Hard light portraits

[ndwgolf]

Last week I started a thread regarding light modifiers in the wind and have since ordered a Godox RFT-14 it's a 7inch reflector to put on my Profoto B1 Head. I have never used a hard light modifier so I'm reaching out to the gang for any tips to help me get started without trying to fight through doing something completely wrong.

I'm planning on doing a photoshoot at our local gas station one plus hours after sunset and try to capture the bright small lights in and around the gas station shooting wide open with my XCD 135:2.8 or 90:2.5v with Fon wearing a cute little outfit, I already have the location in mind where there is a tire shop that closes around 6pm so that area will be quite with the main gas station in the near distance.
I think I'm already cool with the camera settings I'm just thinking about light placement Near/Far High/Low ...............TTL to get a ball park number then play with that in manual to hopefully get a decent picture.
Another thought that just came to mind would Fon be better off wearing something light coloured or dark coloured (hopefully the background will be near black with the specular lights in the background) if i've got my camera setting correct.
Thanks in advance

 

[sk66]

Most light sources are "hard". The sun without cloud cover at any time of day... e.g. "golden hour". The sun directly through a window without curtains. Household lights, candle lights, etc. Not to mention all of the photographic hard lights (beauty dishes, parabolics, fresnels, etc, etc).

Main things to keep in mind: ratio... if you don't create strong shadows (i.e. fill), then their character (and the added light) matters much less. Hard light is hard and there isn't anything you can do about it... use it as an asset. A hard source doesn't have to be a hard result... i.e. bounce it off the ceiling to turn the room into a lightbox.

 

[juggler]

Same as with a softbox, really - but the details become more obvious.

Look at where the nose shadow is. You generally want it falling down the face but not crossing the lips. Or with the flash in line with the camera there'll be virtually no shadow.
Shiny skin will be more obvious - the specular highlights will be hard edged and opaque. Use a matting powder on the forehead.

Make sure any ambient light isn't casting a second set of shadows.

Make a feature of the shadows - use them in your composition. Generally with hard edged shadows I _don't_ shoot wide open. If shadows are crisp then keep 'em crisp. Unless I'm doing something retro.

I use small light sources a lot, either with dense shadows (no fill) or light shadows (lotsa fill). I don't want to spam your thread but could dig out some pics if it would help.

 

[ndwgolf]

Same as with a softbox, really - but the details become more obvious.

Look at where the nose shadow is. You generally want it falling down the face but not crossing the lips. Or with the flash in line with the camera there'll be virtually no shadow.
Shiny skin will be more obvious - the specular highlights will be hard edged and opaque. Use a matting powder on the forehead.

Make sure any ambient light isn't casting a second set of shadows.

Make a feature of the shadows - use them in your composition. Generally with hard edged shadows I _don't_ shoot wide open. If shadows are crisp then keep 'em crisp. Unless I'm doing something retro.

I use small light sources a lot, either with dense shadows (no fill) or light shadows (lotsa fill). I don't want to spam your thread but could dig out some pics if it would help.

Absolutely mate. I’m cool with any help at all. Please post them up

 

[juggler]

Here's a few. Some are on camera speedlites, some are off camera. All retouched but generally fairly lightly. They vary from crisp & angular to shallow DoF retro.

All are small light sources with hard edged shadows, but the shadow density varies and the way I've incoprorated ambient varies. In some cases it's just fill; in others it's an accent light and in others I've totally suppressed it.

 

[ndwgolf]

Here's a few. Some are on camera speedlites, some are off camera. All retouched but generally fairly lightly. They vary from crisp & angular to shallow DoF retro.

All are small light sources with hard edged shadows, but the shadow density varies and the way I've incoprorated ambient varies. In some cases it's just fill; in others it's an accent light and in others I've totally suppressed it.

Simon these are fantastic mate, i'm excited to go out and try some lighting styles like these.......wow

 

[juggler]

Simon these are fantastic mate, i'm excited to go out and try some lighting styles like these.......wow

Thanks, have fun

 

[ndwgolf]

First try with a hard light..........with a small piece of delusion cloth over it.
In a gas station believe it or not

Thanks for all the tips and advice, this is my new go to outdoor portrait set up.

 

[sk66]

with a small piece of delusion cloth over it

at least you know.

 

[juggler]

First try with a hard light..........with a small piece of delusion cloth over it.
In a gas station believe it or not

Thanks for all the tips and advice, this is my new go to outdoor portrait set up.

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Nice