Sunset Cinematic Portrait

fooby

TPF Noob!
Joined
Apr 5, 2011
Messages
140
Reaction score
15
Location
Northumberland, UK
Website
joelstephenson.com
Can others edit my Photos
Photos NOT OK to edit
This was one of my first attempts using additional lighting to light a portrait. The setup is a 50mm with a 30" umbrella and speedlite placed as close to Jamie's head as I could manage without it being in frame. Please note there was no attention payed to how he looked, only how he posed. It was more of a lighting test. Eyes, skin, tones and flare retouched in Photoshop.

$10259772_10202407002441176_5152396270507414171_n.jpg
 
This was one of my first attempts using additional lighting to light a portrait. The setup is a 50mm with a 30" umbrella and speedlite placed as close to Jamie's head as I could manage without it being in frame. Please note there was no attention payed to how he looked, only how he posed. It was more of a lighting test. Eyes, skin, tones and flare retouched in Photoshop.

<img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=76835"/>

Background is blown out, reduce your shutter speed. I would position the umbrella more away from the subject
Take several test shots with the light modifier at different angles so you can see the different results
 
His white T-shirt is also totally blown out...it might have looked better to have allowed the flare to stay in the shot. Hard to say though. Whatever though-just keep on shootin' and keep on having fun with it!!!! You will get better and better as you do more flash work!
 
To me, 'cinematic' means a horizontal frame.

IMO, your light was to high and a bit to far in front of the camera, also based on cinematic lighting technique.

The sky does not convey 'sunset' in either color or lighting ratio. I would expect a nice warm tone in the sky towards the horizon and blue sky at the top of the frame.
That can be done by exposing for the sky (ambient light), and using a higher flash lighting ratio to expose your subject.

Using a hand held light meter you can measure the incident light exposure for the sky, then meter your subject to determine what you need for the flash exposure.
 
Thanks for the feedback, I definitely agree with the light being a bit to central. Maybe a larger wrapping light source feathered away from him a bit more would look more cinematic?

A note about the highlights - they are blown out on purpose. I shot for a healthy histogram and blew it out in post, so it's more personal style than bad habit - I can always recover them for print if needed... I'm thinking the shirt might be a bit overdone though!
 
The pose looks pretty awkward too, especially with hands in the pockets. Hey, if blowing out highlights is your thing, go for it... to me though it seems like its distorting the parts of the tree and the chimney which IMO isn't very flattering.
 

Most reactions

New Topics

Back
Top