DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Why can't I do this on purpose?????
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 19 of 19, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 10/05/2009 08:00:21 AM · #1
Every time I try to shoot a portrait, you know, intentionally set out to get a decent portrait shot, they look terrible, yet if I just run into someone at, say....a gallery opening, I get stuff like this....



I really like this enough that I almost wanna submit it for the October Free Study.

Any y'all out there have any thoughts?

Anyone else a better accidental portrait photog?

Message edited by author 2009-10-05 08:00:51.
 10/05/2009 08:29:44 AM · #2
I would definitely have saved it for the Oct FS!
 10/05/2009 08:39:47 AM · #3
I think the reason you (and I as well) can't do it on purpose, is not understanding lighting well enough, so we just stumble across such shots instead of being able to take create them at will. One of my own goals for the near future is to improve my lighting skills. I would like to be able to do some of the wonderful portraiture I see from others here and I know the lighting is one of my weak areas.

Message edited by author 2009-10-05 08:40:27.
 10/05/2009 08:51:33 AM · #4
What Steve said. *sigh*
 10/05/2009 10:21:55 AM · #5
here's a guy on flickr who does this kind of portrait well. maybe watch him for a while.

link
 10/05/2009 10:47:52 AM · #6
Thanks BrianTammy, I like his site. He even tells how he lit it...

10/05/2009 11:07:01 AM · #7
What did you have for light? i'm working on the lighting thing myself, just got 2 stands and going to be trying the strobist thing!
 10/05/2009 11:13:39 AM · #8
Originally posted by rider:
What did you have for light?


He "stumbled upon it" at an art gallery opening; he didn't light it himself, that's just the way the light *was*. Or so I take it from his original post... That's kind of the point; he's bemoaning that he doesn't know lighting well enough to replicate this effect with his own lights.

R.
 10/05/2009 11:52:22 AM · #9
ya got that bear i just assumed he positioned her under 1 of the recessed lights in the ceiling intenionaly?
 10/05/2009 12:11:13 PM · #10
Jeb, this style is called Rembrandt lighting, you can look it up, for example here
wiki
 10/05/2009 12:17:59 PM · #11
Originally posted by rider:
ya got that bear i just assumed he positioned her under 1 of the recessed lights in the ceiling intenionaly?

No.....that's the problem...

She was standing in a doorway lit by a feeble incandescant porch light with a grimy globe.

Should I go steal the porch light?.....8>)

And Robert, you're wrong.....it isn't that I don't know lighting well enough....I don't know it at all! LOL!!!

The thing is, I don't think about it....I just see someone I think will shoot well, and I go for it.

I guess I don't really think about thye ones that just didn't work out all that well....they fall out of my head, and ones like this young woman just really stand out.

I guess I should prolly do some actual homework.....or just never agree to do portrait work on purpose.......
 10/05/2009 12:21:45 PM · #12
Originally posted by LevT:
Jeb, this style is called Rembrandt lighting, you can look it up, for example here
wiki

That's cool!

I have gotten a shot or two before that looks like that and I really like the effect.

It even tells you how to do it.

Maybe I should corner my daughter, or some other willing volunteer, & practice.

What I like about it is that the light is really soft & warm.

She's a beautiful young lady, but this image is definitely flattering as well.
 10/05/2009 01:53:39 PM · #13
jeb don't know if you have a flash or not but if you do get a stand and an umbrella for it and check out the strobist blog and practice some its fun and you'll learn a lot about light without spending a lot of money! b&hhere's a link to the stands i got and here's a link to strobist strobist



Message edited by author 2009-10-05 13:59:20.
 10/05/2009 02:51:14 PM · #14
Originally posted by rider:
jeb don't know if you have a flash or not but if you do get a stand and an umbrella for it and check out the strobist blog and practice some its fun and you'll learn a lot about light without spending a lot of money! b&hhere's a link to the stands i got and here's a link to strobist strobist

I have a friend that has Bees, and he's really nice about dragging me along (Voice-activated light stand! LOL!!!), but I never seem to get this soft light with the studio setups.....not that I've worked with them a lot.

I guess I'm actually going to have to break down and learn how to use flash.

I have an SB-400 and I *hate* doing flash work 'cause I don't know what I'm doing.

I love ambient/natural light....
 10/05/2009 03:04:20 PM · #15
Love this bit of "perspective" ...
Originally posted by Wikipedia Article:
Pioneering movie director Cecil B. DeMille is credited with the first use of the term:

DeMille explained in his autobiography that while shooting THE WARRENS OF VIRGINIA (1915), he borrowed some portable spotlights from the Mason Opera House in downtown Los Angeles and âbegan to make shadows where shadows would appear in nature.â When business partner Sam Goldwyn saw the film with only half an actorâs face illuminated, he feared the exhibitors would pay only half the price for the picture. After DeMille told him it was Rembrandt lighting, âSamâs reply was jubilant with relief: for Rembrandt lighting the exhibitors would pay double!â
 10/05/2009 03:44:17 PM · #16
Check out Joe McNally's "Hot Shoe Diaries" Lots of info that's easy to absorb. A good read, too....Joe's a funny guy.
 10/05/2009 04:18:57 PM · #17
Originally posted by DonnaLu:
Check out Joe McNally's "Hot Shoe Diaries" Lots of info that's easy to absorb. A good read, too....Joe's a funny guy.

Just bought that book the other day. He writes in a very entertaining and informative manner. A skill I wish I had.
 10/05/2009 08:11:00 PM · #18
Thanks tons for all the feedback, advice, & suggestions.

I'm very pleased with this image, and I have to a certain extent resigned my self to those few shots that I luck into every now and then.

I just get frustrated every now and then when I do something sort of by accident that I cannot replicate.

I do think I will try to nail down a model for the afternoon some day and see if I can't do something like this.
 10/06/2009 06:15:10 PM · #19
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Maybe I should corner my daughter, or some other willing volunteer, & practice.

Somehow, "corner my daughter" and "some other willing volunteer" don't seem to agree to me.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 09/01/2025 05:57:21 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 09/01/2025 05:57:21 AM EDT.