Lights, diagrams, and dodgy models - expert eyes needed.

[Bend The Light]

I went back into the studio today to have another go at lighting a portrait to include a little more in the way of shadow. My previous attempts were a little flat (as someone said, they were like corporate portraits, good for sales brochures and the like). So, my friend and I played around, moved a few things, tried a few things. These are the few where we thought we were getting somewhere. I include my fabulously drawn lighting diagrams, too...we were aiming to not have Broad lighting...did we succeed?

Any thoughts on whether we did ok, or whether we still haven't got it, or anything else, would be appreciated. Bear in mind that the models are me and my friend, and we tried to be consistent in the directions we faced so we could see the effects of the light and shadow, so the images are not meant to be nice, or flattering!

Oh yeah, and these are straight out of camera...no PP AT ALL apart from converting in PS to JPEg from the RAW, and then placing on these layout diagrams.


Ours - Short Lighting by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr


Ours - Short Lighting v2 by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr


Ours - Short Lighting v3 by http://bendthelight.me.uk, on Flickr

Cheers

 

[Garry Edwards]

Well, the first examples are short lit, some more obviously so than others, but typically we don't allow any light to hit the broad side of the face, we only 'light' the broad side with a separate fill light or, more likely, with a reflector - not with spill from the key light, as you have done here. The difference is, spilled light is bright and draws attention to the very bit of the face that we're trying not to draw attention to.

The problem has been caused by the position of your softbox. It needs to be positioned on the lit side of the face, not well in front of it. In fact, my short light is often at the side and slightly behind, creating a rimlight effect - just experiment and see what you get.

Your second bunch of examples don't work because the fill from the umbrella is far too much, wiping out the benefits of the short lighting. I found this article on short lighting, it isn't great but it may help...

But you're learning, you're making progress. And I hope that by now you've learned that it's pointless posting the same questions on another forum, you won't get any help there

 

[Bend The Light]

Well, the first examples are short lit, some more obviously so than others, but typically we don't allow any light to hit the broad side of the face, we only 'light' the broad side with a separate fill light or, more likely, with a reflector - not with spill from the key light, as you have done here. The difference is, spilled light is bright and draws attention to the very bit of the face that we're trying not to draw attention to.

The problem has been caused by the position of your softbox. It needs to be positioned on the lit side of the face, not well in front of it. In fact, my short light is often at the side and slightly behind, creating a rimlight effect - just experiment and see what you get.

We did think we had too much light spill, and earlier shots than this were much worse for that...we started to bring it back a little. We can see about moving the light forward, and sideways, although we may need to rethink the position of the model/backdrop...we don't have a massive space.

Your second bunch of examples don't work because the fill from the umbrella is far too much, wiping out the benefits of the short lighting. I found this article on short lighting, it isn't great but it may help...

Again, we thought this, too. We had some photos before these last 3 which were virtually back to "flat" light because we'd got the light on the right too close/powerful. We moved it back, turned it, but it still, as you say, cancels the shadow somewhat (although not entirely). We did think we would go back to the reflector, and work that some more.

But you're learning, you're making progress.

Great! I (we) are paying attention! It's it so good to have the studio space to actually set up and experiment,, and follow advice. Lighting is not learned without practical stuff!

And I hope that by now you've learned that it's pointless posting the same questions on another forum, you won't get any help there

I am a forum junkie, to be honest. i have always been on a lot of forums. I get different feedback and different ideas from each. Some are good for stuff like this (like here, and like you), and others are good for other stuff. Some are just good for ego-stroking, but we all need a little of that from time to time.

Cheers Garry.