Photoshoot advice needed...

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Little Man

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Sean
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As title, I've been asked by one of my best mates if I'll do a bit of a photoshoot with him one day next week. He's into a lot of very physically demanding sports, such as Rugby, Ju-Jitzu etc.

He basically wants photos of himself in the shower, not full length nude shots, just upper body. Something near enough the same as the sample photo below.

20573_243739016742_609536742_3905736_6765178_n.jpg


That's a photo of a mate taken for a charity calender to do with his work, he works at a gym.

My mate saw the photo above, and liked the way the photographer has highlighted the muscle, by casting shadows around those area's. He wants me to try and do the same.

Now, i've not got a studio style lighting set up, nor have I got an off camera flash set up, I've got a 430ex II. My idea I was going to run with was to bounce the flash off a wall infront of my mate, so that with a bit of luck, i'll get some shadows like above. Am I thinking in the right area, or is this not possible without off-camera lighting?

If it's possible by bouncing the flash, is there any other ways to do it, that would improve the final photo, or get me closer to what i'm trying to achieve?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
In that shot the light source is coming from high left.

Boucing the flash of something high angled towards him may achieve the same sort of effect.
 
Much appreciated fella, thanks for the input.
 
Excuse my ignorance, but if you're female, or gay, each to their own. If you're saying it from a straight-male point of view, yeah, I know all about it fella, i'm not entirely comfortable with it myself lol. But, I like portrait photography, it'll be a laugh if nothing else. He wont be nude though, he's after upper body shots, so he's wearing shorts.
 
That example shot is pretty poor IMO but you'll struggle to get even that.
There are 2 problems.
1. Space. Not enough space to put the light where it needs to be and light coloured tiles that will reflect unwanted light, largely killing the shadows you need. You can get around this to some extent by using black card/drapes/blackwrap but it won't be ideal.
2. Equipment. It can be done with a single hotshoe flash, but 2 would be better. The flash needs to be at an acute angle, skimming across the bodey to emphasise the muscle etc and it needs to be fitted with a honeycomb.

With equipment and knowledge it would be much easier/better to do a shoot like this in one of the BIG showers used in some 'glamour' studios - at least they have more space. Does it really have to be in a shower? It would be much easier and better in a larger space
 
Thanks for the input fella.

He's basically seen that photo and said, I want that sort of result. I've told him that I'm gunna be punching above my weight with, as you've pointed out, equipment and space, lack their of, but he's willing to give it a try anyway. I personally can't really see me getting any good results from it, but god loves a tryer.
 
Little Man said:
Excuse my ignorance, but if you're female, or gay, each to their own. If you're saying it from a straight-male point of view, yeah, I know all about it fella, i'm not entirely comfortable with it myself lol. But, I like portrait photography, it'll be a laugh if nothing else. He wont be nude though, he's after upper body shots, so he's wearing shorts.
Click to expand...

i'm a female and i'm fed up seeing topless woman, bring on the men lol :)
 
GSDlover4ever said:
i'm a female and i'm fed up seeing topless woman, bring on the men lol :)
Click to expand...

Aha, fair play to you!

Allthough that line reminded me of the 'Windows 7' adverts :lol:

"I'm a female & topless men was my idea."
 
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