how would you light this?

there is something about the lighting in this image that i love and im trying to figure out how to replicate it.

http://500px.com/photo​/45438156

its seems obvious but the more i study it im not sure how it was done how did the photog light the top of the head, face and back shoulder?

it looks to me like a bare flash is set behind her head to backlight and light the shoulder. probably a overhead light aimed down at the top of her head, but i cant figure out the face... reflector maybe? but where?

im also wondering if this look is highly dependent on a blond model or if i can use a different hair color and gel the flash to complement.

mike_311 wrote in post #16349795
there is something about the lighting in this image that i love and im trying to figure out how to replicate it.

http://500px.com/photo​/45438156

its seems obvious but the more i study it im not sure how it was done how did the photog light the top of the head, face and back shoulder?

it looks to me like a bare flash is set behind her head to backlight and light the shoulder. probably a overhead light aimed down at the top of her head, but i cant figure out the face... reflector maybe? but where?

im also wondering if this look is highly dependent on a blond model or if i can use a different hair color and gel the flash to complement.

Looks to me like she's got a small mirror or metallic reflector (something like light gold reflector, maybe) in her hands.

This is what I got with little setup or forethought. A 25° grid on a single overhead speedlite. No reflector in hand.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …30404829@N03/10​118859475/

I think there is a (snooted maybe?) light right behind her head, just out of sight, like right behind her mouth if you were to draw a line from the light to the camera. This throws a very bright light onto her shoulder, but also onto her hands. The lighting on her face is simply a natural reflection off her brightly lit palms back onto her face.

I think!

oldvultureface wrote in post #16349913
This is what I got with little setup or forethought. A 25° grid on a single overhead speedlite. No reflector in hand.

http://farm3.staticfli​ckr.com/2833/101188594​75_9557e1a46a_o.jpg

In the OP's image, would there be such a difference in contrast in the area between the eye brows with just a reflection from the palm of the hands? I didn't think so but I could be wrong.

PacAce wrote in post #16349971
In the OP's image, would there be such a difference in contrast in the area between the eye brows with just a reflection from the palm of the hands? I didn't think so but I could be wrong.

Yes, there is a focused reflection starting at the eyebrows and extending to the base of her chin. But the eye sockets seem to be darker than they should, unless that's makeup or intentional burning and/or dodging on select parts of the face.

I would light it with a strobe

the face is really throwing me off, unless its burned to look that way i cant figure out how he lit the face they way he did. also it seems like the flash is behind her head but the more i look at it the back arm look lit from above as there is no glow behind her hair...

Is there a second focused source coming in lower over her left shoulder illuminating the shoulder and a refectory in her palm? Interesting image for sure.