How do you get this affect ?

[TG.]

How do you get this bright affect in the photos linked too HERE and HERE Presumably this is not done with softboxes, which is what i mainly use, but i really want to experiment more with different brollies, and get this really bright harsher type effect, i'm sure their are better examples than the ones posted, but you get the drift, any tips much appreciated

 

[Phil V]

The first one appears to be a ringlight. I'm on my phone so I can't work out the second.

 

[Garry Edwards]

As above, although there has been a fair bit of PP work on the ringflash shot.

The second one is just hard-ish lighting, creating interesting shadows that define the shape of her face and body. It's impossible to be sure exactly which modifiers were used, but it's easy to see where the lights were placed, just by following the shadows.

 

[TG.]

The first one appears to be a ringlight. I'm on my phone so I can't work out the second.

Thanks Phil

As above, although there has been a fair bit of PP work on the ringflash shot.

The second one is just hard-ish lighting, creating interesting shadows that define the shape of her face and body. It's impossible to be sure exactly which modifiers were used, but it's easy to see where the lights were placed, just by following the shadows.

Garry when you say their has been a fair bit of work on the first one, what indicates this ? and presumably the second wasn't a softbox if the lighting is hard-ish.

 

[HoppyUK]

1) Small ring-flash.
2) Rectangular softbox below eye-line left, and probably a reflector on right to lighten shadow side.

Edit: most obvious post-processing on first shot is skin smoothing. The characteristic ring-flash shadows are created by having the background very close behind the model, almost touching.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Thanks Phil



Garry when you say their has been a fair bit of work on the first one, what indicates this ? and presumably the second wasn't a softbox if the lighting is hard-ish.

Retouching, as per Richard's answer.

Softboxes are perfectly capable of producing quite hard lighting, it depends on a number of different factors.

1. Distance. As distance increases, the size of the sofbox becomes smaller in relative terms, making the light relatively smaller, and it's the relative size of the light source that matters (the size of the softbox or other light source relative to the size of the softbox). In other words, size is relative not absolute.
2. Angle. At an acute angle, a softbox is capable of revealing texture, just like any other light source.

In fact, it's possible, if the softbox is at an acute angle and close, to get low overall contrast from its size, combined with high local contrast, caused by light skimming across say the fabric of clothing.

 

[saracenhouse]

How do you get this bright affect in the photos linked too HERE and HERE Presumably this is not done with softboxes, which is what i mainly use, but i really want to experiment more with different brollies, and get this really bright harsher type effect, i'm sure their are better examples than the ones posted, but you get the drift, any tips much appreciated

The first shot of Amy Green was taken by one of our customers so I know it's ring flash (it wasn't taken at our studio by the way)

 

[TG.]

most obvious post-processing on first shot is skin smoothing. The characteristic ring-flash shadows are created by having the background very close behind the model, almost touching.

Yes sorry when i referred to the PP i wasn't thinking of the skin smoothing, the way Garry said it i thought he was referring to something else regarding the lighting.

So would one of these budget Ring-flashes give the same effect

 

[Phil V]

Yes sorry when i referred to the PP i wasn't thinking of the skin smoothing, the way Garry said it i thought he was referring to something else regarding the lighting.

So would one of these budget Ring-flashes give the same effect

Similar (ish)

The Orbis and similar ring flash adaptors are designed round a massive compromise.

A true ring flash is a complete ring where the actual flash tube is wrapped all the way round the ring.

If you think about trying to build a ring flash 'attachment' you'll soon see the compromises and why it's 'close' to the real thing but will never be the same.

For occasional use, a ring flash adaptor will do - but if you're serious about professional results - go for the real thing (even if it means hiring one).

 

[HoppyUK]

Yes sorry when i referred to the PP i wasn't thinking of the skin smoothing, the way Garry said it i thought he was referring to something else regarding the lighting.

So would one of these budget Ring-flashes give the same effect

As above really. Not if you want that characteristic ring-flash look. Light needs to be even all round, and preferably small to promote those distinctive background shadows. Ring-flash adapters are not very even all round, nor small - Marumi ring-flash would do the trick, at a good price. Might have to push the ISO a bit.

The bigger studio-type attachments are also good of course, and you can make the light effectively smaller by moving back and still have tons of power.