what lighting+flash used on these?

ttr48 · Sep 28, 2007

photographs by Martin Schoeller

Can anyone suggest the flash & lighting used to achieve this look?

thanks

Mike_E · Sep 28, 2007

2 rectangular soft boxes, one on either side of the camera and centered (or nearly so) on the camera's horizontal axis and angeled down a bit. (my best guess anyway)

Welcome to the forum by the way.

Zatodragon · Sep 28, 2007

I definitly see 2 softboxes, and pretty close to the subjects as well with the short fall-off of light.

Helen B · Sep 28, 2007

Look in the eyes (the reflections show the general shape and position of the lights), and notice the slight shadow under the chin (meaning that the softboxes are just high enough to allow the slight, essential, chin shadow to form). Then look at the back of the head and the hair, for any sign of light coming from the back (nothing visible).

Best,
Helen

ttr48 · Sep 28, 2007

Thanks very much for all the info.

Garbz · Sep 28, 2007

Also some camera details since this isn't a normal looking headshot. He's used a medium to wide lens and gotten close, rather than a long lens from some distance.

SteveEllis · Oct 4, 2007

I've been reading The Strobist Blog Spot, and only after one day I'm glad to say I thought the same as you guys with the lighting before rading your replies

Definitely a site worth reading.

However, would I be right in adding that Mr Clinton and Jack Nicholson have some back lighting going on, where as Dustin Hoffman is further away from the background with the exposure set on him to under expose the background slightly?

Iron Flatline · Oct 4, 2007

That's Robert De Niro, just fyi.

I really must start reading strobist...

RMThompson · Oct 4, 2007

As great as these shots are, I believe showing them instead of linking them goes against the rules of this site.

However clearly two soft boxes, and I'd say a low ceiling rather than backlighting, since the hairline isn't accentuated towards the bottom, that's probably just light bouncing up and behind.