I still deconstruct the work of other photographers all the time – it’s a great way to expand skill sets and understanding. And I know from your previous feedback that you guys are fond of these posts, so let’s dig into another one.
I was asked to photograph the amazing and controversial Prince Manvendra of India last month in NYC. It was an honor. But tell me…
How did I make this picture?
Is it a snapshot?
Lighting?
If so, how?
The camera Settings?
The direction?
Post production?
Whatever details you think were needed to make this image.
We’ve done this lots before, but I thought this particular image would be a good one to dig into for a couple reasons. I’ll reveal how it was made in a followup post and give a signed book or something to one person who nails it in the comments below.
Definitely not just a snapshot. This is the ‘Gay Maharajah’ Manvendra Singh Gohil, and he’s in his finery, so a posed portrait in what looks lie a second-hand hi-fi outlet.
2 lights:
1. beauty dish positioned just above subject’s eyeline, to camera left, slightly feathered off to the left of the subject
2. speedlight positioned behind the chair to light the speakers and provide separation
24mm lens, ISO 800, f/8
photographer kneeling/tripod to achieve camera height level with subject’s waist
Not much in post – maybe some slight desaturation, contrast added, minor vignette and sharpening.
Lighting: Softbox/umbrella at camera left as a key light for him (Remembrant), plus a gridded strobe behind the camera facing forward, slightly to the left of camera for the direct reflection on the left speakers. Raking light for the far left speakers (the ones above the word “Marshall”) is a bare bulb behind the speaker next to it (the one to ITS left, camera right). Another light probably behind the chair to light those speakers unless it was very powerful and tightly focused in which case it could be originating from camera left as well.
This is too well planned and executed to be an offhand, shot, so this was planned. I would guess he was directed to look relaxed but slightly austere. The shot is from a low position, making him look more regal, probably meant to contrast also with the non-traditional idea of shooting him against the speakers.
Camera settings and processing are pointless to guess on since people have already said them and the metadata is left in. People shouldn’t do that, it ruins the point of that part of the contest. You can still guess on the lighting though.
I hope I got this right–a lot of the time there are a lot of ways to make any one image, but this is what it looks like to me. Thanks for these posts, they’re great, and keep up the amazing work.
> Is it a snapshot?
I don’t really know what you’re asking, but I don’t think this is good enough for you. I think it’s a test shot and you’re just balancing the strobes. I means it’s nice, but it’s not a finished image. Well for some of us it might be, but not for you. Some of the shadows are not good, a couple places too much highlight, and there is a weird speaker cone image (reflection?) on his silk sash. No this is just a first attempt at getting the lighting right I think.
> Lighting?
> If so, how?
Two strobes so far. I think you will add a third. First one camera left and raised above head height. It’s direct. Beauty dish would be a good call, very harsh light, and very small catchlights in the eyes. Maybe it’s gridded. But there is an extra light somewhere. Rather than behind the chair though I’d be inclined to imagine there was a soft box somewhere, Maybe higher above the camera, slightly to the left and in front of the subject. I think that’s the main light and is spilling onto the speakers behind. I think next you will dial down the existing direct light and add a second to the right.
> The camera Settings?
You are actually asking this when you left the exif on show? Truthfully I guessed it would be F9, I figured you’d start there. Well maybe you did start at F9 but you didn’t want to use so much ISO or drag the shutter quite so much so it’s a compromise. Or maybe you never thought you’d get that far indoor anyway so you started at F8 and just dialled the ISO up a little.
> The direction?
> Post production?
I think probably SOC. It doesn’t appear to be cropped, only resized. It’s a good composition, framed nicely. The vignette call might be worth making, but I think you could accomplish the same with light fall off and the main light positioned in the right place. So no, I don’t think there is anything.
Ok I’ll play…
How did I make this picture? – With a camera, lights, cool subject and awesome props for background 🙂
Is it a snapshot? – No
Lighting? – 3 Lights…
1) Key light on subject (rembrandt style lighting – defininte triangle under the subjects left eye)
2) Tight gridded spot to illuminate the area behind the subject to camera right and slightly above subject (shadows seem to move camera right to left here (candles behind subjects left shoulder are the clue…)
3) Another tight spot to illuminate some of the speakers on left side of image.
The camera Settings? I’m guessing this was a dark scene, and you probably bumped the ISO up to 800 or 1000 to bring in more detail in the areas not illuminated by lights… and maybe a shutter speed around 100 or 125? F8 or F11 I would guess – things are pretty tack sharp. Wide lens… somewhere in the 24-35mm range perhaps.
Post production? – Slight desaturation, and mild vignetting, contrast, etc. Nothing too crazy – image doesn’t need a lot of fancy post production.
I see 3 light sources in this image. One main key light 45 degrees upper left of the subject lighting the face. One placed behind the chair pointing up from the lower part of the chair illuminating the speakers just behind the subject. And one from the right of the frame illuminating more speakers at the left. May or may not be flashes! I suspect not flashes, looks less harsh then a flash gun (strobe).
Looks like a Nikon image not Canon. Could be something like a 85mm lens, stopped down to around f11.
Thats the way i see it!
Paul.
PS. love the speakers!