P90X lighting, How can I accomplish it?

I don't know how many of you know the workout routing P90X, but I have been doing that for a while. Outside of that, the lighting on their pictures on the DVDs is amazing. It's high contrast and low key. Looks simple enough, but I can't do it. Again, I am not very experienced in creative lighting. You can see some of the images here http://www.extremebody​workout.com/p90x-products/p90x.php

BTW I have two flashes, a 580, and Sigma 500 DG Super. I have one umbrella shoot thru/reflective.

Thanks on any help you all can give me!

The main (or only) lighting is coming almost directly from above and pointed down at the subject. A large reflector or beauty dish is probably used as well. I'm not sure if you'll be able to accomplish this with your hotshoe flashes and an umbrella, though, due to where the light needs to be relative to the subject unless you have a high ceiling or the subject is low towards the floor.

I'd show you a sample of what that lighting would look like but, unfortunately, I don't have a body that'll properly demonstrate the lighting effect. LOL

My body isn't quite there either lol. I was thinking there was some sort of directional lighting...My umbrella spreads and spills. Would a SB be ideal you think?

Come on PacAce, show the 6 pack off!

Livinthalife wrote in post #9602787
My body isn't quite there either lol. I was thinking there was some sort of directional lighting...My umbrella spreads and spills. Would a SB be ideal you think?

Come on PacAce, show the 6 pack off!

Unless you use a small softbox, I doubt you'll be able to get the hard lighting that you see in the P90X photos with a softbox.

As for the 6-pack, the only ones I can show off either say "Dr. Pepper" or "Bud Light" on them.

Snoots and some grids should do the trick

Zoom your 580EX to 105, that will provide a much narrower light beam. Almost as good as a grid.

for what it's worth, they use a huge array of lights in that video since they have the necessary budget to do so. Grids, gels, and softboxes were used to fill in the edges.

So it sounds as if the principle idea is simple, but here they accented it with additional lights?

I will try the zoom setting on my flash. I will experiment with different zoom ranges, and distances from subject. I hope to get something better than what I have.

If anyone else has any input, please feel free!