3 Lights and One Reflector

I did this head shot the other day using 3 lights and one reflector. It's very close to the same setup as my first post as far as light positions, just adding a background light and a reflector. One thing that changed was the main light's position - "model vs reflector". The main light is positioned so that it still feathers the light fall off on the model, but also is getting light on the reflector.



The main light was metered at F8 and about 1 foot above head level. The background light was about half a stop brighter then the main and about a foot below head level with a 30 degree grid. The hair light was about a half to 2/3's of a stop brighter then the main and up about 2 feet or so with a 30 degree grid. The camera was a Nikon D3, ISO 200, using a Nikon 70-200 at F8 and 180mm. The reflector used is a California Sun-Bounce "Mini". It's relatively expensive for a reflector but for your money you get a rigid aluminum frame which won't twist or distort when used during windy outdoor shoots.  I'm glad I purchased one.





Hope this can help you out!
Dave
Visit DTS Photography

3 Light Head Shot

I did this 3 light shoot a while back to help me get a feel for the space of my new studio. As I explain below none of the lights were pointed straight at the model.



A fill light was fitted with a Elinchrom Beauty Dish. The light was just to the right of the camera, 3.5 feet above head level, with the center of the light aimed at the model's feet.

The main light was off to the side and used a 5' Photoflex Octodome. It was setup up at head level and was aimed downward so as to light the model and the area immediately in front of her. The center of the lighting was about a foot in front of the model.

The third light was a hair light, I used a 30 degree grid and the light was about 2' above head level aimed so that the light skimmed her hair.




Hope this can help you out!
Dave
Visit DTS Photography

Welcome to Dave Chester's blog! This is the first in a series of posts about lighting. This post is about the setup used on this two light head shot.



The main light was fitted with a Elinchrom deep throat octabox and metered at f18, with the light set about 14 inches higher than the eyes (14 inches being measured at the lights bulb). For the rear light I used a 10 degree grid, the light was about 2 feet higher than head level and metered at about 1 stop higher then the main light. The camera was set to F9 - 1/125 using 85mm lens and a 2 stop neutral density filter (more on why the ND filter in a later post).



Hope this can help you out!
Dave
Visit DTS Photography