Simulating sunlight with studio lighting - Did I pull it off?

I was reading about how to simulate overhead sunlight in the studio and thought it would be a fun thing to try while it was snowing like crazy outside. I shot this with two lights. The main light is behind me, bare bulb, and aimed roughly 45 degrees at my low (white) ceiling. The second light is on a boom, above and slightly behind the subject, with a 7" reflector, and also aimed down at the background at roughly 45 degrees. I wanted it to look like the sunlight was coming from the same direction as it hit the subject and also the background. No other lights or reflectors were used, and I'm wondering if I pulled off "the look" or if there's something I should have done differently. Thanks.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

if I read that right, you bounced the main light? Why bounce it versus just aiming the light at her?

I didn't want to blast the light right into her face. I wanted it to appear as though the light was coming from above. I saw this technique described in Christopher Grey's books as well as in other places. The bare bulb helps to scatter the light coming from above in all directions, as the sun appears to do. I'm just wondering if it looks anything like sunlight here.

it looks flat to me. There's barely a hint of shadow under her nose, which I would expect more of if this were actual sun on a brightly lit day. It doesn't look like sun to me, but let's see what others say.

It looks like strobes to me too. The sun is harsher and thus causes more shadows. I think you'd need more of a direct effect to pull it off. Maybe moving a reflector closer to the subject. Something like a silver shiny board would be a step in the right direction. Harsh, yet not as harsh as real sun light.

I see what you mean about the nose shadow. I'm not sure how a reflector would help. One thing I thought of is using a flag to block off some of the direct light so that most of the light hitting her is bounced light from the ceiling above. I think a snoot or reflector on the main light might produce too narrow a beam of light...but might be worth a try too. I was also thinking it didn't really look like sunlight but wanted to see if others saw it the same way. Thanks for the feedback.

Can you explain what you mean by "sunlight". To me, and I'm sure it's the same with the others who have replied here, sunlight is the direct light that's coming straight from the sun. The sun is a small light source, and hence, is harsh and the shadow cast by it is distinct and contrasty. Bouncing the light from the strobe off the ceiling will not achieve that effect. In fact, it'll do the opposite since bouncing the light makes the apparent light source larger, making the lighting soft. Bouncing the light off the ceiling will simulate an overcast lighting, not direct sunlight.

If you want to simulate direct sunlight falling on your subject, you need a strobe, with a reflector mounted, pointed at the subject. If you want the light to be coming from above, place the strobe high up and point it downwards.

yup- what Leo said.

I would now take a smilar shot out in the sunlight and compare the two.

Sunlight is never that soft.

There's sunlight and there's daylight. Your shot looks more like daylight (softer light)

You need something in the shot to hint towards the light source. Like a window or something that looks like outside. Then shoot a strobe with a yellow gel directly the left of your model. But barn door or flag it so there is just a sliver of light stroking her. Then add a tungsten lamp in the shot and meter and white balance to the lamp. It will look like a sunrise shooting through the shot. It is not all about the light. It is also about selling the shot.

I guess I was thinking more daylight than sunlight, but I understand (and appreciate) all the points made here. It's back to the drawing board for me!

For daylight use a large bank/umbrella or bounce strobe off wall or large white card. Your portrait it almost works simulating sunlight... almost... but it's the other objects in an image, with light falling on it, that will add to the feel of the quality of light. (geez can't explain it succinctly)

The Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers says for the key light use bare bulb pointed up, above and to one side of your subject. Light the BG separately because sunlight doesn't fall off like studio lights. (Well, not in the distances we're talking about).

There will be a lot more shadow than you have.