 1/30s, ISO 800 ]")
![Now we switch to an 85mm lens and try some different portraits. The iPad is a bit farther away now, giving more defined shadows. We can change the brightness as well, giving us many options. [ Illuminant in Softbox mode, Daylight setting. Pentax K5, Pentax SMC 85mm f/1.8, 1/60s, ISO 800 ]](_Media/filllight_20130903_k5_21368_hr.jpeg "Now we switch to an 85mm lens and try some different portraits. The iPad is a bit farther away now, giving more defined shadows. We can change the brightness as well, giving us many options. [ Illuminant in Softbox mode, Daylight setting. Pentax K5, Pentax SMC 85mm f/1.8, 1/60s, ISO 800 ]")
![Different pattern modes change the light surface and alter the quality of the shadows. Here, using the Octobox pattern, we tightened up the shadows a bit more. [ Illuminant in Octobox mode, Sunlight setting. Pentax K5, Pentax SMC 85mm f/1.8, 1/60s, ISO 800 ]](_Media/filllight_20130904_k5_21389_hr.jpeg "Different pattern modes change the light surface and alter the quality of the shadows. Here, using the Octobox pattern, we tightened up the shadows a bit more. [ Illuminant in Octobox mode, Sunlight setting. Pentax K5, Pentax SMC 85mm f/1.8, 1/60s, ISO 800 ]")
![Now, to try some butterfly lighting. Being very portable, an iPad with the Illuminant app can be placed in any position easily to emulate all kinds of lighting options (works best with a Voice Activated Light Stand). Here we warm up the color again. [ Illuminant in Softbox mode, golden hour setting. Pentax K5, Pentax SMC 85mm f/1.8, 1/40s, ISO 800 ]](_Media/filllight_20130904_k5_21444_hr.jpeg "Now, to try some butterfly lighting. Being very portable, an iPad with the Illuminant app can be placed in any position easily to emulate all kinds of lighting options (works best with a Voice Activated Light Stand). Here we warm up the color again. [ Illuminant in Softbox mode, golden hour setting. Pentax K5, Pentax SMC 85mm f/1.8, 1/40s, ISO 800 ]")