How was this shot lit? A new challenge

Garry Edwards

Garry Edwards

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Garry Edwards
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Most questions on this forum seem to be about equipment rather than lighting so I thought it might be an idea to start a thread about the end result, not the starting point...

What I propose is that we study an image and work out how it was lit - what sort of lighting modifiers were used and where they were placed to create the effect. If you want to comment, or offer suggestions for different lighting then that's fine too but the idea is to work out how it was done, so that we all broaden our knowledge of how lighting actually works.

The shot can be whatever you want (except nudes), for example portrait, still life etc but the lighting should be fairly simple so that everyone can benefit from it and it should be unretouched, or any retouching that does exist should not make it difficult to work out how it was lit (for example shadows and catchlights should not be changed).

So, here's the first shot.
88.jpg

As soon as someone comes up with the right answer it will be their turn to post their own shot, in the same thread. If nobody gets it right after a week then I'll tell you who got the closest and the baton will then pass to that person, and so on.

And if nobody is interested this thread will die the death:'(
 
Ooh I'm up for this. I want to learn!

OK - 2 flashes to the right of the image, one in front of subject one to the right side.

Reflector on the left of the image. Softbox on the flash on the right rear and umbrella flash on right front.

Close?
 
Freester said:
Ooh I'm up for this. I want to learn!

OK - 2 flashes to the right of the image, one in front of subject one to the right side.

Reflector on the left of the image. Softbox on the flash on the right rear and umbrella flash on right front.

Close?
Click to expand...
Thanks for being the first - but not very close
 
Ahh well I said I had a lot to learn. I shall watch with interest!
 
Single large softbox to the left of subject, white reflector opposite that? :shrug:

What a great idea for a thread – a real fun challenge which will teach those like me who have so much to learn about light.
 
one flash level with but behind the subject camera right, with a reflector directly opposite to provide fill?
 
Garry Edwards said:
What I propose is that we study an image and work out how it was lit:'(
Click to expand...

With Lencarta strobes? :lol:

Seriously though nice idea for a challenge. I'll go with softbox above front left, light with shoot through umbrella to the right and light with reflector behind the model. This is undoubtedly wrong as I am a bit of a lighting muppet.
 
This is exactly what I need !!

I'm going to guess one light, head height, around 45 degrees to the right.

Maybe a reflector on the left ?

Mind you, I don't know what I'm talking about.

I'm just going by the single catchlight in his eyes, and the shadow on his ear.
 
Single soft box on camera right, the catch lights also indicate that the light source is slightly lower than the subject eye line?
 
Going to say two flashes, one to the right of the subject at around 45 degrees using a soft box to create a larger light source. I'd say a second flash was positioned behind the subject again positioned slightly to the right, as there is a slight shadowing just in front of the subjects right ear. The shadow on the ear looks a lot harder than the shadow on left of the nose, so I don’t think any diffuser was used on the rear light.
 
one light at head level, mostly at the side but slightly behind the head. Another light at his feet shining up at 45 degrees from the right side too? Suspect a honeycomb was fitted to the head light.
 
ILL BITE(PROB COMPLETELY WRONG, BUT OH WELL)

one light head height, on right, slightly behind person pointing back towards camera with reflector on(based on being pretty harsh on the centre of his face, but falling off, suggesting no softbox or umbrella:shrug:)

another to the front right, low down(shoulder to elbow height) in front fo person to light jacket(softbox??)

3rd light left hand side, in front of clientat about eye level, fill light.

possibly 4th for catchlight???

prob way off though

might be an idea to put a link to a simple light setup drawing program with drag and drop lights etc...
 
Ill give it a go .one light to camera right below subjects shoulder hight open flash ,plus reflector below camera hight to bounce light to subjects face.:beer::beer::beer:Guid health
 
ooooh I like this idea Garry, thanks!

Having a close look at his ear there is a shadow coming forward so, to me, that suggest one light to the right and slightly behind. Then there is a catchlight in his eye that suggests a second light, again on the right but this time from the front.The rear light is much harsher so could be honeycombed while the catchlight could be a softbox or brolly. I'd guess brolly but I can't quite see the shape in the eye. The fact that the left hand side of his head is visable at all with two lights on the right would make me think there is a fill light of sorts there, either a light with a softbox or a reflector since it is not overpowering.

