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Kenni in Studio

DanielScott
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Kenni in Studio

Congratulations to DanielScott for winning Feature Thread of the Week with 5 votes - View Previous Winners

A friend of mine came over for some studio portraits yesterday, and this is one of my favorites.

Feb 17, 2023 at 12:15 PM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Kenni in Studio

Daniel, an excellent portrait!
But I have to ask 1 question that I just don't have a clue to an answer....Why is the brim of the hat cut off? I personally would like to see the entire hat. Not that I am demeaning your image...I just don't know. Being follicaly challenged, I find men wearing hats most attractive.
That is what, as a viewer only, catches my eye first.
Again well done!
Dan

Feb 17, 2023 at 03:19 PM

DanielScott
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Kenni in Studio

Danpbphoto wrote:
Daniel, an excellent portrait!
But I have to ask 1 question that I just don't have a clue to an answer....Why is the brim of the hat cut off? I personally would like to see the entire hat. Not that I am demeaning your image...I just don't know. Being follicaly challenged, I find men wearing hats most attractive.
That is what, as a viewer only, catches my eye first.
Again well done!
Dan
There are more shots with the entire hat, but those shots didn’t have such an engaging expression to me, and I will always choose a photo that is evocative over one that is technically superior. I also make a point to still go in for close up shots like this because to me the face is the important subject, not the entire hat. Some may disagree, and that’s their prerogative. This shot stands out to me for reasons that don’t involve the hat, simply put. I also feel that enough of the hat is visible in order to let the viewer fill in what isn’t shown.

Feb 17, 2023 at 04:16 PM

friscoron
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Kenni in Studio

Brilliant! The best thing about this is how well-lit you lit the hat.

Feb 17, 2023 at 04:47 PM

Jim Rickards
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Kenni in Studio

That hat lighting is awesome.

Feb 17, 2023 at 06:43 PM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Kenni in Studio

Well done.

Feb 17, 2023 at 07:29 PM

neighbourboy
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Kenni in Studio

I too am super impressed by the lighting. I'd love to know how it appears you lit his face from camera right, yet the brim doesn't have any light on the edge. I thought at first you lit him from below, but the nose shadow suggests otherwise. Maybe very careful flagging, or a very spot lit pattern? Whatever you did, it's quite impressive.

--David

Feb 17, 2023 at 07:55 PM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Kenni in Studio

Looks like a light camera left subject right that is slightly behind the subject that is high and pointing down and is lighting the brim top on the right side. Kind of a rim on the top so it is far enough back to not light the top front part of the hat. Key light camera right subject left low enugh to get under the brim. And maybe a 3rd light lighting the brim on the left side of the hat. See the highlight on the band on the hat. That would be my guess.

Feb 17, 2023 at 08:17 PM

neighbourboy
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Kenni in Studio

That sounds like a reasonable guess, Alan, and well.... you know your stuff. It still really impresses me that he doesn't have the monster light, up shadows on his face, yet there's not even a hint of light on the edge of the brim.

Feb 17, 2023 at 09:28 PM

James Markus
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Kenni in Studio

I wouldn't change anything.

Feb 17, 2023 at 09:55 PM

DanielScott
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Kenni in Studio

friscoron wrote:
Brilliant! The best thing about this is how well-lit you lit the hat.

Thank you. I really like that element to this shot as well. I did a few without and they look fine, but the second light really added a nice depth.

Feb 18, 2023 at 02:34 AM

DanielScott
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Kenni in Studio

Jim Rickards wrote:
That hat lighting is awesome.

Thank you so much Jim.

Feb 18, 2023 at 02:35 AM

DanielScott
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Kenni in Studio

airfrogusmc wrote:
Well done.

Thank you.

Feb 18, 2023 at 02:35 AM

DanielScott
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Kenni in Studio

neighbourboy wrote:
I too am super impressed by the lighting. I'd love to know how it appears you lit his face from camera right, yet the brim doesn't have any light on the edge. I thought at first you lit him from below, but the nose shadow suggests otherwise. Maybe very careful flagging, or a very spot lit pattern? Whatever you did, it's quite impressive.

--David

Thank you. The main flash modifier was a 47" octa softbox, so it was large enough to illuminate both above the rim of the hat and his face/eyes from below the rim of the hat as well. No flagging or spot lighting.

Feb 18, 2023 at 02:40 AM

DanielScott
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Kenni in Studio

airfrogusmc wrote:
Looks like a light camera left subject right that is slightly behind the subject that is high and pointing down and is lighting the brim top on the right side. Kind of a rim on the top so it is far enough back to not light the top front part of the hat. Key light camera right subject left low enugh to get under the brim. And maybe a 3rd light lighting the brim on the left side of the hat. See the highlight on the band on the hat. That would be my guess.

Close. You guessed right on the hat light. I used a two light setup. The main flash modifier I used was a 47” octa softbox positioned to camera right. A large modifier such as this allows light to reach both above the brim and below it when positioned correctly, also creating a catch light in the eyes. Positioned behind him, somewhat above and to camera left is another flash with a 24” octa softbox, used to add some light from behind which adds more shape to the hat and better separation between the hat and the backdrop. A more ideal modifier for this light might be a strip box with a grid, but I don’t own one so I use what I have. I also position both lights so they aren’t aimed directly at the model, that way he’s being illuminated by less direct, softer light. Also for anyone curious, the lens used was a Canon EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus lens on a Canon 5D MKIII, with soft focus disabled and set to 1/125th sec, f/10, ISO 100.

Edited on Feb 18, 2023 at 02:52 AM · View previous versions

Feb 18, 2023 at 02:45 AM

DanielScott
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Kenni in Studio

James Markus wrote:
I wouldn't change anything.

Thank you James.

Feb 18, 2023 at 02:48 AM

DanielScott
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Kenni in Studio

neighbourboy wrote:
That sounds like a reasonable guess, Alan, and well.... you know your stuff. It still really impresses me that he doesn't have the monster light, up shadows on his face, yet there's not even a hint of light on the edge of the brim.

Just curious, what do you mean by monster light? That's not a term that I've heard before.

Feb 18, 2023 at 02:49 AM

neighbourboy
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Kenni in Studio

DanielScott wrote:
Just curious, what do you mean by monster light? That's not a term that I've heard before.

Oh it's probably not an official term - but like when you hold a flashlight under your chin, to look all scary telling monster stories. That's just what I've called it when somebody is primarily lit from below and the upside down shadows make them look weird.

--David

Feb 18, 2023 at 10:03 AM

Danpbphoto
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Kenni in Studio

DanielScott wrote:
There are more shots with the entire hat, but those shots didn’t have such an engaging expression to me, and I will always choose a photo that is evocative over one that is technically superior. I also make a point to still go in for close up shots like this because to me the face is the important subject, not the entire hat. Some may disagree, and that’s their prerogative. This shot stands out to me for reasons that don’t involve the hat, simply put. I also feel that enough of the hat is visible in order to let the...Show more →
Thank you Daniel. Your analysis is dead on for a variety of reasons. I just didn't understand but I know have a better understanding of "how to frame a composition".
THANK YOU!
Dan

Feb 18, 2023 at 02:55 PM

DanielScott
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Kenni in Studio

neighbourboy wrote:
Oh it's probably not an official term - but like when you hold a flashlight under your chin, to look all scary telling monster stories. That's just what I've called it when somebody is primarily lit from below and the upside down shadows make them look weird.

--David

Ah, makes sense!

Feb 18, 2023 at 09:56 PM

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