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.
IPHONE F8 !
– Not a snapshot. A posed portrait.
– One gridded light, high camera left.
– For camera settings, I’d say you were around f/8-f/11 at 1/200 sec. Probably wide- or mid-range lens.
– Post-production might be a boost in contrast to thicken up the blacks. Maybe some vignetting to focus the light more on the subject.
– Direction – I’m not very familiar with Manvendra other than the recent controversy, but I’m thinking the idea was to show him in tossed into an edgy and ironic environment. He looks proud and composed while sitting in a spotlight, surrounded by a huge wall of noise. I keep imagining Obama in a similar type of setting.
Nikon D7000
24-70 at 30mm
ISO 100
250 / f8.0
one speedlight 3 ft, over the subject and 5 ft to the left, slightly in front of the subject, angled down
one speedlight zoomed in to 85mm handhold by scott, hip high, coming in from the very right
while struggling with coming up about a good joke about a small camera and small flashes and that it doesnt take a kingdom to take a good photo, chase decided not to say anything about that and switched to a small talk conversation about the cocktails at the hotel bar. the prince suddenly put on a confident smile which got encourage by chase with a “hold that for me. perfect. now change”
Lighting:
Gridded beauty dish from up high for the Rembrandty light pattern.
Smallish softbox with barndoors focusing light on all sides except the speaker side, from a similar angle as the dish, except not so high.
Another small softboxed light behind the chair hitting the right-side speakers
Pocketwiz
Camera:
f/8
35mm
1/125
ISO 800
Post:
Minimal…Maybe blacks and contrast. And a little bit of a vignette
Gridded strobe high camera left, one strobe behind the chair pointed to the speakers.
ISO 800
F/8
1/100th
24mm
slight curves contrast tweak in post.