I took this portrait some
time ago with a Leica Digilux 2 and I thought it didn’t turn out too bad. Since then I have posted it several times and
always received very positive comments on it.
Not so when my sister saw it a while back.
We both followed in the
footsteps of our father in becoming professional photographers. Since then she has turned into a very
accomplished portrait photographer with numerous award winning photographs.
Her comment regarding this
photograph was “Nicht sehr gut. Lichtzange.” Nicht sehr gut (not very good) caught my
attention. Unfortunately, the emphasis is
on the word Lichtzange which is one of those words for which there is no direct
translation. After all, what does “light
pliers” mean? It refers to lighting where
two light sources are competing with each other by illuminating the subject
from opposite directions.
One basic approach to
lighting her portraits was always that there is only one sun. Because of that we are all accustomed to see
things with light coming from only one direction. She has always followed her studio lighting along
that principle and so have I - usually.
Of course, studio lighting
allows for considerable variations, and her approach certainly is not carved in
stone. But her comment made me take
another look and I have to say, she is right.
Looking at the original
result, it is obvious that I used two light sources from opposite
direction. The result is that the left
side of the model (the right side of the photograph) is much too light. It totally contradicts the more dramatic
lighting on the right side.
I have always promoted to
set up portrait lighting by visually controlling it. Preconceived ideas and lighting by numbers
(lighting ratios) will never take the individual in front of the camera into
consideration. That is one of the
reasons why I consider modeling lights so very important. They allow you to see what the lighting
actually looks like. They prevent a lot
of trial and error work.
Well, this is one instance
where I didn’t see what I was actually doing.
So is this something that can be corrected? The answer is “sort of”. I don’t agree at all looking at Photoshop as
a means to correct mistakes. It is
always preferable to avoid mistakes in the first place. But I gave it a try. After all, the mistake had been made. So I darkened much of the left side of the
model to make the fill light much less pronounced. In addition I worked on the right side of the
face by lightening the shadows, again to lessen the effect of the fill light.
The result is far from perfect. That would require correct lighting in the first place. But I think it is a definite improvement. What do you think? Comments are very much welcome.
For other articles on this blog scroll down in the column to the right to BLOG ARCHIVE
To comment or to read comments please scroll past the ads below.
All ads present items of interest to Leica owners.
___________________________________________________________________________
To comment or to read comments please scroll past the ads below.
All ads present items of interest to Leica owners.
___________________________________________________________________________
Buy vintage Leica cameras from
America's premier Leica specialist
http://www.tamarkinauctions.com/ http://www.tamarkin.com/leicagallery/upcoming-shows
Buy vintage Leica cameras from
America's premier Leica specialist
http://www.tamarkinauctions.com/ http://www.tamarkin.com/leicagallery/upcoming-shows
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography
Click on image to enlarge
Order: info@gmpphoto.com
Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography
Yes I agree with the both of you. In #1 the white arm was confusing. Definately fit together better now. Good Lesson....
ReplyDeleteIt's a common error to over light with a rim light. Because the light is skimming the edge of the subject, it reflects rather directly into the lens, and it's effect is magnified. Angle of incidence equals angle of reflection! So the skimming edge light needs to be turned way down normally, like maybe 1/8 of the power of the main light or even lower.
ReplyDelete