Lighting Question

mayfly · Oct 10, 2007

hey, i'm brand new to this forum & very excited to have
access to experts & amateurs all the same.

question... i came across some very beautiful photos tonight
in an online blog & have been a fan of this type of lighting
and processing for a while. can anyone give an explanation on
HOW these effects were achieved in the following photos??

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/1039/mg0547bm5.jpg

the monochromatic effect is one thing (and is that only done in Photoshop?) but also the blur of light behind the model. the fuzziness etc.
is this filters? or settings? any thoughts?

and:
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/1733/mg0584rr9.jpg
pretty much same questions here... how would you professionals recapture this photo with these results? i just love the mood in these

source:http://nouvellenoir.livejournal.com

The Phototron · Oct 10, 2007

The sun behind the model created the rim light.

A reflector or flash could've been used for the fill light on the model, or just meter off her face.

The background fuzziness is done by using a large aperture like f 2.8.

Big Mike · Oct 10, 2007

Welcome to the forum.

I edited your posts and changed the photos to links. Forum rules say that members are only allowed to directly post their own photos.

I don't think there is anything extraordinary going on with those photos...not in terms of extra effects. The exposure is set so that the sun is blowing out detail and they probably used a shallow DOF to render the background out of focus.

Sideburns · Oct 10, 2007

Back lighting using the sun...and metering for her face. That's my best guess...would make sense to me.

Mike_E · Oct 10, 2007

On the first it looks to be simple fill flash. I'll guess a -1/3 comp probably not too much less because of the generally washed out look.

On the second one it looks like one reflector above the camera and one above and just to the left of the camera. There is a shadow tight under her jaw and starting well up her nostril with no shadow anywhere else except under her bottom lip.

$.02