how do i do this??

http://a899.ac-images.myspacecdn.com …2ce8abb019dcb20​06ae8a.jpg
i've bin dying to try to figure out how the background was blacked out like that. and how only the light was only on her face help me out guys pleze

Hi be_good,

It would appear to be done with a single light source with a grid and the light is raised up so it acts as a hair light as well. It's being lit more from the side than front and you can see that because the shadow side of the nose and face are almost completely in darkness.

There's no light on the lower part of the shot so again my guess is a small directional light source such as a 20 degree spot grid. Her head is casting a hard shadow on the shoulder and her right arm (camera left)is also in darkness so we know the light is coming from camera right.

Beyond that the lighting is not complex and should be easy to replicate.

thanks tmr what do you think the camera settings are?

be_good wrote in post #6034250
thanks tmr what do you think the camera settings are?

Don't know.. There is no EXIF data..

be_good wrote in post #6034250
thanks tmr what do you think the camera settings are?

That is really irrelevant, and depends on many things, the power of the flash or light used being the main one. An exposure was made to expose the skin highlights correctly, while letting everything else fall into shadow. Point is - it could have been done with a small table lamp (with the light focused properly so as not to spill where it's not wanted) or a 1200Ws flash with a grid. In each case, you would use totally different settings yet be able to obtain this image as a result.

TMR Design appears correct with regard to the placement of the light. To get the background black, it is a matter of underexposing the ambient exposure and using the flash to bring the exposure of the subject back up to where you want it. Here is how I do it. First, I put the camera in manual mode and take an ambient reading of the background. The I underexpose to get the background black (you can take some test shots and chimp). Because I am using manual mode, the ambient exposure will not change. Now, I use the flash or other light source to bring the subject up to "proper" exposure. With e-ttl, I usually use the FEL to lock flash exposure on the subject. I can add or reduce flash power via flash exposure compensation (FEC). For manual, I just adjust the power setting of the flash. Just remember that you want to keep the light emitted from the flash from falling on the background (This brings you back to TMR Design's advice regarding flash placement and modification). hope this helps. Good luck.

Don

thanks for your help guys does any one have a link for more photos like this?

i tried it out what do you guys think?

#1 has the face out of focus which is a no no in portraiture.
#2 is the best one of the bunch, altough I'd use a smaller aperture to get both the face and the shirt in focus.
#3 has most of the light on the shirt, which may be okay if that's what you're aiming the emphasize, as opposed to the model's face.
#4 is heavily underexposed, even for low key.

Keep experimenting, you'll get better and better as you go along. Asking for critique is good, but unless you're doing this for a client (or friend/relative), the most important question is: are YOU satisfied with the result?

be_good wrote in post #6034250
thanks tmr what do you think the camera settings are?

manual mode,,iso 100,,shutter speed,,60,,one shot,,,,with just a touch of processing in cs3:p

Yes but Rudi gave a correct response above. Camera settings have nothing to do with it. You can come up with a dozen combinations of aperture/shutter speed/ISO. Those 3 variables contribute to proper exposure. You choose what part of your subject you want to expose correctly.

For the kind of shot you want to create (or copy), the highlights have been properly exposed which is what many digital photographers do anyway. The problem with the images you've shot (aside from what's been mentioned by rvdw98) is that you haven't created very directional controlled light.

In the sample you originally posted the light is very well controlled and the face is clearly what is being featured with no light below the subject's chest. Your images have quite a bit of light on the lower body and if I didn't know what you were going for I would think you're trying to feature the jersey or the clothing worn. The second image is the only one that would make me think the face is being featured but my eyes are being distracted by the light on the jersey.

Keep working on it.

rvdw98 wrote in post #6042754
Keep experimenting, you'll get better and better as you go along. Asking for critique is good, but unless you're doing this for a client (or friend/relative), the most important question is: are YOU satisfied with the result?

this is my first shot at shooting this way, and thanks for your help. i did this in my basement last night. just trying to get a feel for it. two of them i am happy. but ill work on what you said. if i get a model that will help alot. i did this all be myself and i h8 the way i look if any one else has cnc let me know pleze