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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 viewer fill in what isn’t shown....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
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.
