magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

My friend and his wife have agreed to be photographed in their front room later this week. Today I nipped-in to get a feel for the lighting, which is window only plus reflector if required - no flash. The shot as shown here is the type of effect I will go for (and want) but wonder if anybody has any tips or suggestions? Your help appreciated.

I've had two attempts at loading with download, but both failed for some reason - the original has brighter highlights than shown here and a less 'muddy' look!

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

reflector required

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

If one handles the exposure appropriately, that lighting is quite nice as it is.
--Bob

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Yes, I'll go armed - thanks oldtigger

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

My worry is burn-out Bob, but the Brandt's and C-B's of this world managed it (on film admittedly) so why not me, eh? eh? Thanks for the encouragement.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Way too much contrast, because there is only one light source.

More light, from a different source, would really help. You can't use reflectors to light up corners and walls, so if you go that way it will help to get closer shots of smaller areas. A head and shoulders portrait, with a very limited background, not an environmental portrait showing his surroundings.

It would be really nice to add some light. A bigger window, or a time of day that lets in more light. Or when no light comes in the window and whatever room lighting exists is what you use.

Best would be two or three strobes or speedlights with modifiers and placeed appropriately to fill the room... The no flash restriction should be no on camera flash and no flash aimed directly at the subject.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

For what it’s worth as I’ve no formal training. It appears you have plenty of exposure triangle to work with, just slowing the shutter down will grab a lot more light, they will be sitting still so I would go for some bracketed exposures to glean what I could from the existing light. Then do some digital blending in post to get the feel you want. I hope that makes sense to you.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Thanks Frank, yes, intended to bracket. Whether they can keep still is another thing though!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

[quote=Apaflo]Way too much contrast, because there is only...

I'm sure you're right Apaflo, but I've got to live with it. The 18th century cottage has small windows and rooms, so the light source is quite close to the subject, creating heavy contrast. I like dark shadows, even to the point of losing a bit of detail, but want to make a decent photo for them, of course. Maybe some good old-fashioned lamps are the answer. Hope to post a result in due course.
Thanks for your suggestions, they are appreciated.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

I don't understand the "no flash" at all, but what I don't understand doesn't make any difference! If it is a technical issue, that's one thing. If it is a condition the folks have placed on letting you photograph them... working around it is the only option.

Good old fashioned lamps, CFL or LED lights, that are well placed would work quite well. Then you might consider either shooting when no sunlight comes through the windows, or just shading the windows as needed to prevent hots spots. An almost transparent shade would also provide a really nice diffuse light too!

The high contrast is not in itself a problem, as that is often exactly what makes a BW image pop! The trick is where the shadows are! Having half of the subject's face in a deep shadow doesn't make a sitting elderly man look good. But if the dark half is just dark, not black, and yet the area behind him goes to total black in shadows, it looks fantastic. Try it on the image you posted! (I did fool around with it a bit, and could post it if you'd like to see it.) By cropping down to a more restricted area, the essence of the surroundings as well as that of the man are all enhanced. Try cropping that image to where only the man, and then just the old bicycle wheel and the seat are showing. Trim off everything below his arms and most of what is to his right and left. Then simulate what fill light from a reflector would have done by brightening only the right side. It doesn't turn out "right", but it shows what will happen if it is actually done right to start with.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

I would like to see your modified version Apaflo, pp is how I've achieved the look I want in the past when conditions were not ideal. I will try cropping down, but a little worried about losing too much of the surroundings, it is, after all, part of their life, but I do understand your suggestion and will try it. I really appreciate the time you have given this, it's very helpful to have this sort of guidance.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I'm not sure which bit you're missing out, so here's the whole procedure -

Once you have the text of your response sorted out, click PREVIEW then click CHOOSE FILE. Select the image that you want, check the (Store original) box then click ADD ATTACHMENT. If you want to add a comment to the image, add it in the box underneath the thumbnail image at the bottom of the page, then click UPDATE under the box. If the text of your main response is ready, click SEND.

Clicking PREVIEW first and clicking ADD ATTACHMENT are both necessary and not optional.

My suggestion regarding the portrait is to not have the shadow side of the face too impenetrable, especially around the eye. The download shows that there is detail visible in the left side of his face, but it's only just visible, and as soon as you go to anything smaller than full screen, that detail is all but lost. I'd recommend lifting the shadows on the left side of the front of his face to bring out just a touch more detail, especially if you're going for a print.

The way it is just now I'd be hard pushed to recognise him from your picture, which suggests to me that it's not showing enough of him. My non-professional opinion is that there should be enough of him visible to actually show something of what he's like. Perhaps for the people that already know him the portrait's fine the way it is.

I also think that there's too much dark along the bottom of the frame. As well as fixing that problem, the crop below puts his left eye on the upper right intersection of thirds (I'm not suggesting that that placement of the eye is essential, but it's an interesting point and might be worth considering as an option).

-

R.G. Loc: Scotland

PS - Your failure to upload with storing the original may be because the original is too big. Officially the maximum file size is 20MB, but I've successfully uploaded up to 22MB.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

RG, thanks for taking the time for this, it's appreciated.
I take the point about overdoing the facial shadows. I want the dark, shadowed look, but will have to watch that. This, I suppose, is where a lot of the skill of the icons of b&w photography lies. They had very deep shadows, sometimes to the point where detail was lost, but the secret is, perhaps, where those shadows occur.
Like the crop you've come up with, it has that 'right' feel. I do want to include some of the junk in the background as it is all part of their character so, again, going to have to be careful with that as well. Been looking at some Cartier-Bresson portraits - he certainly got a good-looking composition and managed to include half a room!
Regards the upload problem, that is what I usually do, and I only send relatively small files. Mind you, I was tired when i sent that and may have missed something! Have since sent some without problem, so guess it was a hiccup of some sort.
I'll post a result of my efforts in due course.
Dave.

R.G. Loc: Scotland