My second post in three weeks featuring a dramatically lit portrait. Perhaps I’m on to something here? Probably not. If you missed it, you can see my low-key self portrait from two weeks ago here.
Here is an image I took during a photo shoot featuring the split lighting technique. It’s often most effective when your subject is a man with well defined features, and not often recommended to do with ladies… unless of course your model has wonderful skin and huge beautiful eyes like Sara has here.
This post is also serving double duty this week as my submission for the Weekly Photo Challenge because of its extreme contrast.
theweeklyminute.wordpress.com 
Split-lighting works very well here Shane.. Beautiful girl and a great portrait!
Thanks Lynne, it’s a pretty simple setup too.
Can I ask how you set this up?
Sure thing Lynne,
This is a simple one-light setup. I placed the light at 90 degrees to Sara’s body and at head high, so it was flashing at her from camera right. On the flash, I used a Rogue Flashbender with its accompanying softbox attachment http://www.expoimaging.com/product-detail.php?cat_id=13&product_id=21
Indeed, a fabulous portrait and a beautiful looking lady!
Thanks Tim!
That was a good photo and interesting narrative. I might learn something here. lol Nice work as usual!!
Thanks once again 🙂
I don’t know anything about lighting at all. Some day maybe. But I love viewing this image! It’s wonderful!
That’s a total lie. If you didn’t know anything about lighting, your images wouldn’t be anywhere near as amazing as they are.
It’s actually pretty simple, if you keep it simple and experiment. You just take your flash off the camera and point it at your subject in different positions. Set the flash on manual mode and half power. Set your camera shutter speed to 1/125th, ISO at it’s lowest settling, and aperture at f/5.6 as a starting point and adjust from there. The only things to note are that shutter speed controls your ambient light, and aperture controls your flash power… unless you want to change the power directly on the flash.
The hardest part is asking someone to model for you 🙂
I can’t take my flash off the camera, lol. I don’t own a separate flash. I notice natural light but i can’t create light…unless with lamps. lol
I love these portraits Shane! Simply stunning. 🙂
Thanks Jamie 🙂 I love making them.
You are welcome. 🙂
Very nice.
Thank you so much.
great b&w portrait shot.
Thank you Robert.
Incredible portrait photo! I love the lighting and the expression on her face.
Thanks Mary, it was pretty easy to achieve because I just asked her to look at me and not smile 🙂
Good tip. I start my Photography class next week so I’m excited about learning all the different techniques. Do you mind me asking what kind of camera you use or could you recommend a good camera?
I’m really excited for you and can’t wait to hear about what you learn.
As far as cameras go, they’re somewhat irrelevant unless you have specific requirements such as needing really good low light capabilities because you shoot concerts, or really high megapixels because you need lots and lots of detail for a special type of portrait photography.
I would first decide on how much you’d like to spend, and then work from there. The camera body itself doesn’t matter as much as the lenses. I use a Nikon D5100 at the moment, but began my blog with a Sony NEX f3… which was Sony’s most basic mirrorless camera a couple years ago.
If you’d like to have the option of changing lenses, then go.with a mirrorless or DSLR body. If you don’t want to think about lenses, then get a point and shoot, or something like the Fuji X100. It has a fixed length lens (I think 35mm) and is one of the best little cameras out there. A LOT of pro photographers sing its praise. Google Valery Jardin and Zack Arias and see what they have to say about the Fuji.
If you like, email me and I can give you some more info that’s too much for the comment space sfrancescut@gmail.com
Very dramatic, Shane.
janet
Thanks so much Janet!
another great portrait Shane
Thanks again Mike 🙂
Masterly lighting, Shane!
Thank you Stefano.
I was thinking you’re definitely onto something here.
They’re beautiful, dramatic and they work!
It’s all about getting the little catch light in her left eye. Without that, she wouldn’t look real and the image would be pointless.
Yes I can see that Shane.
It certainly works and is beautiful!!
Fantastic lighting and a beautiful portrait! I always admire someone who really knows about lighting technique something I would love to learn more about.
Thanks Mark, I’m really glad you liked the shot. I feel the dame way, terrific lighting can really boost the quality of an image in my opinion.
Have a great weekend.