Trying to achieve harsh shadow effect but not too harsh lighting

Does the lighting in this work? Basically I am trying to get harsh shadows but not so strong that they look like straight flash.

On this I used a 580ex shot into a white reflector in Manual mode just above and the to right of the camera about 3ft or so. Shot with the 24-70 at f8 ISO 50

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I'm not one to give critiques on lighting. I shoot mostly outdoors. However, I do like the photo. You can still see his right eye, which is the part I like about it. Well, that and the composition. I wonder what it would have looked like if he was looking at the lens?

Art

IMO the shadow just is not dark enough to be considered harsh. Maybe if there was just a little bit less light on your right side it may be better. Just a suggestion...not that I have any real experience.

I think it fits into what you were going for nicely. It does look a little on the cool side to me, but you could have been going for that too.

Thank you Art!

I tried it with just straight flash Delta, but it made the highlights too strong, like straight flash I could raise the contrast and darken the shadow though perhaps!

Solinger, thanks! It was not supposed to be on the cool side, hopefully I fixed that part, although this image has no purpose besides trying to create and document differnt lighting techniques to use later

Hi Incendy,

What you actually after is called specularity edge transfer, and shadow detail. The specular edge is the place where the light falls off into the shadow. The size and shape of the edge of the transfer is determined by the size and intensity of the light source.

When I teach I usually use a standard light bulb in a simple clamp. Get two or three types of diffusion material and change the intensity of the light. You can use a wig head or a doll to study HOW the light falls from different angles, the softness and the hardness of this particular light. You are the camera.

Have fun,

Les

Thank you LBaldwin! That actually pretty much sums up what I did. I am still trying more placements, but all I have is an umbrella and a reflector with my 580 and 420ex. I heard a black reflector on the side of the shadow will help to, so I think I am going to try to get a dark sheet or something to try that and see if it might work with the umbrella to make the shadow more prominant

I have several pieces of foamcore including black (for negative fill) Try that too.

Les

Can you change your reflective surface to silver rather than white?

Titus213 wrote in post #2127086
Can you change your reflective surface to silver rather than white?

OK put on your thinking caps, You can reflect any color or specularity you want. I have used both sides of aluminum foil, gold foil, shiny xmas wrap, colored paper, tissue, plastic etc. Anything that reflects light can be used as a reflector. I also use plastic mirror too. Take a gel of the same size and bounce the sun off of it and you have a colored highlight for hair outdoors.

I go to piece good shops all the time looking for bargains to use for reflectors backgrounds and props. Yard sales, school supply and craft stores too.

Stay away from using plastic fresnels though, you can start a serious fire with those.

Les

I've found silver to give a harsher light when used in my ProMax system.