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.
studio shot with strobes….one strobe camera high left pointing down at model with possible softbox/grid modifier, one (hard) strobe directly camera right in line with model. ISO 100-200 (prob 100), shutter speed 1/250 (max shutter sync for nikons), aperture f11-f16 (prob f11 for optical sweet spot, for deep DOF, allow for blacked out background). lens either 24-70 at long end or 70-200, shot probably from a ladder in order to get the camera POV in line with the model jumping. model instructed to dance/jump naturally with shot taken casually/spontaneously. B+W conversion in post with contrast increases, blemish removal, possible cropping. that’s how I would have done it anyway, cheers….
Definitely been post processed, triangular artifacts outline her entire body. All of the black is 100%, so it’s been background filled to remove *something* or at least make it more consistent for prints.
2 lights, one left and one right, staggered slightly and maybe grid spotted to focus it, but more likely just a well timed shot on a diffused strobe. I feel as if the left side of her face was post-processed in a way to enhance the Rembrandt affect, but if not it’s once again incredibly well timed.
a closed aperture, a short shuttertime,
ISO is fitted to the luminous intensity
a hard sidelight (probably a standard reflector)
and probably a huge softbox from the right
and the shortest flash synchron time as possible
she jumped in the air while taking the picture
Two cases:
a) shot live on stage in theatre – so it is a lucky snapshop, lighted by scenic lights probably different colours (I assume blue and red/orange), one on her back/right, another one on her front/left; high iso 1/250, f/8; post-production – b&w, blacks clipping, orange and blue filter (depending on light colour), medium-S contrast curve, noise reduction, some sharpening
b) studio-like shot – not a lucky snapshop, lights opposite to themselves (slighty left and slighty right), probably through softbox or huge umbrella, native iso 1/1000, f/8; post-production – b&w, blacks clipping and some shadows filling, medium-S contrast curve, sharpening
However I think it would an a) case 🙂 Done something similar, but flamenco – http://www.flickr.com/photos/alfanick/sets/72157626147175333/
Ok, giving it a try because my wife gave me a possible tip. 😉
Dancer sitting on a dark floor, camera set to 1/250th (flash sync speed) to kill off ambient light, f/8. Two flashes, possible upper left and lower right. Contrast increased in post. This is roughly what I am guessing. 😉