How to achieve this look?

[Apo11o]

Hey there, I recently came across a site that featured a lot of portraiture photography. The textures/clarity/contrast that was achieved with many of these pictures was absolutely amazing, and got me to wondering how one could recreate this.

A few important factors that I figured were important was megapixel-size, lens used, and lighting.

I'd love to know if anyone else on the forum knew how to achieve this. Even if the answer is plain shooting with expensive equipment, i'd still like to know how! An added question would be if this could be recreated with a lower end camera (such as an xti) and portraiture lens.

Thanks!

picture in question can be found at: http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8295/34homonk7.jpg

[SlowBlink]

Tone mapping and a few different sharpening settings will give you that. and welcome to the forum since I messed it after you're first post. :)

[mattograph]

wow, that dude is weathered.

So, i guess the first thing you need is a weathered dude!

Lighting wise, it looks pretty flat and straight on, like maybe with a beauty dish. The lines in his face almost seem to defy the light.

I think you could get the shot with any canon body that shoots RAW (XTi and up). Lens wise, it needs to be something crisp. That could be a 16-35mm 2.8, or maybe the 24-70 2.8. You could get that clarity with any number of primes.

If i were going to recreate it, I would put my 580 EXII on a stand with the beauty dish mounted. I would get it up in the air, maybe a foot above his head, and about 5 feet back. Aim the dish on a downward angle right at his face.

I would then shoot directly under the light, with the camera axis. Set the flash on about half power, mount my 24-105mm with a CP, set my aperature to 8, and see what test my light until I could get that effect at about 1/125 of a second. Everything sharp, everything in focus. Would make my light adjustments at the strobe. Also watch the shadows on his face to get the height of the light right.

But, thats just me.

[Apo11o]

wow, that dude is weathered.

So, i guess the first thing you need is a weathered dude!

Lighting wise, it looks pretty flat and straight on, like maybe with a beauty dish. The lines in his face almost seem to defy the light.

I think you could get the shot with any canon body that shoots RAW (XTi and up). Lens wise, it needs to be something crisp. That could be a 16-35mm 2.8, or maybe the 24-70 2.8. You could get that clarity with any number of primes.

If i were going to recreate it, I would put my 580 EXII on a stand with the beauty dish mounted. I would get it up in the air, maybe a foot above his head, and about 5 feet back. Aim the dish on a downward angle right at his face.

I would then shoot directly under the light, with the camera axis. Set the flash on about half power, mount my 24-105mm with a CP, set my aperature to 8, and see what test my light until I could get that effect at about 1/125 of a second. Everything sharp, everything in focus. Would make my light adjustments at the strobe. Also watch the shadows on his face to get the height of the light right.

But, thats just me.

Awesome advice man, thanks!

I agree. Judging by how the light falls on his face and the reflection in his eyes, i'd say there was a single primary light source aimed almost directly at him. I guess in this situation it's important to have the right lens, as that is what is going to give you such clarity and crispness.

As far as post processing goes, I think tone mapping would bring a lot of detail out in the texture.

Thanks again