That Terry Richardson look

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As I like portraits I’ve been surfing round the net and found myself looking at the pictures taken by Terry Richardson. Whilst I’m not a massive fan of the hi key look I feel that he’s managed to get some great shots, granted he uses people who have the look and ability to stand in front of the camera such as models and actors. But the balance of the light always looks good and doesn’t wash out the person face or colour.

So how does he do it? I know he uses a flash very close to the lens, but what sort of background and background lighting is he using? What’s the balance between lights? I quite like the hard edge shadows. I’m sure it’s not as easy as I think.

Thanks
 
Blasted said:
I’m sure it’s not as easy as I think.

Thanks
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Try it, I think you'd be surprised :)

From what I've seen of his work, it looks like one flash, close to the camera axis and make sure your subject is just in front of the background, that way its fairly evenly lit and a nice hard shadow.
 
Any chance of a link?

All google came up with was some rubbish shot with direct on-camera flash. Is that what you meant? Then as Mark says. Couldn't be easier, or much worse IMHO.
 
I'm not a fan of his style to be honest. (Obviously others are though, and that's good!)
I don't like the harsh look, although I know it works in a few images, and I also know that if I posted half a dozen images like that on here for critique, my guess is a lot of people would say too harsh, too close to background etc.
As for the technique, as Mark said, simple one light close to camera, not diffused, giving the harsh shadows.
 
Thanks for the replies.

What puzzled me was the type of background he uses and how its lit, if at all. Assuming its lit then how would you get such a sharp shadow and still maintain the colour in the person face? In some of the videos of him shooting it looks like a painted background as opposed to a vinyl or material, is that better?

From what I have seen he literally has the flash on the same line as the lens, or as close as you can get.

terrysdiary
 
Blasted said:
What puzzled me was the type of background he uses and how its lit, if at all. Assuming its lit then how would you get such a sharp shadow and still maintain the colour in the person face?
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Small light-source, harsh shadow. Subjects seem to be quite close to the background as well, so that single flash will expose both almost equally.

In some of the videos of him shooting it looks like a painted background as opposed to a vinyl or material, is that better?
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I think if you linked to the video people might be able to help you. The first page of his diary looks like a bog-standard white wall.
 
It's just a light near the lens axis as other people have said, a not dissimilar position to the pop up flash on a DSLR. I think he actually used to use a point and shoot.

The shadow is sharp and the exposure is consistent because the subject is close to the background.
 
HoppyUK said:
Any chance of a link?

All google came up with was some rubbish shot with direct on-camera flash. Is that what you meant? Then as Mark says. Couldn't be easier, or much worse IMHO.
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I'll second that.

Wouldn't dream of lighting like that for anything serious.

Malcolm
 
alexam said:
I'll second that.

Wouldn't dream of lighting like that for anything serious.

Malcolm
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By sheer chance there was a short blog post on his latest "work".

Never heard of the guy before this post. With all this great opportunities, it's a bummer he doesn't put a bit more creative thought into the process.
 
If you have a gander at the EXIF data, he's using a Panasonic DMC-GF1 - one of those compacts with no proper viewfinder - doubtless taken using the inbuilt flash. In my view his "work" is truly execrable.....
 
IMO, this is not a style of work that anyone should aim to recreate. On board flash, centered comps, careless framing, amateurish harsh shadows behind the subject that is too close to the background to begin with.

Basically all red flags of someone who is not versed in any photographic concepts.

But, to each their own.
 
He built his career on a Yashica T4, it's all about on-cam flash on a compact (off to the side rather than on top of the lens like a DSLR)

He shoots a lot like this... http://35lux.tumblr.com/post/31989437585

But it's got b****r all to do with the gear, it's all about the attitude. He can get things out of his subjects that nearly no one can. It must be in the lamb chops.

Photographers hate him, the magazines love him :)
 
Organnyx said:
In my view his "work" is truly execrable.....
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Is that a posh word for crap :lol:

tdphoto said:
IMO, this is not a style of work that anyone should aim to recreate.....Basically all red flags of someone who is not versed in any photographic concepts.
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I hate to knock someones work, but i have to agree with the above, when i looked at his photos, i was quite shocked, particularly as to why anyone in there right mind, would think it's good. If anyone posted photos like that on here for critique, they would have all manner of comments, as to why you shouldn't use those techniques.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I suppose it is more about what he gets out of the people he shoots, plus if we all liked the same thing it would get rather bland pretty quickly.
 
Organnyx said:
If you have a gander at the EXIF data, he's using a Panasonic DMC-GF1 - one of those compacts with no proper viewfinder - doubtless taken using the inbuilt flash. In my view his "work" is truly execrable.....
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It's called 'Terry's Diary' for a reason.... These are all just fun snaps for his blog. Quite funny that the fstoppers post on his blog pictures got so much attention. Have a look at some of his proper stuff and you can see that his technique and style is indeed very marketable: http://models.com/people/terry-richardson/2
 
You're all forgetting one thing, to truly recreate his style you have to be naked and on occasion take porn shots of a model with your erect penis just coming into view. :gag:

When I looked through his full portfolio I lost interest in his work.......and there are the stories you can read regarding what he expects from some models. :gag:
 
lol, im always intrigued by togs i have never heard of so googled him, then clicked on 'images'

:D:eek::crowded::naughty:

Baring in mind im in the office there was a serious bit of hitting the 'back' button going on whilst simultaniously trying to close the internet browser!!!

Still......he looks like he is having fun!!! But the stories re the underage girls, if tru, just make him out to be a sleazy perv.......
 
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