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.
Hi, here’s my take on it.
The man himself:
Main light from up above and on his right (our left) side. Sharp angle judging by the shadows on from his chin on his shoulder. Small light source, standard zoom reflector or something.
Fill light from just off camera left about about 1,5 stop below, angled directly at his torso from about floor-level. Broad light source. Barn-doored or such to control spill on background judging from the shadow on the floor. His left (our right) knee suggests the ratio main/fill-ratio.
Background:
Two gridded smaller strobes from behind the chair, pointing right and left.
One small snooted strobe aimed at the black thing to his right (our left).
One strobe behind the speakers to bring out the water sprinkling along back there (if that’s what it is…!)
Settings:
Haven’t peeked at the data above, but f at about at least 8 or 11. If so, then Chase is using an ND-filter as well to control light even further. Shutter: 125 or 250 judging from the springling water behind the…prince, was it?
Retouching:
Some tweaking of the catchlights, maybe. Very little else.
Guess at settings: F-11 – 1/250
Lights: I say 2 lights. One main on the left side of the frame, not high – about face level – barn door or cardboard to remove fall off on the right of the bulb & another little light on a slave, popping the speakers from the back of the chair, might be a snoot on that guy to get that nice circle of light.
Direction: Looks like the camera is directly in front of him, kneeling before him.
Post production: Heavy Channel Mixer for contrast and color cooling. Vignetting. And a fresh, perfect Marshall logo dropped in.
+ Is it a snapshot?
Not a snapshot, posed portrait
+ Lighting?
3 lights
1 on the subject with a barn door to avoid spill on the left corners of the image
2 from the right (around 45 degrees) on the backround (snooted/gridded)
3 straight on the speakers , also snooted/gridded to get those holes between the speakers
+ The camera Settings?
manual with a moderately wide angle lens
+ Post production?
basic burning to enhance the spotlight effect
Well first off it is a set up shot not a snapshot. Looks like the main light is gridded dish. Placed camera left and up about 6-7 feet. Maybe on a boom over subject area. Look at the glasses of milk on top of the amps. Second light is camera left also pointing at amps in background left. Not gridded but maybe a zoom head.
As far as a lens selection it is a wide angle lens. F stop can be F 8 to F11 range using the wide angle lens depth of field is increased.
Postproduction is minimal darkened blacks Shutter speed faster than the ambient light available. Maybe 1 to 2 stops faster than what is available. Seems like the milk glasses are picking up some large windows or light source off to camera right though. Probably a third light source for AMPs that are behind the subject and the light source is the same height as the top of the bottom amps. Might be some retouching in the eyes to remove additional catch light if needed.
I would shoot the Prince in the hotel with a small off camera flash. Probably in a small softbox or umbrella.
I would place the chair he is sitting in on a white card to get clean shadows.
I would use a stock shot of the speakers or it looks like they were shot separately in Seattle in one of your studios there.
The concrete floor looks familiar. Where did all the vintage speakers come from?
Any way I would then strip the 2 images together…voila!
very nice shot indeed…but how does it sound? Being an audiophile in addition to a photographer I love all those 12 inch woofers!