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05/04/2006 09:53:27 PM · #1 |
I absolutely love these types of portraits, but have never been able to reproduce them. To elaborate, the type of photo I'm talking about is a tight crop (generally showing just the facial features without the entire head), low key (and typically high contrast black and white), very sharp, perfect lighting.
I want to start a thread where people discuss how they get these types of photos and post examples. I'll start with a few ribbon winners and top tens from recent times that are similiar to what I'm talking about. The first three are spot-on the technique I'm going for. Hopefully Goodman could give us some advice since he seems to have this technique mastered.
As far as the lens goes, these shots were taken with everything from the kit lense, to the 50mm 1.4, to the tamron 28-75. 50mm seems to be the par for these types of shots. As for the lighting, I'm very inexperienced with using lighting and have no form of studio lights. I'm curious as to how the light seems to be casted directly onto the face of several of these shots, yet the backgrounds are black with no visible light.
Let the discussion begin. |
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05/04/2006 11:15:25 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by ibkc:
Hopefully Goodman could give us some advice since he seems to have this technique mastered. |
she*
And no, I don't have anything to add regarding lighting or subject selection, but try this:
Make a layer and run Curves on it, and in every channel (RGB, as well as Red, Green and Blue), make two points on the 1/3 top and bottom points on the grid, drag the bottom one down and the top one up, and adjust as needed. It adds a lot of contrast to the image and can get you started on the effect I think you're looking for, and it's fun to play with.
Also google for the Draganizer photoshop action, and try playing around with that a little.
Message edited by author 2006-05-04 23:17:03. |
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05/04/2006 11:19:23 PM · #3 |
I just tried my first attempt at this kind of shot. I don't think I even got close to what I was looking for. Not enough detail and lack of focus everywhere except for eyes/hair. Oh well, I'll just keep workin on it :)
Mine seems more blown out in places and more snap-shot-ish.
Message edited by author 2006-05-04 23:20:29. |
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05/04/2006 11:40:26 PM · #4 |
Your light is very harsh and straight on from the front. I am guessing it is your on-camera flash? The examples you posted all have great detail from the highlights and shadows that model their face and bring out all the lines and character. An on camera flash will flatten everything right out.
I think the lighting is the key to the effect you are looking for. At least the very important first step. Try changing the angle of your subject with respect to the ight source and softening the light in some way. Experiment.
I am not sure if this is the look you are going for, but this is my husband next to a window with indirect sunlight (and not much of it)coming through it.
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05/04/2006 11:45:11 PM · #5 |
| That's a great example. And you caught me. on-camera flash. I have a sigma 500ef-dg that i put on the camera. Then set it up to bounce the flash off the ceiling. Then realized the batteries in the flash were dead, so I went back to the on-camera flash and blinded myself a few times. |
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05/05/2006 12:09:37 AM · #6 |
I've only really attempted something like this once, but I'll tell ya what I know.
As far as subject matter goes, older people with a lot of textures on their face and skin make excellent subjects. I don't know anything about studio lighting, but natural light is good too if the conditions are right. Mine was taken on a balcony on an overcast day. The diffused side lighting is good to bring out the facial textures. For sharp focus always use a tripod, and a good macro lense frequently yields great results.
For post processing, I did a feathered selection of all the darker areas and lightened them slightly and bumped up the contrast, then I inverted the selection (to the bright areas) and darkened the highlights and bumped up the contrast there too. This is to make sure the high contrast doesn't blow out the highlights or loose details. This technique gives you good control over your contrast, but it takes a little playing around with. Hope any of this helps!
-Anna
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05/05/2006 01:20:21 AM · #7 |
oooh thank you.
librodo and pedro are the best at this actually.
not sure if there is anything to tell, the essential part is to take
the photo close up, so little crop is needed.
the rest is play play play in ps.
(i never use a tripod, natural light, no diffusers) kits lens works well too.
Message edited by author 2006-05-05 01:21:26. |
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