Scary Lighting

I have a shoot a tomorrow and the client wants the model to look scary. I have a MUA that is going to make her look like a ghoul of some sort. I also have a smoke machine to add some ambiance.

I'm looking for suggestions on lighting to give a scary looking effect. I'm thinking a hard light very high or very low shining across the face. Might also do a film noir look with a hard shadow projected on the backdrop. Any other suggestions or examples of what I should try?

Lighting someone from below is the "classic" way to instill a feeling of Horror.

Maybe Google some old movie posters...

Yep, put a light at her waist, aimed straight up. It can make a supermodel look ugly.

It goes to show how much we are accustomed to being lit from above. Reverse the shadow patterns and we are repulsed by the result.

What they said.

This was done with one Speedlite from underneath.

Not the best example, but you get the idea.

You can also test on yourself by using a flashlight in a dark room in front of a mirror...

-Mario

bottom lit or snoot works well

Is this scary?
http://www.flickr.com …in/set-72157605642995659/

Wasn't lit from below though.

ed. wrote in post #8646509
Is this scary?
http://www.flickr.com …in/set-72157605642995659/

Wasn't lit from below though.

Setting and Makeup go a long way toward selling the mood here. IMO, the lighting is secondary.

Cool Image!

Under Lighting someone is still the big mental trigger and it does so without a lot of extras.

I just found this post, probably a little late, but here is my suggestion: Use the built in camera flash as close as possible to the model. That's the stuff nightmares are made of lol.

badaml wrote in post #8684473
I just found this post, probably a little late, but here is my suggestion: Use the built in camera flash as close as possible to the model. That's the stuff nightmares are made of lol.

lol

I just noticed this thread. How did the shots turn out?

Jon.