How do i get a shot like this?

Gary

Gary

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AU499012.jpg


I want to do something similar.
i.e. taking a shot in the (low light) pit garage keeping the person sharp and well lit, and the background as black as possible.
 
What you want is to have the setting so that the camera under exposes the background.

So....

With a relatively low ISO (say 200) set your camera to AV on say f8 and see how you go. And allow your flash to expose (hopefully) correctly for the subject. You may have a very slow shutter speed which you will have to watch out for. So, fiddle about with the aperture 'til you find the right one for you in the conditions.
 
Looks like a single flash held about waist height and to the left of the camera. Probably zoomed right in or has a gobo/flag or similar fitted to stop the light spilling onto the background.
 
Badger UK said:
What you want is to have the setting so that the camera under exposes the background.

So....

With a relatively low ISO (say 200) set your camera to AV on say f8 and see how you go. Although you may have a very slow shutter speed which you will have to watch out for. So, fiddle about with the aperture 'til you find the right one for you in the conditions.
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i'm not sure that would work.. in most cases the subject is moving rather than posing so I'd assumed the photographer uses a flash to freeze the subject and light him/her up
 
Kev M said:
Looks like a single flash held about waist height and to the left of the camera. Probably zoomed right in or has a gobo/flag or similar fitted to stop the light spilling onto the background.
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this is more along the lines of what i was thinking. excuse my dumb question, but what is a gobo / flag?
 
It's a piece of card or similar stuck to the side of the flas to stop the light spraying out to the side.
 
In theatrical terms a gobo is a metal or etched glass filter or mask which contains a pattern which is then projected onto whatever the light is shining onto. If you're ever in a theatre and see trees or clouds created just with lights, then a gobo is what has been used.
 
Looking at it again the light might be slightly higher than wiast level. Its definately below the head as it has illuminated the neck without causing a shadow from the chin but if you look at the finger shadows on her left hand they're almost horizontal so the light was probably at a similar level.

You can just make out a faint catchlight in the eyes showing the the light was low and to the left.
 
Gary said:
i'm not sure that would work.. in most cases the subject is moving rather than posing so I'd assumed the photographer uses a flash to freeze the subject and light him/her up
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Sorry, I meant to add that you then use yor flash. I've edited the original post. Sorry to confuse. :-/
 
Arkady said:
Mate - it's a daylight shot...look again.
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She's probably standing in the doorway of a dark room. But to get similar shots, if you can't always drag your subject to the door way of a darkened room, you could use flash to recreate the effect.
 
Arkady said:
It's a Pit-Garage - those places have white-painted breezeblock walls and make for a lovely 'north-light' studio...lol
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but is it not still darker than the outside?

It looks as thought the camera has exposed for the subject, which is bright when compared with the inside of the workshop. Possible only a couple of stops difference, but enough to make it look very dark.
 
Badger UK said:
but is it not still darker than the outside?

It looks as thought the camera has exposed for the subject, which is bright when compared with the inside of the workshop. Possible only a couple of stops difference, but enough to make it look very dark.
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Which is exactly what I said about four posts further up the page...lol
 
Gary said:
here's another one from the same set if it helps

473442.jpg
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Definitely flash used on that one, also with this one:

487783.jpg


And on this one you can see the flash head on the table, lower-right...

487786.jpg


So I take it all back - he IS using an off-camera flash - apologies all...
 
Gary said:
ahh my flash has got one of those i think.. its a 580ex and has a piece of white plastic that pulls out of the top
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The little white card is intended to give a catch light when the flash is bounced off as ceiling or wall.
 
thanks for all the (very fast) replies gentlemen.

I'll try everything everyone suggested and learn as I go.

I've really got to concentrate on my people / paddock / pit / grid shots, so thats why I asked the question.
 
Arkady said:
Mate - it's a daylight shot...look again.
Click to expand...

We'll have to agree to diagree on this one mate. If she was illuminated by a non-directional light such as the light spilling in through an open garage door the shadows would be a lot softer and unless she's a giant I can't see how a light over the door would cause a catch light in the lower half of the eye.

edit:should learn to type faster.
 
Gary said:
ahh my flash has got one of those i think.. its a 580ex and has a piece of white plastic that pulls out of the top
Click to expand...

That's a reflector mate, it'll point light somewhere else rather than block it off. Get some black card or similar and attach it to the side of your flash either with velcro or an elstic band and see what difference it makes.
 
Kev M said:
We'll have to agree to diagree on this one mate. If she was illuminated by a non-directional light such as the light spilling in through an open garage door the shadows would be a lot softer and unless she's a giant I can't see how a light over the door would cause a catch light in the lower half of the eye.

edit:should learn to type faster.
Click to expand...

Sorry Mate - to me the original looked like a daylight shot - when I looked on her homepage and saw the others from the same set it was all too obvious how they guy was doing it...:D

That'll teach me to research properly before posting...lol
 
Nah you just want to do what I do mate and spend more time reading about photography than actually doing it. Speeds up the responses to answering questions that you couldn't back up the theory with personal evidence;)

Now where did I put that camera of mine?


Gary, start off with an off camera ttl cord FITP probably has one for sale as you can hold the camera in one hand, flash in the other and keep the TTL. Then looking at spending your mortgage payment on pocket wizards instead of a roof over your head ;)
 
Kev M said:
Nah you just want to do what I do mate and spend more time reading about photography than actually doing it. Speeds up the responses to answering questions that you couldn't back up the theory with personal evidence ;)
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:lol:
 
Kev M said:
Gary, start off with an off camera ttl cord FITP probably has one for sale as you can hold the camera in one hand, flash in the other and keep the TTL. Then looking at spending your mortgage payment on pocket wizards instead of a roof over your head ;)
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If i remember correctly the flash has a stand with it, so i'm halfway there :)
 
Gary said:
dumb question number 2, but can i get something to turn my on camera flash into an off camera flash?
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Erm, a screwdriver?


Seriously, what you need is an SB-600 and maybe a cheap lightstand.
 
I doubt an SB600 would be the top of his list when he's a Canon Man:lol:
 
Kev M said:
I doubt an SB600 would be the top of his list when he's a Canon Man:lol:
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Yes - he absolutely MUST buy three SB900's and then of course, he'll have to buy a D3...

It's the ONLY way to take a photo like that...honest...:D
 
Just how much commission do Nikon give you Rob?
 
I know nothing about this photography marlarky, but she can take me for a spin anyday :love:
 
it does look a bit daylightish...and if not...is a good imitation

bounce flash with the cam on its side...and a big reflector
 
mrcrow said:
it does look a bit daylightish...and if not...is a good imitation

bounce flash with the cam on its side...and a big reflector
Click to expand...

we eventually figured it out by looking at the other images on her website - it's an off-camera flash on a stand...
 
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