Portrait Lighting -- examples, please?

02/10/2014 12:18:52 PM · #1

I'm so excited!! I still really struggle with lighting, because I don't practice it enough (somehow, my son gets bored after about 10 minutes... :)

Anyway, I have an awesome opportunity -- a local photographer has offered to mentor me tomorrow for 4 hours. I can bring my lighting equipment, and he'll show me how to use it! I'm sooooo excited!

Anyway, he wants me to bring a mood or image I'd like to create.

So my question for you:

I'd like to learn some "typical" lighting setups, but I really enjoy the more intense, dramatic lighting, and I'd like to learn that.

My problem is: I haven't been collecting examples. I'm going searching today -- but do you have dramatic portrait lighting examples that you like or have done? I'd love to be inundated with examples; I could really use your help.

Please?

Help?

Thanks!!!!

02/10/2014 12:22:23 PM · #2

go to 500px, filter for portraits.

02/10/2014 12:24:15 PM · #3

additionally, this stye really intrigues me, im going to try it next.

//500px.com/photo/60238458

but this one, still has me stumped...

i dont know if its a lot of post work, but the light on the face seems hard to accomplish:

//500px.com/photo/45438156

Message edited by author 2014-02-10 12:27:32.

02/10/2014 12:26:36 PM · #4

That is interesting -- thanks! I really need to start bookmarking ideas -- first one to be bookmarked!

More! More!

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

02/10/2014 12:28:20 PM · #5

i edited my post above...

LN13

Canon EOS-60D

02/10/2014 12:29:31 PM · #6

That's something I'd like to learn too. I had a great idea for the weekend challenge, and it involved a self portrait and was sure ribbon winner in my mind. It was horrible, and I didn't enter it.

Message edited by author 2014-02-10 12:29:42.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

02/10/2014 12:39:23 PM · #7

//500px.com/photo/31983

//500px.com/photo/53608576

//500px.com/photo/24292923

//500px.com/photo/6106547

Message edited by author 2014-02-10 12:43:37.

tanguera

Nikon D750

02/10/2014 12:41:38 PM · #8

Just about anything from

lvicari

MarkB

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/10/2014 01:16:20 PM · #9

Originally posted by Mike:

but this one, still has me stumped...

i dont know if its a lot of post work, but the light on the face seems hard to accomplish:

//500px.com/photo/45438156

Just taking a guess here...

One overhead light behind and slightly right of the model lighting her shoulder. Second overhead light in front and left of the model lighting her hair. The hair and shoulder lights are pretty hot so I think maybe the light on face is just bouncing of the hands.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/10/2014 01:21:49 PM · #10

I dunno if any of these are useful....

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

02/10/2014 01:24:23 PM · #11

wendy - remember

graphicfunk? While he hasn't been around in a long time, he's kept up his membership and thus his remarkable portfolio is still available.

You might wander through that for some ideas on dramatic studies. He also conducted a mentoring class on "double exposure" which is in the archives somewhere. (I have that one preserved in my own records.)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

02/10/2014 01:30:04 PM · #12

Use Rembrandt Lighting In Your Portrait Photography For Added Drama

They have about 2500 more Tips and Tutorials posted there ... I think they are all user contributions like the DPC tutorials -- if you learn something great, you can write up a tutorial for us and get a free month's membership (or print credit)...

02/10/2014 01:52:55 PM · #13

This is awesome, everyone! I'm looking on line, and check back here. I just was looking at joey lawrences's site.

You should check out the halloween stuff!!!

Here's the main site:

joeyl

Here's the halloween blog:
Halloween in Brooklyn

02/10/2014 02:30:31 PM · #14

Originally posted by MarkB:

Originally posted by Mike:
but this one, still has me stumped...

i dont know if its a lot of post work, but the light on the face seems hard to accomplish:

//500px.com/photo/45438156

Just taking a guess here...

One overhead light behind and slightly right of the model lighting her shoulder. Second overhead light in front and left of the model lighting her hair. The hair and shoulder lights are pretty hot so I think maybe the light on face is just bouncing of the hands.

its way too much reflection off the hands, i don't know if she was holding something reflective and it was shopped out or what, but i don't expect skin to reflect light like that.

02/10/2014 02:36:37 PM · #15

Originally posted by Mike:

Originally posted by MarkB:

Originally posted by Mike:
but this one, still has me stumped...

i dont know if its a lot of post work, but the light on the face seems hard to accomplish:

//500px.com/photo/45438156

Just taking a guess here...

One overhead light behind and slightly right of the model lighting her shoulder. Second overhead light in front and left of the model lighting her hair. The hair and shoulder lights are pretty hot so I think maybe the light on face is just bouncing of the hands.

its way too much reflection off the hands, i don't know if she was holding something reflective and it was shopped out or what, but i don't expect skin to reflect light like that.

I thought the light on the face looked post processed...