How has this been lit?

[Wobbler]

http://www.stormharbour.com/office/12-london-office/1-antonio-cacorino

The strong shadows tell me it's been aggressively lit from the front lhs, with the head positioned quite far to the left...a fill light on the rhs and a backlight.

To be brutally honest, this style doesn't really do much for me at all...but I have clients this afternoon who have specifically asked for this...:shrug:

How would I light it? Am I close with my idea?

 

[Garry Edwards]

I can't see a light on the right hand side, but there is clearly a light behind him and to the right.
Plus the key light from high left.
And an on axis fill too

 

[treeman]

As Garry has said, though the key light looks too high to me, made his nose shadow look too long for my tastes.

 

[Wobbler]

As Garry has said, though the key light looks too high to me, made his nose shadow look too long for my tastes.

You know what?

When I was with the clients yesterday, we talked about that shot, and when I said '...but what about that mahoosive triangular shadow right across his face?' they said '.....oh.....we hadn't actually noticed that until you pointed it out!'

Amazing what we can manage to not see, even when it's right in front of us.

 

[petersmart]

You know what?

When I was with the clients yesterday, we talked about that shot, and when I said '...but what about that mahoosive triangular shadow right across his face?' they said '.....oh.....we hadn't actually noticed that until you pointed it out!'

Amazing what we can manage to not see, even when it's right in front of us.

That's the difference between a client and a photographer.

.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

It is traditional lighting with the main light on the left, but as others have said, a little too high. This light should be turned on first and positioned to give a nose shadow that follows the crease of the Lip/Cheek but not lower than the outline of the lip.

The fill light is also on the left but at the same height as, but nearer the camera. You can just see a small double shadow by his left nostril, showing that it was a little too far to the left.

There is a strong back light high right and well behind, to graze the left cheek. There may be a second back light rimming the top of the hair. ( not certain about this as a large flood could serve both)

I think the lights have been kept wider than usual to Keep the eyes and glasses free from reflections and shadows. The less than perfect nose shadows are payment for this.