How to replicate this lighting ?

[Blue Deuce]

I did not take the enclosed shot and can not give due credit to the photographer who did. I also quickly cloned out the respective business parties name.

My area of "expertise " is bird / wildlife and I have been somewhat successful at it. Studio portraiture is outside my realm of familiarity. A large nationally known marketing firm has requested I take a photo of my friend that will be used in commercial advertisements. I told them I would give it a go and threw out a price for doing it hoping they would turn me down but they didn't.

Can I get this effect with just one remotely fired 580ex and umbrella ? They have requested I try for this same look. If not tell me what I need but I really wish to keep it as simple as possible. I am under a pretty short deadline.

Thanks.

[tarpleyg]

You could do it with one light and a reflector but the background would also need a light to look like the one you posted. At a minimum, you'd need another light.

Greg

[dbdors]

That looks like a basic 2 light shot to me, more likely three lights. It looks like on the left side of his face (your right) the shooter has a main light likely a strobe into an umbrella. On the right side (your left) there is a second strobe set at -1 or -2 stop from the main, again into the umbrella. Note the shadow on the right side of his nose. Depending on the ambient conditions, I would guess that there is a thrid -2 or -3 stop strobe with basic reflector hitting the background. The original photog probably bought in a background as well (more likely this was a studio shot).

You should get a book on lighting. I dont have mine handy here, but there are some good books on flash lighting. When I get home, I'll post the name of a couple of books I have. I have one on flash lighting and one about location lighting. For example, shooting in a Corporate office, lab or other work scene.

Edit -- I agree also that you might be able to do it with an umbrella and reflector. 580ex into the umbrella on the left side, and a reflector on the right side, but again you'll have to rely on ambient light for the background.

[PhotosGuy]

I did not take the enclosed shot and can not give due credit to the photographer who did. Just post a link to it. Otherwise it's against the forum rules. IMAGE POSTING RULES (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=74718)

You could do it with one light and a reflector but the background would also need a light to look like the one you posted. Maybe not if it was fairly close. It looks like it was lightened in PS.

An umbrella would help, but it's not a must have item. I forgot mine here:
Simple 2 Light Portrait Set-up - 700KB Warning! (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=128857)

[dbdors]

The first book is the Lighting Cookbook, by Jenny Bidner
The second book is Secrets of Lighting on Location, by Bob Krist.

[Blue Deuce]

Thanks for the assistance Darrell