For a first a attempt, I'd say you did really well. My comment would be to do some post-production work on the background. Smooth out the wrinkles in the backdrop. And then in the future, smooth out the backdrop before shooting, or pull your subject away from the backdrop and do a shallower depth of field.
Looks great to me, I would like to see some separation by using some rim lighting to outline the hat, the catch-lights in the eyes are very nice. The lighting to me looks to be Rembrandt with a reflector, very soft.
Thanks for the comments guys. I used 2 continuous light soft boxes, one above on full power and one below on minimum power. Will try a rim light and reflector next time. Thanks again. Ed
That would explain the catch-lights being the same shape in the eyes, basically a butterfly lighting setup. That's my next setup, using two soft-boxes one above and one below instead of a reflector below.
Actually - this is not a butterfly setup - it's a clam shell. While both types of staging are similar, butterfly lighting usually uses only one light above the model to create a distinct shadow under the nose, which this model doesn't have. Sometimes a fill is used under the model when looking for a butterfly type lighting effect to soften the shadow, but the ratios are usually different with the key light being more intense to create the shadow. This is more of a clam shell lighting setup with equal or near equal intensity lighting from above and below, which eliminated the distinct butterfly signature. Even though you say the key on top was hotter, what were the distances? It would have been interesting to get a ratio on this.
I'd also look for a little more separation with a kicker positioned to "lift" the model, especially the top-hat, off of the background.
For a first a attempt, I'd say you did really well. My comment would be to do some post-production work on the background. Smooth out the wrinkles in the backdrop. And then in the future, smooth out the backdrop before shooting, or pull your subject away from the backdrop and do a shallower depth of field.
Lost my glasses but looks great to me. Well done. I hope that is not his school uniform?
Looks great to me, I would like to see some separation by using some rim lighting to outline the hat, the catch-lights in the eyes are very nice. The lighting to me looks to be Rembrandt with a reflector, very soft.
Thanks for the comments guys. I used 2 continuous light soft boxes, one above on full power and one below on minimum power. Will try a rim light and reflector next time. Thanks again. Ed
That would explain the catch-lights being the same shape in the eyes, basically a butterfly lighting setup. That's my next setup, using two soft-boxes one above and one below instead of a reflector below.
Actually - this is not a butterfly setup - it's a clam shell. While both types of staging are similar, butterfly lighting usually uses only one light above the model to create a distinct shadow under the nose, which this model doesn't have. Sometimes a fill is used under the model when looking for a butterfly type lighting effect to soften the shadow, but the ratios are usually different with the key light being more intense to create the shadow. This is more of a clam shell lighting setup with equal or near equal intensity lighting from above and below, which eliminated the distinct butterfly signature. Even though you say the key on top was hotter, what were the distances? It would have been interesting to get a ratio on this.
I'd also look for a little more separation with a kicker positioned to "lift" the model, especially the top-hat, off of the background.
Nice job - especially for a first attempt.