Deconstructing the work of others has been–and continues to be–one of the most influential things in my technical development as an artist. I’ll always bring my own vision, but I’m constantly asking myself, how in the hell was this, that, or the other photo made?
That said, we’ve dug into this before on a similar post that proved to be quite popular and–according to feedback–fun and helpful. As such, I’m interested to hear how YOU think I created the above LuluLemon Athletica advertising image. Was it in studio? Location? Composited? What was the lighting? The circumstances? The camera settings? The equipment used? Tricks?
I’ll reveal the details in a followup post. The person who gets the closest to describing the actual means of my creating it gets a signed book, a high five, or something interesting. G’head and let ‘er rip, love to hear your thoughts. Please don’t be shy… […click the ‘continue reading’ link below] —
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Large soft source directly above subject, but somehow controlled to allow a fall-off shadow halfway between subject and wall. I’m going to say an octa since the shadow looks circular.
Low-level fill flash on the face and forearms. Normally, I’d say ring flash, but that would light up the foreground (unless the trickery here was a composited shot to edit out ring flash lightened foreground). So, I’m going to say a zoomed, probably snooted hot-shoe flash for fill, straight on.
There is a shadow cast from the archway on the left, which says there was a harder light coming from top-right to light up the background.
There is a light directly behind the basket for the little pop of light there on the wall.
There is a light towards the right of the balcony lighting up the upper mid part of the image and casting the shadow under the balcony.
There appears to be a shadow line above the chairs, which also says that there had to be a very high top-light, probably natural, lighting up the white basket area.
Lens was a wide angle. Gritty higher ISO. Aperture around 5.6 or so. Shutter speed was low to get some natural top light and overall fill. Slight vignette.
Shot on location, d3, 24-70 f2.8 nikkor @ f4 and 24mm, large softbox set above subject, small in front to fill face, 2 sb's located to the left and right of the hoop to light the wall pointed 45 degree angle at center wall.
Am I close?!
Lighting: camera left, large soft box to fill background.
Camera left, fill with speed light. Above model, large soft box for key light. Shot on location. Camara settings: 24mm lens at f/7.1 1/125 & ISO 100
Photoshop: Pop the curves and burn the floor a bit.
It looks like a great old gym that you might have some good available lighting. Did you add the down lights in the background or were they there naturally? There is obviously a slightly stronger source from the left but it looks like mostly natural lighting from a low angle and a bigger depth of field, perhaps f8 or f16. Post production gave it a little more 'old school' feel too it.
It wouldn't surprise me if you took it with your iphone 🙂
My theory….
Three lights on background.
First light just off camera….right side probably bare. level with net pointed toward hoop.
Second light opposite side same set up about a stop or so darker.
third light higher from left snooted pointing toward hoop.
4th light large softbox or octobox above and a few feet in front of subject.
I believe this was a composite shot. First shot with subject and a reflector or foamcore flat on ground a few feet in front of subject to provide fill. The second shot without subject or reflector used to remove reflector from final image
I would guess both exposures shot around f8 at 50mm balanced for a little ambient light.