How Is This Photo Lit?

I am trying to reproduce this and can't get the lighting right. I am using a strobe with a softbox, or a small key light focused only on the model, everything is to bright and the background is too lit...any suggestions on a lighting setup? I know its simple but I can't get it!

thanks
Andy

Post edited by: comeaution, at: 2008/04/09 20:13

Hi Andy, welcome to the forum I hope you will like it here.


I moved this over to critique because I think that is what you are asking?

I hope you don't mind.

However........... I can't see a photo

Yep. No photo.

Well, that was easy! Ah, if only all lighting issues could be solved this quickly!

oops...here is the photo...

Hi Andy,

The light source is not exactly a hard point, but a softbox is way too diffuse for the effect you're trying to duplicate. I'm guessing a 7-12" dish would give you a sufficiently soft but distinct light source.

The key to the shot is keeping light off the background.

Option 1) Whether you're staging this in a studio or in a real room, try a black background.

Option 2) If you're shooting in a real room and you don't have a black background, make sure the model's well away from the background and use a "flag" (large gobo) to put the back wall into shadow.

After doing either option 1 or 2, try turning down your strobe's brightness a couple of stops and try narrowing your aperture so you're not picking up what little light is coming from the background but you can still pick up the faint fill light reflected off the furniture onto the model.

Post edited by: OrcaBob, at: 2008/04/10 21:13