One-Light B&W Portraiture
Dramatic portraits can be achieved easily using a single light, black and white developing, and a good knowledge of light patterns and the Inverse Square Law.
Most of what we'll be trying to do with this will involve a black background. We'll use a controlled-light environment (i.e. a room with no windows) and a black backdrop as our background.
Being successful at this will require using different light patterns (flat, split, Rembrandt, etc.).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STUDENT EXAMPLES:
This shot was taken with bare bulb modeling light (no strobe). Subject was very close to the light source and the focal length was relatively short. There was a black background well behind the subject. The Inverse Square Law ensured that this setup resulted in a completely black background.
In Lightroom, Clarity and Sharpness were raised slightly to create more texture detail in the face. This is often a poor editing choice in colour photography, but here it creates more drama.
Dramatic portraits can be achieved easily using a single light, black and white developing, and a good knowledge of light patterns and the Inverse Square Law.
Most of what we'll be trying to do with this will involve a black background. We'll use a controlled-light environment (i.e. a room with no windows) and a black backdrop as our background.
Being successful at this will require using different light patterns (flat, split, Rembrandt, etc.).
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STUDENT EXAMPLES:
This shot was taken with bare bulb modeling light (no strobe). Subject was very close to the light source and the focal length was relatively short. There was a black background well behind the subject. The Inverse Square Law ensured that this setup resulted in a completely black background.
In Lightroom, Clarity and Sharpness were raised slightly to create more texture detail in the face. This is often a poor editing choice in colour photography, but here it creates more drama.
In the example below (which looks like the subject is looking out a window), a softbox was added to the light to diffuse it. The light is immediately off-camera, facing the subject. The camera is still relatively close to the whole scene and the actual background is relatively far-off, both of which help the background stay true black. A bit of Lightroom contrast editing (i.e. blacker blacks) also helped with this.
One-Light B&W Portrait Assignment
Using whatever settings you like (shoot RAW!), use one single light (either with or without a softbox) and take FOUR different portraits.
At least one of the portraits needs to be an up-close, "gritty" shot with lots of detail (see top example).
You should use Lightroom to turn your images black and white. Adjusting black/white/shadow/highlight levels is going to be key. Consider adding sharpness if you want the "gritty" look.
Using whatever settings you like (shoot RAW!), use one single light (either with or without a softbox) and take FOUR different portraits.
At least one of the portraits needs to be an up-close, "gritty" shot with lots of detail (see top example).
You should use Lightroom to turn your images black and white. Adjusting black/white/shadow/highlight levels is going to be key. Consider adding sharpness if you want the "gritty" look.