A safe, boring, 45°

[68lbs]

Sorry, probably a bit thick, but when strobist refers to a safe, boring, 45°... on what plane are we talking here?

Does it mean have your flash at camera height, and pointing at the subject from a position to the left/right of you of approx 45°.

Or...

Does it mean have your flash pointing down towards the subject at an angle of 45°.

 

[theMusicMan]

I am no expert and would advise against listening to me... however, I'd guess at this meaning on the horizontal plane. i.e. the flash being 45deg from the angle of the camera.

This diag might help, I prepared it a while back.

 

[LJR]

Sorry, probably a bit thick, but when strobist refers to a safe, boring, 45°... on what plane are we talking here?

Does it mean have your flash at camera height, and pointing at the subject from a position to the left/right of you of approx 45°.

Or...

Does it mean have your flash pointing down towards the subject at an angle of 45°.

They are referring to the horizontal plane from what I've seen in lighting instructions. So either 45 deg to the left or right of the camera's placement. It will usually say if it's above or below.

 

[itsdavedotnet]

a 'safe 45' isn;t for lighting onto white seamless, which is what the above diagram for.

it's more:

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/11/colin-firth-cya-pdq.html

literally.... camera, then a brolly / softbox either side, at 45 degrees to the camera. quick and easy, and usually looks good - one light as key and the other as fill, otherwise it can look very flat.

 

[68lbs]

Cheers for the info chaps

 

[dkspook]

Some refer to it as Rembrandt Lighting