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The Dynamics of Photographic Lighting
Dark Field Photography
Mar 13, 2022 16:53:09   #
JimmyTB
 
Full disclosure, I did these at a workshop hosted by the local camera shop.

Strobe in soft box behind the subject with black foam board between light and subject. I didn't get the settings on the light. I know........I should have asked.

Camera settings: 1/250 f/16 ISO800.

I'm going to experiment more on my own ASAP.

I've made similar images using flash and High Speed Sync. Maybe I'll post some of them later.

Constructive criticism and advice is welcome.

This is SOOC there seems to be some light that spilled in from camera right
This is SOOC there seems to be some light that spi...
(Download)

Same image minimal processing using Windows. I would have left more light on the glass but there is I don;t think that was an option with windows.
Same image minimal processing using Windows. I wou...
(Download)

This is a different image just because I liked it better
This is a different image just because I liked it ...
(Download)


(Download)

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Mar 13, 2022 18:43:37   #
luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC
 
Nice!!! The last one is my favorite.

Dodie

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Mar 13, 2022 19:15:59   #
JimmyTB
 
luvmypets wrote:
Nice!!! The last one is my favorite.

Dodie


Thanks Dodie. I don't know if it says something about my personality but I really like dark and low key photography. The 3rd and 4th images are the ones I like best. I posted the first 2 so those more skilled and talented than I can help me improve. Thank you for viewing and your comment.

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Mar 15, 2022 22:19:38   #
E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
 
JimmyTB wrote:
Full disclosure, I did these at a workshop hosted by the local camera shop.

Strobe in soft box behind the subject with black foam board between light and subject. I didn't get the settings on the light. I know........I should have asked.

Camera settings: 1/250 f/16 ISO800.

I'm going to experiment more on my own ASAP.

I've made similar images using flash and High-Speed Sync. Maybe I'll post some of them later.

Constructive criticism and advice are welcome.


Great question and good experiment.

I don't know, however, what effect you want to accomplish and I am a bit confused about your terminology.

Low Key photography is basically a fairly dark or medium-toned subject on a dark background. The goal is to have the viewer's eye go to the brightest element in the composition which is the motif of the image. Dark Field photograher pertains to photographing a highly reflective or highly polished subject in such as a gold or silver coin or a piece of jewelry but due to a purposeful or accidental tweak of the angle of incident, it is rendered in a dark or black tone. I have a tutorial in the section that explained light and dark fields bit that does not necessarily pertain to the KEY.

Low key does not necessarily mean that the entire image is dark, under light or underexposed.

Determining the key o the image is mainly a function of light and background management. It has to do with light ratio, the direction of light and the colour or tone of the background and the background lighting technique. I background lig can be employed or some spill for the other legs may suffice.

If you want a totally jet-black background that can be done but sometimes just enough light to add a tiny bit of tonal or colour mass will give the image more dimension. If the lighting is correctly done, you will not need much post-processing to obtain the low-key effect. I will look at your images and post more in a few minutes.

Thanks for posting this- good stuff!

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Mar 15, 2022 23:27:21   #
E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
 
OK- This is not a "correction" of your work. If you prefer the darker (Noir) look that is OK. I just did a few very quick and dirty edits to illustrate a few points and give you some suggestions for your experiments and practice.

In one TEST, I replaced the black background with a very slightly lighter tone. It's still dark and low key but it adds a bit of dimension- the illusion that the viewer can enter the image and walk around the subject. There is a little more shade detail in the leaves.

In the second TEST. There is just a bit more shadow detail.

In the last TEST, there is more shadow data revel the lines in the floral arrangement.

You can accomplish most of this while shooting.


Again, these are just ideas and suggestions. You are the final arbiter of the effect you want to achieve.

Let me know what you think and if you have any more questions about the lighting. You direction of light and it's effect on the flowers are excellant.







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Mar 16, 2022 04:32:22   #
JimmyTB
 
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Great question and good experiment.

I don't know, however, what effect you want to accomplish and I am a bit confused about your terminology.

Low Key photography is basically a fairly dark or medium-toned subject on a dark background. The goal is to have the viewer's eye go to the brightest element in the composition which is the motif of the image. Dark Field photograher pertains to photographing a highly reflective or highly polished subject in such as a gold or silver coin or a piece of jewelry but due to a purposeful or accidental tweak of the angle of incident, it is rendered in a dark or black tone. I have a tutorial in the section that explained light and dark fields bit that does not necessarily pertain to the KEY.

Low key does not necessarily mean that the entire image is dark, under light or underexposed.

Determining the key o the image is mainly a function of light and background management. It has to do with light ratio, the direction of light and the colour or tone of the background and the background lighting technique. I background lig can be employed or some spill for the other legs may suffice.

If you want a totally jet-black background that can be done but sometimes just enough light to add a tiny bit of tonal or colour mass will give the image more dimension. If the lighting is correctly done, you will not need much post-processing to obtain the low-key effect. I will look at your images and post more in a few minutes.

Thanks for posting this- good stuff!
Great question and good experiment. br br I don'... (show quote)


Thank you for viewing and comments. I guess I used the wrong terminology. Terminology is important.

