How to shoot this sort of picture?

Redhotpengy · Dec 29, 2011

Hey guys. I'm new to the forum, and pretty much to photography itself (I've been more interested in Cinematography before, but I got a DSLR and I love it).

Anyways, I'd like to know how I could achieve this sort of look,

Pictures & Photos from Chuck - IMDb

http://i2.listal.com/image/710620/936full-quantum-of-solace-poster.jpg

I know they probably shot a series of photos at a high shutter speed, but what did they do to get that sort of surreal type of look? It almost looks like it was painted. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thank you

o hey tyler · Dec 29, 2011

They probably had the actors in a studio w/ a ton of lighting, and then superimposed them on the background. That would be my guess.

480sparky · Dec 29, 2011

Studio lighting, background edited in.

MLeeK · Dec 29, 2011

Those are heavily edited and probably exactly what the guys have said, but it's possible and it's not a bunch of shots. It's lighting.
I'd go with two strobes/flashes. Main or key (brightest) to the camera right with a large softbox. Accent light to the camera left also with a large softbox. Full light of day.
Your exposure using no flash would be set for the sky. The strobes/flash illuminate your subject. Not very hard. Pretty standard strobe work.
The smooth surreal look is done with skin smoothing in post processing

Redhotpengy · Dec 30, 2011

MLeeK said:
Those are heavily edited and probably exactly what the guys have said, but it's possible and it's not a bunch of shots. It's lighting.
I'd go with two strobes/flashes. Main or key (brightest) to the camera right with a large softbox. Accent light to the camera left also with a large softbox. Full light of day.
Your exposure using no flash would be set for the sky. The strobes/flash illuminate your subject. Not very hard. Pretty standard strobe work.
The smooth surreal look is done with skin smoothing in post processing

Thank you! Really great answer, but I don't have all this lighting :x

SCraig · Dec 30, 2011

Redhotpengy said:
Thank you! Really great answer, but I don't have all this lighting :x

Then just get some software with a posterization filter. Start with a good photograph, then compress the tonal range, harden the contrast, blow out the highlights, block up the shadows, and you're there.

KmH · Dec 30, 2011

In short, instead of lighting, spend the money on image editing software and training.

But you really need both lighting and image editing software and training.