kj83 Loc: casino NSW Australia

I've got a great idea of a photo i'd love to take bt as i've just started with dSLR photography i'm not sure what settings or lighting i should use for it.
I want to do a close up on just a face with only the face lit up and everything else even ears etc in shadow. Will be taking the photo in front of black background.
Would love any suggestions anyone has THANKS :D

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Why don't you just experiment and see what various light positions and camera settings get you? That is how we learn.

I could tell you exactly how to do this, but then you took MY picture, not yours. So I am not going to.

Go play - go learn.

kj83 Loc: casino NSW Australia

yes very true

PhotoMan1929 Loc: Virginia, USA

If I were to do the kind of shot you describe, I would use a "snoot" to control the lighting. A "snoot" is basically just a tube which fits over a flood light and controls the spread of the llight. Another method is to use a spotlight, but I would prefer the "snoot." If you are even slightly handy, you can easily make a very serviceable "snoot."

For further information on a "snoot" see:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoot

As for the necessary exposure settings, you are better off to just experiment. Good luck.

kj83 Loc: casino NSW Australia

thanks photoman i was thinking of using a torch lol so good to know i was on the right path - taking the pics 2nite so will post some on here over the weekend :-)

Crwiwy Loc: Devon UK

The best way to learn is by experimentation. If someone tells you a way - it will be for that shot. Another shot will probably require something different. Remember that it is their way and may not suit you, or you may understand exactly what they are doing.

By experimenting you will learn what works and what doesn't and this practical example will stay in your mind much better than theory from a book or another person.

That is a great benefit of digital - it costs nothing to experiment.

TLCarney Loc: Englewood, Florida

Try experimenting with light painting...in a dark room, open the camera shutter with a long shutter speed and shine a small flash light on the subject. Not as easy as it sounds...

sSpud Loc: Pennsylvania

I cant help you with the settings.. however I do know from a recent wedding, that there are special sparklers you can purchase that are longer so they wont go out as fast, and are smokeless. Most wedding item sites now carry them :)

mafadecay Loc: Wales UK

All I can say is that if the subject is a long way from the background and you light only the face the background does not have to be black to be rendered black. Any dark background that is unlit will be black using the right exposure. Play about with different exposures in manual mode or use exposure compensation in aperture or shutter priority. Trial and error is the key to learning. The furter away the easier it is to not accidentially light it.

You also want the area to be in complete darkness appart from your light on the face.

Another tip you do not even need the area to be completly dark. Just adjust exposere settings. Keep low ISO relative moderate to fast shutter and somewhere around F/8 with a little blip of flash. If the background is 2 stops darker it is easy to black it out. Also as others have mentioned a snoot will stop any light spilling onto the BG. You can make a quick DIY snoot out of drinking straws taped together or even rolled up card held over your flash.

If you light source is hot please beware the fire hazzards,

Frapha Loc: Tulsa, Oklahoma

:-) :thumbup: :thumbup:

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I did a self-portrait like this a while a go. Because of the low light setting, I set it in Auto Mode (argggh!). The local tool warehouse outlet sells a 24 LED flashlight (torch) for $2.99. I bought a number of them, but used just one, lit my face from below (so the shadows were accentuated), but it was an interesting outcome. The LED lights were the only lights in the room so the background was totally black.

kj83 Loc: casino NSW Australia

thanks everyone for advice took the pics last night and turned out great - got my oldest son to hold a torch on my subject(my daughter) and the results were fantastic, will post some pics when i upload them
THANKS

kj83 Loc: casino NSW Australia

I posted photos of my results in the pic gallery if ya want check them out under the heading Golden Glitter Girl - let me know what u think :-)