Reply
Mar 16, 2022 04:45:23   #
JimmyTB
 
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
OK- This is not a "correction" of your work. If you prefer the darker (Noir) look that is OK. I just did a few very quick and dirty edits to illustrate a few points and give you some suggestions for your experiments and practice.

In one TEST, I replaced the black background with a very slightly lighter tone. It's still dark and low key but it adds a bit of dimension- the illusion that the viewer can enter the image and walk around the subject. There is a little more shade detail in the leaves.

In the second TEST. There is just a bit more shadow detail.

In the last TEST, there is more shadow data revel the lines in the floral arrangement.

You can accomplish most of this while shooting.


Again, these are just ideas and suggestions. You are the final arbiter of the effect you want to achieve.

Let me know what you think and if you have any more questions about the lighting. You direction of light and it's effect on the flowers are excellant.
OK- This is not a "correction" of your w... (show quote)


Thank you for your examples. The 2nd and 3rd images are more on the line with what I was trying to accomplish. I don't know if a psychoanalyst would have anything to say about my attraction to the dark images but I think it's more about separating the subject and in this case with the light source behind the subject, I like the rim of light around the glass.

Here's an example of separation from about 2 years ago, in this case I used High Speed Sync outdoors in daylight.

1/1328 f5.6 ISO 400 If I do this again I think I would use a smaller aperture and hopefully also get better focus on the subject.
1/1328  f5.6  ISO 400 If I do this again I think I...
(Download)

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Mar 16, 2022 10:55:47   #
E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
 
JimmyTB wrote:
Thank you for your examples. The 2nd and 3rd images are more in line with what I was trying to accomplish. I don't know if a psychoanalyst would have anything to say about my attraction to the dark images but I think it's more about separating the subject and in this case with the light source behind the subject, I like the rim of light around the glass.

Here's an example of separation from about 2 years ago, in this case, I used High-Speed Sync outdoors in daylight.


Thereis nothing psychologically strange or weird about product low-key images. I'd guess that 75% of my portrait work is low key and I oftentimes ally that method to my commercial work.

There are vario ways off darkening backgrounds. As you did, overpower the natural light with flash and thereby negating the ambient light. The inverse square ll a can be employed, shooting against a dark studio or portable backgrounds painted in dark tones or background ars shaded by black cards or made off of black velvet which eats light very effectively. Out-of-doors, subjects like flowers can be effectively lighted with reflectors, gobos and small dark or black background cards.









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Mar 16, 2022 12:48:07   #
JimmyTB
 
Thank you for all the time you're spending teaching. You are honored and I am blessed as per your signature line. I also enjoy being able to teach, just not photography. I am definitely going to spend time experimenting with different lighting techniques. I love the look of low key portraits, especially grizzled old men (the man in your example is certainly not grizzled but a very nice portrait anyway) and attractive girls. I have a beautiful granddaughter now in college. When she gets home I'm sure she will let me practice on her. I don't know if she'll let me post online though. I will post future experiments in any case.

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Mar 16, 2022 16:02:37   #
E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada
 
JimmyTB wrote:
Thank you for all the time you're spending teaching. You are honoured and I am blessed as per your signature line. I also enjoy being able to teach, just not photography. I am definitely going to spend time experimenting with different lighting techniques. I love the look of low-key portraits, especially grizzled old men (the man in your example is certainly not grizzled but a very nice portrait anyway) and attractive girls. I have a beautiful granddaughter now in college. When she gets home I'm sure she will let me practice on her. I don't know if she'll let me post online though. I will post future experiments in any case.
Thank you for all the time you're spending teachin... (show quote)


Thanks for your kind remarks!

Here is a more "grizzled" subject. I'll have to look through my fils to finance super-grizzled gentlemen. Or, I may need to do a self-portrait

I have attached a light diagram for the other gentleman's portrait in my previous post. This one is the same but the lights are coming in from the opposite direction.

Large softbox behind the camera for fill. Main light about 35 degrees, Kicker-light about 135 degrees, Hairligh on a boom, and Background light giddy behind the subject.

Looking forward to your grandaughter's portrait. One of mine is kinda camera shy and the other one loves to
pose. The youngest once is a teenager- work in progress!





Reply
Mar 17, 2022 05:38:10   #
JimmyTB
 
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
Thanks for your kind remarks!

Here is a more "grizzled" subject. I'll have to look through my fils to finance super-grizzled gentlemen. Or, I may need to do a self-portrait

I have attached a light diagram for the other gentleman's portrait in my previous post. This one is the same but the lights are coming in from the opposite direction.

Large softbox behind the camera for fill. Main light about 35 degrees, Kicker-light about 135 degrees, Hairligh on a boom, and Background light giddy behind the subject.

Looking forward to your grandaughter's portrait. One of mine is kinda camera shy and the other one loves to
pose. The youngest once is a teenager- work in progress!
Thanks for your kind remarks! br br Here is a m... (show quote)


Thank you for posting the diagram. That's very helpful. More lighting than I currently have but I'll see with what I can come up with. I'll probably experiment with something inanimate until my granddaughter comes home. A mannequin head/torso would be great but I'll make due with what I can find. Maybe even a self portrait.

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The Dynamics of Photographic Lighting
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