main to fill ratio in portraits

[zalamander]

The general rule I remember from using film for BW portraits was 3:1 or 4:1 main to fill ratio and 2:1 for colour.

Since the latitude of film is different from the sensor I was wondering whether this rule no longer applies and if any one can suggest a new rule of thumb.

Thanks

[Robert_Lay]

I don't see how such rules could be of value for anything other than a rought starting point.

The important thing is that the fill light has to soften the facial shadows to the extent desired, and that is a matter of taste.

I personally prefer to see the facial shadows deep enough to create good 3-dimensionality and to avoid the flat "cut out and pasted on" look that you get when the shadows are inadequate to delineate the facial structures.

You might find my Tutorial on Studio Portrait Lighting to be of some interest -

http://www.zaffora.com/W9DMK/PortraitLighting.htm
or the downloadable PDF version at:
http://www.zaffora.com/W9DMK/PortraitLighting.pdf