how do I do this? - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/06/2012 02:52:17 PM · #1

Hi
I tried to post this under other sunject headings, but I didn't get a "new topic" button ...very odd?

Anyway, please, I need some help with a shot that I want to get.

The final image I want to look more or less as follows:
Silhouette of a woman with light colored BG (that can be changed, but how would you see the silhouette if it isnâ��t a light BG? ) standing in the shower, with the water drops â��glisteningâ�� on her body as they bounce off her. Basically showing up as light colored streaks/drops on the silhouette.

I am OK to do this in PP, if I knew how to get the basic images . If I can get everything in one, that would be amazing .

Here is the set-up I have: the shower has a large window in the back, that opens up completely and the wall behind, about 5 -6 meters away will give the light BG.
The shower has no enclosing walls, other than the back window which, as I said can be opened, and a wall on the left (from the cameraâ��s perspective), where the showerhead is mounted. However, if need be a garden hose can be brought in through the window to get a different angle of the water, â��simulatingâ�� the water of the shower.
The equipment I have is a camera, a 50-200 lens , a 18 - 35 lens and a flash that I can use off camera, plus the camera has the small pop-up flash as well in case I need light to come in from 2 sides. I donâ��t have any studio lights, but I could use a strong (very strong) flash light (flash light being the hand held battery operated things you take camping, not the photographic flash :-)).

As I am writing this, I am thinking that maybe the water drops should be photographed at night? Would they â��shineâ�� in the camera flash? I am thinking the type of effect when you drive in a car at night while it is raining and the rain â��shinesâ�� in the head lights.

If it would help the whole process, I could invert all the colors and make her light and the BG dark.

Hope someone can give me some help with this project and no, it is not for a challenge, merely a "personal" challenge I wanted to do for some time.

Regards
Gaby

Spork99

OM System OM-1

11/06/2012 03:16:28 PM · #2

I think you need to backlight, maybe with the sun through the window the water to get the "sparkle" and create the light background/silhouette. Then use a fill from the front or slightly off to one side to put detail on the front if you want/need. Add other lights as necessary. You might need to create a finer spray than the typical showerhead to get the kind of effect you're looking for

Some examples of the effect you want, even if the subject doesn't match, would be really helpful.

//www.featurepics.com/FI/Thumb300/20061010/Barefoot-Skier-109158.jpg

Something like this, only in a shower?

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/06/2012 03:22:26 PM · #3

First you need a naked woman.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

11/06/2012 03:36:40 PM · #4

here is my take:

are the drops going to be in the foreground? if not you can back light the entire scene. the light will come through the drops since they are transparent, you just have to watch the light background doesn't engulf the water drops.

i would do this at night with two strobes, one to light the drops and create the silhouette the other behind the glass to light the background, you can gel that flash to tint the color.

keep your model and water far enough away from the background to create a smooth blurred backfill and not have that light spill onto your subject.

//500px.com/photo/3346265

Message edited by author 2012-11-06 15:40:03.

11/06/2012 03:44:48 PM · #5

Originally posted by mike_311:

here is my take:

//500px.com/photo/3346265

What a great picture :-)
Yes, this is very similar to what I had in mind. I just wanted even less detail on the woman, but perhaps I need to re-look at that.

Thank you Mike

11/06/2012 03:46:02 PM · #6

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

First you need a naked woman.

> 50% of the human population is female ... surely one of them will undress??? ;-)

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

11/06/2012 03:49:22 PM · #7

Originally posted by Spork99:

//www.featurepics.com/FI/Thumb300/20061010/Barefoot-Skier-109158.jpg

Something like this, only in a shower?

Mike's picture is closer to what I wanted. But both of you mentioned the back lighting. Won't manage to do anything tonight, but will ponder the whole thing tomorrow, get the bits and pieces together and give it a shot tomorrow evening.

This gives you enough time as well to add anything :-)
Thank you so much

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

11/06/2012 03:54:16 PM · #8

Originally posted by kasaba:

Originally posted by mike_311:
here is my take:

//500px.com/photo/3346265

What a great picture :-)
Yes, this is very similar to what I had in mind. I just wanted even less detail on the woman, but perhaps I need to re-look at that.

Thank you Mike

well that's all in your lighting, if the area is dark and you dont have anything to bounce the light back from the front, plus you can always help it along in post.

take a bunch of shots with different levels of details.