The ONE-LIGHT PORTRAIT Challenge

[Mully]

Nice Mug

 

[Forkie]

Here's mine. One light about 4 ft away camera left. Not happy with the shadow of the nose, really.

I'll edit this post with the EXIF later. This is a copy of a copy and the EXIF data has been stripped somewhere along the way, but I think it was f/11, 1/160 (D300s 18-105mm). Against a white wall. The DOF is fake.

 

[.SimO.]

Fantastic thread. Can't wait to participate and share.

 

[rexbobcat]

I'm pretty partial to one-light setups it seems lol. More than one light becomes so cumbersome.

 

[Tee]

I don't want to speak for the Kunda-Meister but I think he envisioned a thread where we would share the in depth how's and why's of each shot such as settings, equipment used and such, not just posting images. I admit I skirted the edges of my post. Tonight I will put some thought into a one light image I want to share and follow K's format.

 

[.SimO.]

From an amateur side of things, I do like to see the setups and settings for the shots.

 

[Thayli]

I cant help myself, I love single light setups.


Single softbox with 75w modeling light to the left, maybe 10 inches above babys head height. Helios 44-2 on an xti.


Another helios shot, (im 99% sure it was the helios on this one, bizarre I remember the lighting but not the lens), 160w softbox on 1/2 power to the slightly high right.


This one is on demand of my wife to prove a point. I wanted to delete this as soon as I took it, but the missus decided to abuse her position in my life and forced me to keep it. It then became one of her favorite shots. Personally I think it looks like a portrait of crack addiction. Anyway, over the months since it was taken I've warmed to it, in a morbid fascination kind-of-way, (even to the point of using a crop as avatar). It still looks like a car crash to me, but there is something interesting about it. Taken with a nifty fifty and a single 160w softbox 6ft away on the high left, full power I think.

 

[rexbobcat]

I don't want to speak for the Kunda-Meister but I think he envisioned a thread where we would share the in depth how's and why's of each shot such as settings, equipment used and such, not just posting images. I admit I skirted the edges of my post. Tonight I will put some thought into a one light image I want to share and follow K's format.

What if your set up is so basic and obvious that it does not require an explanation? lol

 

[.SimO.]

I don't want to speak for the Kunda-Meister but I think he envisioned a thread where we would share the in depth how's and why's of each shot such as settings, equipment used and such, not just posting images. I admit I skirted the edges of my post. Tonight I will put some thought into a one light image I want to share and follow K's format.

What if your set up is so basic and obvious that it does not require an explanation? lol

Most things are simple and obvious when you excel at it. For me, I am just now getting into strobe lighting so when I see points being made on setups, distances of equipment & subject, that weighs a lot to individuals such as myself.

 

[Granddad]

Here's mine, taken yesterday for a friend of my wife. One of a set intended for the author portrait for a professional book she'll be publishing later this year. Not necessarily the best of the set but the one I was working on when I read the thread.
Nikon D 700
Nikon 24-70 f2.8
ISO160
F 11
1/125
Single strobe 45degrees camera right high with a 50cm x 70cm softbox
large silvered reflector camera left about 3 feet from the victim ... I mean subject.

Image has been through Portrait Professional for skin treatment and to open up the eyes a little (she tends to squint without her specs) and through PS elements 8 to provide some minimal dental repair work and to repair her lipstick and reshape the bottom lip slightly. Also through the distort filter to gently ease a couple of pounds away.

 

[Vtec44]

One YN560 at full power through a folded shoot through umbrella.

 

[paigew]

This is a great thread! But I don't think the outdoor + flash counts. Nor do the light + window light. After all the sun is a light source so that would be two sources

"bed head" lit by tiny bed lamp

"light dancer" shot during blue hour. 'lit' by glowstick (I guess this could be two sources :er

"play-dough" lit by (single) large window

"the pumpkin"

edit to add one more: lit by large window.

 

[bigtwinky]

Put me in a live show, i'll kick butt. Make me use off camera flash? Ouch. I sooo need to work on my posing, but last Friday I was asked to come up to a rehearsal space and shoot a few shots in a 20 minute span. Thank god I brought some flashes, even if I am not used to using them, they kinda came in handy. And ya know, why practice on just one person when you can cram 5 people in a small space and try with them? haha

The guys in the back are too dark, had issues with posing and getting even light on them all. Single flash on camera left with a grid.



Need to finish my edits on the image, its a bit too contrasty and rough, although thats the look they wanted haha.

 

[kundalini]

I don't want to speak for the Kunda-Meister but I think he envisioned a thread where we would share the in depth how's and why's of each shot such as settings, equipment used and such, not just posting images. I admit I skirted the edges of my post. Tonight I will put some thought into a one light image I want to share and follow K's format.

That was the hope. Also, questions about setups, settings and why something was done certain ways will add information to those that are starting out with a single flash unit. Discussions are a good thing.

What if your set up is so basic and obvious that it does not require an explanation? lol

A few words of explaination might help set the scene.

This is a great thread! But I don't think the outdoor + flash counts. Nor do the light + window light. After all the sun is a light source so that would be two sources

It depends on how the sun or a window is used.

• Battling against a bright backlight would certainly count, otherwise you'd have a silhouette without any facial features.
• You could overexpose the scene through the window and light the subject indoors to have a white background.

Thanks everyone for your contribution. :thumbsup:

 

[paigew]

This is a great thread! But I don't think the outdoor + flash counts. Nor do the light + window light. After all the sun is a light source so that would be two sources

It depends on how the sun or a window is used.

• Battling against a bright backlight would certainly count, otherwise you'd have a silhouette without any facial features.
• You could overexpose the scene through the window and light the subject indoors to have a white background.

Well thats why its a challenge! Its not "one light unless your battling a strongly backlit window" (or sky etc). Its ONE lightsource.....but hey, your thread your rules