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.
She is doing splits on the ground, you are shooting above her. Both lights are behind her slightly, I agree soft box on the left, and hard light on the right. Post production on the “background.” Maybe a little on the legs to take out the pressed look from being on the ground. Sweet shot.
This was my guess also!!!
A quick guess.
Studio shot. 2 lights.
1 softbox lower right
1 softbox to the left, slightly to the rear
Dancer jumping toward camera.
or it could have been shot from above… maybe
pretty obvious it is bottom lit and shot through glass while she is en pointe, n’est-ce pas?
You’re absolutely right I think VWells. Everybody… the key clue here is the shape of the dancers foot (toes). Otherwise, it could well have been a jump. The toes though give it away, therefore, if the dancer is holding that position, Chase & crew have more options with regard to exposure and shutter speed. In other words, Chase has again, figured out how to control MORE of the variables! good stuff…
I vote she’s lit with two giant light sources, that are modified (soft box perhaps). One light is slightly behind her to the left, pointing toward her. The other light is slight behind her to the right, pointing toward her. A top view would put her in the center, with the light sources in the top left and right corners. Each light source is pointing to the opposite corner. This creates the shadow over her face, chest and arms that are viewable from the camera.
Camera is set to max sync speed to capture her frozen in the air without blur, with aperture set to create a correct exposure with the two light sources…probably something somewhat small as she appears to be in full focus everywhere. The background is irrelevant because the fast shutter speed kills the ambient. Image changed to black/white in post, and any remnants of the room that came through in the image were darkened to black, if needed.
Camera positioned above dancer. Fast shutter speed to kill ambient light. Bare bulb monos positioned low. 1 behind and slightly left of dancer. The other to dancer right. Good dof, perhaps an f8 or f11 exposure.
This is fun, will be interesting to see results and others feedback.
Kerry