Best Way To Get Shadows With External Flash (B&W)

[bleeblu]

I'm sorry I've been raping the forums today.

I want to shoot a set in black and white with someone. I have an external flash that can be slaved and mounted onto my camera. What is the best way to get shadows? The background of the room will be far behind her. Should I not shoot with it directly at her face?

As always, thank you, guys.

 

[Rephargotohp]

If you want a hard shadow, (looking for that old movie look?) You need hard light, The more diffuse the light the less sharp the edge of the shadow will be. You really want a point source light which flashes try not to be. Try making a snoot for your flash ( a pringles can works in a jam) and varying the distance to your subject, you may need 20 foot to subject to get the look you want.
The closer and more diffuse your light source is to your subject the more wrap you will get, the softer the sdge of shadows normally that is what you want. You want the opposite. To really do this you probably would be better off using a fresnel light with barn doors.

The more reflection of light off light colored side wall the less sharp your shadow will be also so you may want to scrim or flag that off

 

[enzodm]

If the flash is external, let it be external ("off camera"). Google for portrait photography to learn about lighting schemes: most of them have light sources on a side, not centered.

 

[bazooka]

Depends on where you want your shadows. If the light can't see it, then it will be in shadow. Pretend the flash is your camera. Walk around with it held to your eye. Everything you cannot see will be in shadow (unless you are incorporating ambient light or bounced light as well).