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Photos
© 2002, Ben Clay, All Rights Reserved |
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Recently, I was at a local
dance studio taking a headshot for one of their dancers, Crystal. While
headshots can be fairly straightforward, it is always good to keep different
lighting approaches in mind. Here, I ran through some fairly fundamental
techniques to demonstrate some varied results.
Once we arrived at the studio,
we set up the lighting equipment in one of the dance rooms that wasn't
being used. For the background we clipped a sheet of tan muslin cloth
to a Photoflex Boom and secured it to a Photoflex LiteStand. We then set
up a Photoflex Small Starlite Kit and positioned it off to the right of
Crystal to serve as the main light source (#1).
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Since Crystal wanted to have
a high-resolution 8x10" headshot that she could submit for auditions,
I set the digital camera I was using (an Olympus E-20N) to capture images
at its largest size and highest quality. I dialed the Image Quality to
TIFF and the Image Resolution to 2560x1920 pixels. While these settings
would afford high-quality print images, they would also take up a lot
of CompactFlash card space. Consequently, I used a high-capacity CompactFlash
card (160MB) for this session.
Since I wanted sharp focus
mostly on Crystal's eyes and not so much on the background, I needed to
open the aperture relatively wide to create selective focus. I set the
aperture to f/4.0 and then dialed the shutter speed to 1/125 sec to accommodate
a good exposure. I checked focus, waited for Crystal to blink and took
a shot (#2).
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This image shows a natural-looking
result that gives an effect similar to that of a window light. The light
is even and diffused, and wraps around the face gradually. Notice the
soft shadows cast from Crystal's nose and cheek. Next, we decided to fill
in the shadow a little using a Photoflex 32" MultiDisc with the Soft Gold
side showing.
My assistant, Jarred, attached
the MultiDisc to a LiteDisc Holder and LiteStand and positioned it so
that the light from the Starlite Kit would be reflected into the shadow
side of her face (#3).
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I kept the same camera settings
and took another exposure. Notice now how the shadows are much less pronounced.
By filling in the shadows, we have minimized the contrast, and yet there
is still a sense of dimension to the shot (#4).
Next, we decided to change
the lighting somewhat. I wanted to light up the background and pull up
the texture of the muslin background, so we set up an Extra Small Starlite
Kit and positioned it low between Crystal and the muslin.
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For the moment, Jarred pulled
the MultiDisc out of the set while I focused on the main light source.
I replaced the Small Starlite Kit with a Medium Starlite Kit to create
an even softer light. (Remember, the larger the light source, the softer
the light.) This helped to minimize the shadows even more. I then swung
the Small Starlite Kit around to the side about 90Þ to light up the right
side of Crystal's hair. Once everything was in place, I took #5 and #6.
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Again the result shows a nice
transition from light to dark on Crystal while the background light helps
to create separation from the muslin fabric.
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Once again, Jarred brought
in the MultiDisc and used it to fill in the shadows and lighten the left
side of her hair. Once everything was in place, I took several exposures
from which she could choose following the photo shoot (#7 and #8).
Remember, there is no "correct"
way to light someone. It is important to experiment with different lighting
scenarios on the set to find the one that works best for your subject.
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This lesson will be posted
in the free public section of the Web Photo School at: www.webphotoschool.com.
You will be able to enlarge the photos from thumbnails. If you would like
to continue your digital step by step education lessons on editing, printing,
and e-mailing your photos it will be on the private section of the Web
Photo School. To enroll for WPS just go to www.shutterbug.net
and click on WPS Free Lessons.
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Technical Equipment
Camera/Media: Olympus E-20N digital camera; Olympus 4040 digital
camera (for setup shots); Lexar 160MB CompactFlash card; Lexar USB CompactFlash
reader; Lexar 64MB SmartMedia card; Manfrotto 3444D carbon-fiber tripod;
Manfrotto 3259 tripod
Lighting Equipment: Photoflex Medium Starlite Kit; Photoflex Small
Starlite Kit; Photoflex Basic Starlite Kit; Photoflex Weight Bag; Photoflex
42" MultiDisc; Photoflex LiteDisc Holder; Photoflex LS-2218 LiteStand
Background: Tan muslin fabric; 2 A-clamps; Photoflex Boom; Photoflex
Boom Stand
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