Can I have your opinion on my lighting?

Sorry about the subject but my family has staged a mutany...
Molly the Dolly was the only willing model in the house.
I have just started attempting some portrait shots and I am finding the lighting stuff HARD. I am using a homemade softbox and a reflector for the fill. Any pointers would be really appreciated.

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I'd put the main light at the right, so the models face is lit, instead of the side of the head. In this case, you could also have the model turn about 90 degrees CW
Since you have a very willing model: Start with one light, hold the model, and turn it in the light to see what happens. (turn with it, so you keep facing the same side)

I don't know if this is possible or not on Dolly's eyes, but see if you can capture some catch lights at 11 or 1 o'clock. You might try experiementing with a reflector at 45 degree angles above, and around eye level for that effect.

One day i went into a fashionable gal's cloathing shop and asked if the clerk had an "old dummy" stashed away in the back to sell. She said yes, but they are expensive. What a great way to practice though and of course "dummy" doesn't ask for pay, breaks etc. haha

Anyway, now I may in fact look for a mannequin on ebay or recyler to pratice my own lighting experiements with. Good luck

katt

focuspocus wrote in post #2761176
Sorry about the subject but my family has staged a mutany...
Molly the Dolly was the only willing model in the house.
I have just started attempting some portrait shots and I am finding the lighting stuff HARD. I am using a homemade softbox and a reflector for the fill. Any pointers would be really appreciated.

Another try ... I gave Molly a bit of pp. She is really just a pleasure to work with LOL. My son wants $1 a shot, little bugger.

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much better...

It really depends on what you are going for and what suits your subject. There are some very good articles online about portait lighting styles with examples for things like broad lighting, short lighting, split lighting, rembrandt, etc. Just do a search on "portrait lighting styles" and you should get a dozen or so pages with descriptions of the setups and some examples for each.

Actually using the the dolly will help big time. She won;t get upset and complain that this is enuf and I want to go plpay nintendo ets. If she does sit down, a take a good rest and have a sherry or 5 ...

This is the best way to learn to light the human face. BTW what you really should be looking for are the location and intensity of both the highlights and the shadows. Also where the shadows fall and how they shape the face are really easiset to understand using a very willing subject as this.

Keep truckin,

Les

Thanks again...you've all been a great help. I find that I am looking at light all the time now, especially when looking at people. In fact, there have been times when I have been so intrigued by the light on their face that I stop listening to what they are saying to me. Good grief.