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.
Hi!
Looks like she stood on something in a studio. It does not seem like a lucky snapshot, but maybe you did a burst of shots at the peak moment. You have tilted the camera so the horizon line is changed.
There is seperation almost everywhere. She is lit from left and right. Large sources of very directional light but not to harsh, maybe gridded softboxes. The placement is a little behind the model on the left, fairly near and on the right a bit more behind her and further away, a little harder light, almost burned out, likely contrast boost in post production, black and white conversion and crop. Quite wide lens.
Camera settings: 1/250th, F11, ISO 200. All of her is in focus, background is black, no visible noise.
I want a chest bump! :=)
Strobe high, camera left, slightly behind subject. Strobe low camera right, slightly in front of subject. Black background, true action shot. F11@ 500, ISO 400?
You do a lot on location shoots and i think this is shot on location as well. On a stage in a theatre or some place like that. Taken from ground level. Not posed I recon it is a proper action shot.
I think it’s shot with a longer lens about 200mm and with that f/8 at least.. more like f/11 even f/16 between 1/160 to 1/250.
It is definately lit. I think a medium sized softbox on the left at 10 o’clock and a beauty dish on the right 3 o’clock hip level.
Converted into b&w, curves, maybe skin highlights or red filter.
Hi Chase!
This is a well thought shot, not a lucky click by any means. You with the camera were probably at an elevated place, camera positioned at an height of her waist at this instance. Black seamless at the back. Clicked while model is in air while performing. The lighting is deliberate to achieve the motion and shape of artist in this particular fly. Following must be the probable setup:
1. One strobe (with a big soft box) on upper left of subject lit from 10 o’clock angle, but positioned at the back of her (say 120 degrees from lens direction), light pointing almost into the right corner of lens.
2. Second strobe (with a big soft box) on the right bottom of subject from a 4 o’clock angle, positioned exactly to her right middle.
4. Camera settings must be roughly f8 at 1/160th of a second. ISO 400. Focus point aimed roughly at the collar bone location. Shot in monochrome with flash or shade white balance.
5. Probable post production : clearing any flare or ghosting on right end of frame (caused by left side strobe). Conversion to black and white. Else a clean shot.
Hope i would get this shot at these settings 🙂
Looks like it was shot on stage from the low angle, camera could be in the orchestra pit or very near the floor. Cross lit, box camera left, box camera right, slightly behind subj. 1/500 f/8 Probably a Blad autofocus body. asa100. Profoto or Brons for flash duration.
Or at least thats what I would be shooting for to get this image if I had to recreate it to the letter.
All the best-