I've been wanting to simulate sunlight in the studio (here in Nova Scotia we're still a few months away from good enough weather to plan an outdoor shoot in advance).
Looking for a sample of what I mean, I found this shot, and while at first it seemed straightforward (light to model right), I'm not so sure now that I look at it more closely...
That highlight line down the model's leg - how do I get that? And do you think there was a reflector to the left, to fill in a bit of the back shadow? Lastly, the light is so even from front to back with little fall off - how would I do that in studio? I can't throw the light moe than 10-15 feet due to walls.
Lastly, I assume this is hard light - but I could be wrong. What do you think?
Brent,
those sharp edged shadows are commonly achieved by optical spots (w/projection attachment). While they are pretty expensive I suggest to use a *mirror bounced open flash*.
You'd have to rig up a very clean, large enough mirror (bathroom?) in a variable way and a flash with your most narrow reflector to be deflected via the mirror. Play with the distances mirror to subject and source to mirror to get the desired effect.
If you, by chance, use Hensel they have a cool accessory for a similar approach: the Super focus reflector 8605 (not shown on Henselusa.com).
Have fun ;-)
It's more important to look at the shadows to determine the light source. To acheive this look, you have to mimic the effect of the sun - which is a single light source which emanates from a far distance from the subject.
Take a look at the hard edges of the shadow on her thigh and upper body as seen coming from her right arm. You will notice the same hard shadows on her face and under her shoes. This will tell you that you need your light source up rather high to mimic this effect, which appears to simply be an outdoor shot taken in direct sunlight. Forget a softbox, it will not give you the highlights and harsh effect that you require. I would use a single or double key light setup ( which would have two lights directly next to each other) in front of her with just a reflector attached to them -- and keep the light a good distance from your subject.
There's no light from behind. This would have softened the shadow edges on her thigh and neck, as well as the back of her head. It's a single light source coming from the front of the subject, most likely, the sun.
Just out of curiosity, why is everyone assuming that is a studio shot? At first glance I see something that looks like it was shot on a rooftop or pool deck in LA or Miami. Basically, I see real sun, not studio "sun".
shatterkiss wrote:
Just out of curiosity, why is everyone assuming that is a studio shot? At first glance I see something that looks like it was shot on a rooftop or pool deck in LA or Miami. Basically, I see real sun, not studio "sun".
I actually did read the original post fairly closely, and I read it as someone wanting to achieve the look of the posted shot but assuming it was shot in a studio...not someone trying to achieve the same look as a shot created under sunlight but doing it in a studio instead. I'm perfectly happy to have read that wrong.
The highlights could also be created by tweaking the contrast/curves of an image shot under hard sunlight or by glossing a model's skin with a solution like a 1:1 Glycerine/water and using something like a silver reflector to add singular highlights.
Heya Shatterkiss. Any confussion was my fault, likely. But when I wrote "I've been wanting to simulate sunlight in the studio" I meant that I wanted to create the look in the photo - where-ever it was shot - indoors, because where I live I can't really plan for an out-door shot in May (even June is sketchy). We got wet snow this morning, for example.
