How to do something like this?

Kev M

Kev M

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4,347
Name
You can call me Sir.
Edit My Images
Yes
I want to do something like this

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3792/2480/1600/bbhardlite.jpg

Except, I want to do it with a guy who fences for the station which means he'll be wearing white. The linked shot is done with one light and a bit of ambient. For me to cast a strong shadow on the wall whilst exposing the white outfit properly am I going to have to overpower the ambient light quite a lot or not? Shouldn't be too hard in a dark and dingy sports hall.
 
Another thing has just occured to me. Will the fencing foil be thick enough to cast a shadow or will the light wrap around it and cause no shadow?

I'm thinking of using a single bare flash at a distance making a point source but I'm not sure if it's still too big for the foil to cast a shadow.
 
Can't believe nobody on here has any suggestions. Perhaps I should ask a question about landscapes instead.:bang:
 
That or put your fencer on a motorbike!

(Sorry no help from me, I do not even own a flashgun let alone know how to use one to get a shadow from a foil)

Michael.
 
You can artificially make a shadow in photoshop, haven't done it for a while but im sure I can work it out again if that helps.

But I would use natural light myself, or a large constant light source. flash would be more trial and error work
 
Could go the multi exposure route - 1 for the white suit, and a flashed exposure to create the hard shadow.

You could then select the shadow in post processing and softedn the edges as desired.
 
I'd rather try and do with minimal photoshop if possible. I'm trying to learn about lighting so photoshop defeats the point.

Thanks for trying though.
 
Hard shadows is all about the relative size of the light source to its distance. As you said - a point source. The foil will make a shadow. If it is too soft though you need a smaller light (or shielding round the light to make a smaller aperture)

I'd guess that picture was done with a single strong lamp about 15 foot away (and exposed for that) and a little fill flash to stop him being a silhouette rather than ambient light.

Being dressed in white is difficult for any shot so all you can do is try it. If you take a range of exposures at least you will have some good in each you can blend in PS if you have to.
 
Cheers Robert. The shot I linked to was taken using 1 Flashgun About halfway down the page.. Hopefully I can meet the guy today to look at how the shadows will come out and then I can do the full job next week some time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top