A number of people have informed me that they still have trouble "seeing" the light when they try to read my explanations so I decided to try a new way of explaining things. Comments and criticisms are welcome. Let me know if you "get" it!
This is a 3-light setup with 1 keylight and 2 accent lights. The model is once again Mari which I admit I've been smitten with lately.
Setup
Key: A strobe shot through a small white umbrella on camera right. It's positioned about a 1.5 meter away from the model, not too high and almost on axis (to model not camera). Notice the nose shadow on the right side of the model's face.
Accent1: both used as a hairlight and a side light. The light is a slaved Sunpak 383 shot through a small white umbrella, placed about 1 meter above the model on a cheap home-made boom. I especially like the highlight on the model's right shoulder.
Accent2: A true side light. Another slaved strobe placed on a chair and shot bare for the harsh, very direct side light on the model's left cheek. Also notice the highlight on the sheet.
Post-processing
I went for a cold colour temperature but I made sure to bring the skintone back to normal. Duplicated the layer, added Gaussian blur to and changed the blending mode to linear light (I think! try them all) for the soft-focus effect.
So what do you guys think? is this clear? Again suggestions and criticisms are welcome
This is possibly the most detailed lighting explanation I've ever seen. The real question, I suppose, is, is it clear enough to be able to reproduce it?
ReplyDeleteOnly thing missing, IMO, is information on the relative intensities of the lights.
Good work, sir.
And lovely photo.
Those light diagrams, with the x and y and z axis totally rule. Keep up the good work, the picture is very good, love it! :D
ReplyDeleteHello Ender
ReplyDeleteI used to use a small plastic lighting template ,
Which made things a lot easier and assistants could all read it . Johns comment above asked about intensity ,Every model is different so dark clothes and hair you would move the lights closer lighter clothes farther back also height if you had a tall model the fixtures would go higher and so on , so there really is nothing set in stone . My only comment is try putting the wattage and lamp information next to or behind the light source also show the backround (white wall /black backdrop etc. and distance from talent )then all the information is on the same page ,The less papers the less stuff people will be able to loose .Keep up the good work and I enjoy your posts .
David
Thanks for those suggestions guys, very helpful
ReplyDeleteFor instruction photos sometimes it's kinda cool to take 1 shot with each light then the finished product . In your diagram how much is key and how much is A2 ,It's all fine and I understand your diagrams are just for roughing in the lights and it is up to the photographer to place them where he feels they would would work best for him .
ReplyDelete{Did you ever try making the notches in your light panel for more strength ?}
David, the "each light at a time" you see in instructional books and videos is too much work and would really break my flow during a shoot. Can't argue that it's probably the most effecient way of showing things though.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried the notches yet, maybe next time I build a new panel.
The top-down diagram is very helpful...a picture is worth a thousand words.
ReplyDeleteI think the hot spots distract from her face. Dialing down the intensity on her arm and the cloth she is holding would be less distracting since the eye is attracted to the brightest spots.
I see some lens flare by her stomach, is that intentional?
You've got some great lighting! I love the DIY panel, working on my own too.