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.
i guess that this pic was taken during the ballet show. so no strobes etc, just theatre lights.
camera settings: f5.6, 1/250, iso400, 70-200 f2.8 lens shooted on 120mm.
Lots of post production work gone in there…
I would say there’s two crossing strobes with big sources (probably softbox or octa) almost totally sidelighted. One at camera left is slightly from above her (at 45 degrees from her face, not her body, because of the Rembrandt highlight on the cheek), the other one is slightly from below. And they are very fast (expensive strobes, I would say) for freezing her on the air (like 1/1000s of flash duration or faster –other option is the use of speedlights at low power). The post processing is not heavy, but is present: black and white conversion, contrast adjustments and, if it was necessary, some rotation for a better framing. The camera is a pro 35mm digital body (D3s?) but may be a medium format, and the lens is a moderate tele (85mm to 135mm in 35mm equiv) as there is no big distortion between the feet sizes, taken from 12 to 15 feet from the subject. My aperture guess is f/11. Shutter speed not important as the flash duration, just fast enough for killing ambient light.
Ok…, two studio flashes with grids, positioned at 45 deg. angle, behind the subject. Camera set at f.11 at 125/s (low position).
Very little post production.
The ballet dancer is called Jane and she skipped breakfast that morning!
Right?!
I won’t even attempt to guess the details of the lighting but I think its two light sources. One to the upper left and another to the mid right…
All I came her to say is AMAZING SHOT!!!