I learned to light after years of deconstructing the work of other photographers. And I know from your previous feedback that you guys are fond of these posts, so let’s dig into another one.
How did I make this picture?
Is it a lucky snapshot?
Is it lit?
If so, how?
The camera Settings?
The direction?
Post production?
Whatever details you think are needed to make this image.
Looking forward to you trying to pick this apart… I’ll reveal everything in a followup post. The person who gets the closest gets… …a chest bump and a pizza, or signed book or something. Don’t be shy. Let er rip.
Two strobes, one key light at camera left about 180 degrees from camera, fill light about 200 degrees to right of camera.
Shutter speed at around 1/500 with strobes on high speed sync. The dancers move a lot, 1/250 would probably be too slow. Aperture around f/5.6 to let more light in from strokes.
Looks like the dancer was traced in PhotoShop and placed on a black background. It also looks like the dancer might have been standing on her toe in this shot considering her right leg is completely locked. I suspect the position of the dancer was rotated slightly to give the appearance that she’s in mid air.
I say it is lit with two kicker lights the lights’ pretty hard. Gridded heads to keep the light off of everything but the subject. Shot at 1/125 @ f/11 if not more. Flash duration does a nice job of freezing. Black and white conversion in post. Daddy like.
One light and shes jumping over it, fast shutter to capture without blur, post process adjust the contrast and brightness to make the shadows darker.
The only one thing that I can say for definite is;
This was taken underneath your glass shelf thing (i forget it’s name). Oh! It’s that plexiglass thing! Ground Control! It’s because if you look closely at the right foot, there’s weight leaning on it.
No, this is not a lucky snapsnot, this is a highly posed shot.
The pose was coordinated by her lowering her body downwards, towards her feet, but slightly raising her upper torso and head, considering that the camera is below this gives the illusion that she’s mid air.
Pretty much all been said but not sure if the liht source is as soft as people say. don’t see much gradient in the light, harsh shadows.
Maybe a beautydish to the left of her slightly from above. Possibly a larger softer source to the right a little lower.
250th, f8/11ish. Slightly higher power to the right.
Post:
Probably just some levels, maybe a slight curves adj to increase contrast. Maybe a touch of sharpening.
As far as posed. Could be anything, splits on the ground, actual jump, many possibilities.
Very nice shot regardless of how it was captured though.