Since we released Peter Hurley's: The Art Behind The Headshot, the internet has been trying to replicate his signature look without shelling out thousands for his Kino Flo lights. The guys over at SLR Lounge put together a great video that comes up with a similar look by using only 1 light, 1 bank, and 3 reflectors. I think the results are fantastic.
Related Articles
....... okay I've waited long enough, and no one said anything, so I'll say it first. This is a 2-light setup: one on top the model, and one behind.
The light in the background has nothing to do with "Peter's look" so I thought you could take it or leave it.
Hey Tam. The background light is just optional. We used it just to kick a little interest into the background, but it doesn't need to be there for the subject lighting. We specific that it is optional in the video and included images with and without the background light so you can see the difference. Hope you enjoyed either way!
You just got served Tam
A big platter of delicious education.
Oh I enjoyed the video for sure. I was just attacking Jaron. See thread below.
the light in the back is not part of the look, or what lit the face. it just to add a little bit of texture and color in the back... the peter look is achieved by 1 light only.
I don't know if I would classify this as "one light." If you add a reflector, that counts as a second light. So this looks like a four light setup. What if the sun is reflecting off a wall? Is that wall a light? Yup. Two light setup. If this was a "one strobe setup" that would be a different story.
so if I go outside and the sun is reflecting off of a wall then the building is a light?
Yeah, I said that. Anything that provides a different angle of light is a light source, and what I would classify as a "light."
So if I go outside and put a single strobe on a light stand and light my subject I have to call it at least a 2 light setup because the sun is in the sky?
Absolutely.
I don't think anyone does that. Zack Arias did a DVD called 1 light, and he using objects to bounce light in almost every instance.
Maybe I'm being too strict here. Let's all go to a bar and hug. Drinks on me.
So now you're saying it's "light source" and not "light"?
I'm saying the words are used synonymously in this trade.
Synonymous? How about I still call it a "light source", and my wallet still calls it "being $500 richer"? :D
I do love this kind of debate though.
Sorry, but if you count buildings as 'lights', each portrait you shoot outside is a 216 light setup.
hahahaha touche touche
Jaron and Tam, you guys are nuts. There is a solid reason behind the 1 light, 2 light, 3 light naming convention. You name sources that generate light, not sources that modify it. Why? because it would be absolutely impossible, impractical and imprecise (wow, 3 i's in a row) to try to name off all the potential modifiers that are adding light to a scene. This means you would have to call the cement, the brick wall, the glass door, or anything else reflecting light into your scene a "light source."
What we showed in the video was a 1-light setup with an optional 2-light setup version as well.
Lee, if you shoot outside using the Sun as a light source in addition to a flash or something, I think it should be included as a "two-light" setup, one of them just happens to be the sun. If you were to use just the sun, and use a giant scrim to modify it shooting with only the sun and the scrim, you are back to a 1-light setup.
Man, I can't believe I just spent 5 minutes writing this.
Preach it sister
I don't know why you spent that time either. I was just giving Jaron a hard time. He chickened out and resorted to buy us drinks at PDN this year, so I let him win the battle.
Btw I'm so confused. I don't even know what I said anymore.
Lol, hope I am included on drinks. I drink soda, so I am a cheap date ;)
At least tell me you're eating pies
I do love pies, the pizza and dessert variety.
Most def. I'll buy you two since you took so long in that response!
Don't count on it. @JaronSchneider1219:disqus and I had a date night last month; he was so cheap he made me go Dutch. Didn't even take me to a nice bar on our way back. Bastard.
Haha, that's cold blooded @JaronSchneider1219:disqus. Dudes don't go dutch, that's just weird. You got this one, I got the next one, that's how the bros handle business ;)
battle of the wits...will someone please turn off that ceiling, it's bouncing too much light on my subject's hair. If you removed the sun (figuratively speaking) there wouldn't be any light to reflect off the wall (theoretically speaking) so there is only one source and the wall is a light modifier.
Dude. No. "light" and "light source" are not the same thing. A light is a light source, but a light source isn't necessarily a light all the time.
Rarely does anyone go as specific as to say "light source." People just say "light." So from what I have learned, I have learned "one light" to literally mean a single light source.
Yeah well we ARE getting technical here.
I want to make it clear to anyone reading our ridiculous arguments below that both Jaron and Tam work for Fstoppers. We are just giving each other a hard time.
I work here?
Maybe not for long
FML!
Define work....
Oh god please don't make me get fired for no reason fuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU6m5UqLx9M
Lee - this is what I emailed the whole company (including the CEO and Arianna) when I got laid off - they blocked me from using my computer few seconds later :(
lol
Banter. I prefer banter over argument :)
So since you are all looking at this post, is it possible for you to change it where every time you click a link it opens up in a new window. Pain in the ass every time I click a link in these comments.
I'm a smart-ass, where do I apply?
I enjoyed the vid regardless of the amount of light sources, will be doing this setup with my next headshots, thanks for posting.
so, if I have two fluorescent tubes in one bank, is that one light or two...?
plus reflector makes three...or four
Good job.... way to put Peter Hurley out of business...
Lol, I hope that isn't what we did. The goal was to make his lighting more approachable, and encourage people to get the workshop to learn his amazing posing and client interaction skills. The lighting on any shoot is the easy part. Getting the look and the right expression, that is what makes the photographer special.