Tis nicely done :)
 
OK, I know nothing of flash photography, but I'm going to have a guess anyway :lol: Please see my professional looking diagram below:

flash.jpg


One thing I missed of is a diffuser on the photographers flash.

Anyone caught laughing at my gingerbread man will be punished :bat: It was the closest thing I had to a person in my tubes :lol:
 
Jo said:
OK, I know nothing of flash photography, but I'm going to have a guess anyway :lol: Please see my professional looking diagram below:

flash.jpg


One thing I missed of is a diffuser on the photographers flash.

Anyone caught laughing at my gingerbread man will be punished :bat: It was the closest thing I had to a person in my tubes :lol:
Click to expand...

:lol:
 
Quote of the day from Jo

"It was the closest thing I had to a person in my tubes"

:cuckoo::D
 
I'll have a go, one flash about waist height camera right and about 45 degrees to the subject, second light source camera right and slightly behind the subject, third weak light source camera left and about level with the subject (as in distance from the camera).

Close? :D
 
We have a winner:'( Ali B:)

Having a close look at his ear there is a shadow coming forward so, to me, that suggest one light to the right and slightly behind. Then there is a catchlight in his eye that suggests a second light, again on the right but this time from the front.The rear light is much harsher so could be honeycombed
Click to expand...
Yes, a honeycombed light behind and to camera right. The very clear clue here is the shadow from his ear and the light on his hair/side of face/ear/shoulder/shirt

while the catchlight could be a softbox or brolly. I'd guess brolly but I can't quite see the shape in the eye.
Click to expand...
Well, it was a beauty dish because I wanted a fairly harsh light that defined the shape of his face, but a distant softbox or brolly would have produced a similar light so that's near enough for me.

The fact that the left hand side of his head is visable at all with two lights on the right would make me think there is a fill light of sorts there, either a light with a softbox or a reflector since it is not overpowering.
Click to expand...
Yes, a silver reflector, camera left, to pick up spare light from the honeycombed light and to light the left hand facing side of the face etc.

So now it's Ali B's turn. I'd better not offer opinions because I'll make a complete twot of myself if I get it wrong...
 
well done ali B:thumbs:
 
Wo hoo! It's always worth making a complete twot of yourself Garry, it's how I know I'm alive! :D

OK here's one I dug out the gallery.
Dee.jpg
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Answers on a postcard.........
 
:agree: Well done AliB.

Do I get a prize, or at least points for my excellent diagram? :D

My gingerbread man was born of my PSPPx2 picture tubes, maybe I should have made that clearer :lol:
 
single light slightly to models right in front of face, shootthrough brolly
 
Ali B - Model light (no flash) with snoot image left and above model?
 
I have absolutely no idea about light so I can't even hazzard a guess. However would it be a good idea to sumarise the question and solutions in a separate thread as a reference guide?
 
Answers on a postcard.........
Click to expand...

Dear AliB,
Weather's cold and snowy
Wish you were here...

PS: single high diffused flash, slightly to the models right with a reflector low down to the center.

Gary :D
 
Nope, one close though. Close enough to say.............well done fletch5! :clap:

Single light source in front and slightly above the model fitted with a beauty dish.

Over you you................:clap:
 
I dont think she was ready to be photographed and is actually watching a TV mounted on the wall just above head level and to her right.
 
lol, thanks. i dont have any images here so if anyone else wants to take over, feel free:)
 
Camera flash (speedlite) onboard camera, bounced off ceiling with some natural light (window) to image left?
 
Natrural light with a sunburst (not sure what the name is) type reflector below their faces pointing up to thier face.
 
Biiig catchlights so I'm going to plump for natural light through a window with a reflector below.......basically what tiler said :shrug:
 
Great thread this. im going to learn (and have already learnt a bit) how to take the photos i want.

I'll guess the last one ..... the bride is holding in her right hand a Philips WakeUp Natural Light Alarm Clock with the gentleman holding a roll of foil in his left hand ??

Seriously though, i have no idea, im here to learn and maybe one day have a decent enough stab.
 
Has this thread dried up already?
 
Don't think so just waiting for Hacker to let us know if anyone has got the right answer?
 
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