Has anyone seen or used this lighting technique?

I was at a family wedding over the weekend and there was a husband-wife team doing the still photography. I'm anxious to see their work (but forgot to take a card with their web address) because they were shooting most of the indoor stuff with the only light coming from a very high (and huge) skylight. I'm suspecting there will be a lot of raccoon-eye faces in their images.

Anyhow - the technique I'm curious about is something used by the gal. Most of the light was available natural light for the whole shoot except for this very strange technique. She set up a Speedlite on a light stand - about 8 feet up - and aimed it down at a lone couple dancing. She used a radio slave of some sort (a cheapie, I think - definitely not PW stuff) on her 5D. Then, she got on the opposite side of the couple from the light, essentially shooting into the light which was beyond the couple. She used a variety of angles, but most of the angles appeared as though the light would probably show in the images. Maybe she hid the light behind a head and got a halo effect or something. I didn't ask her about the technique, but I'm curious if anybody here has heard of or done the same thing.

Wasn't she just backlighting the couple so it would look like a spot light coming down on them? The light would be bright enough to easily throw the light stand into darkness.

flowrider wrote in post #14526130
Wasn't she just backlighting the couple so it would look like a spot light coming down on them?

That's possible, but my observation of angles (off to the side of the set) made me think that the flash source itself would very likely be in many of the shots. It appeared that the flash was turned down a bit from full power.

Hey Skip,
This is what I meant.

http://stephen.lovelif​eimages.com …uploads/2010/05​/01693.jpg

would have to see the images to make an informed reply.

Without seeing the actual photos, I would only be stabbing in the dark.

Perhaps the ground was a very light color so the light coming from the huge sky light was also reflecting back up filling in the shadows.

The speedlite on a stand is probably mimicking a "sun set" like lighting.

flowrider wrote in post #14526741
Hey Skip,
This is what I meant.

http://stephen.lovelif​eimages.com …uploads/2010/05​/01693.jpg

That image looks precisely like what I expected the setup I saw would produce. As I assumed, it's something that I don't care for and would not have done myself.

Thanks.

SkipD wrote in post #14527557
That image looks precisely like what I expected the setup I saw would produce. As I assumed, it's something that I don't care for and would not have done myself.

Thanks.

Flowrider nailed it Skip, it's a technique social media made popular, when you've got nothing else, shoot a light at your lens, it looks cool and people won't notice you have no talent

FJ LOVE wrote in post #14527692
Flowrider nailed it Skip, it's a technique social media made popular...

So you're saying it comes from the litany of horrible point and shoot photos on Facebook. Another example of how social media sucks.

FJ LOVE wrote in post #14527692
when you've got nothing else, shoot a light at your lens, it looks cool and people won't notice you have no talent

Some people won't notice.

LOL people getting in a uproar because of a contrived flare shot. I personally like them but if it's your best shot then you've got problems. If it's one of many that help tell a story of a day, then it's great.

I've seen some pictures before that looked quite nice. With good framing, a rim light can make a kiss during the couple's first dance look quite magical.

SkipD wrote in post #14527557
That image looks precisely like what I expected the setup I saw would produce. As I assumed, it's something that I don't care for and would not have done myself.

Thanks.

Lots of photographers do this set up at weddings and it can result in some great shots. Obviously composition is key.

You may not particularly like it, but many do. I use intentional flare in my portrait photography - usually "in camera" but sometimes in photoshop as well. However, if it's done in every shot, it gets lame. I'd bet that the wedding tog you saw had just a few shots with the bare flash flare that would be handed to the client, who would probably like the "different" look it can give.

flowrider wrote in post #14527867
LOL people getting in a uproar because of a contrived flare shot. I personally like them but if it's your best shot then you've got problems. If it's one of many that help tell a story of a day, then it's great.

klr.b wrote in post #14527946
I've seen some pictures before that looked quite nice. With good framing, a rim light can make a kiss during the couple's first dance look quite magical.

+1.

K.C. wrote in post #14527841
So you're saying it comes from the litany of horrible point and shoot photos on Facebook. Another example of how social media sucks.

a million shy of a billion...and that is facebook alone...yeah the masses would agree...social media sucks

I know the look isn't for everyone but if you fail to adapt to changes/trends, you will not survive.

Toneaero wrote in post #14527369
Without seeing the actual photos, I would only be stabbing in the dark.

Perhaps the ground was a very light color so the light coming from the huge sky light was also reflecting back up filling in the shadows.

I was seeing the "raccoon eyes" shadowing on almost all the folks around me and in all directions. While the couple was shooting with available light (absolutely no fill from any source), they had to be getting the same thing in their photos.

I am quite surprised how a "professional" photographer doesn't seem to understand lighting.