Image Deconstruction - Tyrone Lebon

ratcatcher · Jun 18, 2020

Hello!

In effort to improve my technical understanding; I am dissecting various images from my favourite photographers. With regards to the attached images, I am interested in the lighting techniques used. Apologies for the sub-par quality, unfortunately this is the best I could find. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

R

NB23 · Jun 18, 2020

I’m afraid to say this is the work of an amateur and there’s no special technique involved.

ratcatcher · Jun 18, 2020

NB23 said:
I’m afraid to say this is the work of an amateur and there’s no special technique involved.

I mean, this is the work of Tyrone Lebon — one of the most prolific fashion photographers working today. I strongly disagree with classifying him as an amateur.

cramej · Jun 18, 2020

The only lighting technique used here is a table lamp in a hotel room and 1 or 2 stops underexposure. The 2nd photo is some sort of ambient light and maybe using a LensBaby with significant PP work burning in the background rather poorly.

FWIW, prolific != good.

MattKing · Jun 18, 2020

To satisfy my curiosity, I did some scrolling around the internet to see what I could figure out about Tyrone Lebon.
I don't know that I would say that he uses any particular set of technical tools - some of his work certainly indicates he is capable of using some sophisticated lighting.
But the examples posted are more the sort of photographs that one finds, then the sort that one creates.

ratcatcher · Jun 18, 2020

cramej said:
The only lighting technique used here is a table lamp in a hotel room and 1 or 2 stops underexposure. The 2nd photo is some sort of ambient light and maybe using a LensBaby with significant PP work burning in the background rather poorly.

FWIW, prolific != good.

Thank you! I encourage you to view his other work; perhaps this is not the best representation of his abilities. He is an excellent photographer.

Dali · Jun 18, 2020

Compare with Helmuth Newton or Jealoup Sieff's fashion work and see how far we went down the drain...

ratcatcher · Jun 18, 2020

MattKing said:
To satisfy my curiosity, I did some scrolling around the internet to see what I could figure out about Tyrone Lebon.
I don't know that I would say that he uses any particular set of technical tools - some of his work certainly indicates he is capable of using some sophisticated lighting.
But the examples posted are more the sort of photographs that one finds, then the sort that one creates.

Interesting assessment; appreciate your comments. Again, the images were posted not for the purpose of making a case for Tyrone's strength, but rather, to further my understanding of lighting techniques (or lack-thereof). Thank you!

cramej · Jun 18, 2020

ratcatcher said:
Thank you! I encourage you to view his other work; perhaps this is not the best representation of his abilities. He is an excellent photographer.

I was curious about his other work so I did go look at some, and unfortunately, it didn't change my opinion. Lots of deadpan, use of underexposure and P&S style techniques to create a 'look' that really cheapens the work and plain posing. To me, this style of 'fashion' photography is indicative of the art director and the model doing all the work. I can see where inspiration for this style originates from, but I just don't think he pulls it off well.

NB23 · Jun 18, 2020

Sure, when he puts his heart in his work it will probably look good. But this is sloppy stuff.

i don’t know the guy and I do not care really, but you seem to be worshiping him, and I don’t want to i sult no one. Let’s just say that even picasso draw a lot of sloppy croquis. And they weren’t meant to be masterpieces.

ratcatcher said:
I mean, this is the work of Tyrone Lebon — one of the most prolific fashion photographers working today. I strongly disagree with classifying him as an amateur.

ratcatcher · Jun 18, 2020

cramej said:
I was curious about his other work so I did go look at some, and unfortunately, it didn't change my opinion. Lots of deadpan, use of underexposure and P&S style techniques to create a 'look' that really cheapens the work and plain posing. To me, this style of 'fashion' photography is indicative of the art director and the model doing all the work. I can see where inspiration for this style originates from, but I just don't think he pulls it off well.

I understand; it certainly leans into the P&S style. I suppose this is subjectivity at play, as I quite enjoy this style and feel he executes well. Appreciate your comments!

Pieter12 · Jun 18, 2020

I think the photographer is deliberately giving the informal, snapshot look to these images. Therefore, I would suggest if that is what you're after do just that: shoot what's in front of you, don't pay too much attention to lighting or if you do add light, do so in an uninformed, unsophisticated way. Depending on your skills, you may have to work at it.

ratcatcher · Jun 18, 2020

NB23 said:
Sure, when he puts his heart in his work it will probably look good. But this is sloppy stuff.

i don’t know the guy and I do not care really, but you seem to be worshiping him, and I don’t want to i sult no one. Let’s just say that even picasso draw a lot of sloppy croquis. And they weren’t meant to be masterpieces.

Let's not exaggerate; I said he is one of my favorite photographers. Using such hyperboles cheapens your point of view. Regardless, thank you for your comments!

ratcatcher · Jun 18, 2020

Pieter12 said:
I think the photographer is deliberately giving the informal, snapshot look to these images. Therefore, I would suggest if that is what you're after do just that: shoot what's in front of you, don't pay too much attention to lighting or if you do add light, do so in an uninformed, unsophisticated way. Depending on your skills, you may have to work at it.

I think you nailed it here; looking forward to giving this a go. Thank you!

NB23 · Jun 18, 2020

Hyperbole?

You’re right, we’re in the “followers” era, where following someone doesn’t mean following someone. Damn, I’m getting old.

ratcatcher said:
Let's not exaggerate; I said he is one of my favorite photographers. Using such hyperboles cheapens your point of view. Regardless, thank you for your comments!

ratcatcher · Jun 18, 2020

NB23 said:
Hyperbole?

You’re right, we’re in the “followers” era, where following someone doesn’t mean following someone. Damn, I’m getting old.

'Worshipping'. ha, perhaps!

Auer · Jun 18, 2020

For something that is supposed to look casual and nonchalant those images have a very forced feel to them.

Should be easy to re-create, simply don't give a fuck and fire away

removedacct1 · Jun 18, 2020

Dali said:
Compare with Helmuth Newton or Jealoup Sieff's fashion work and see how far we went down the drain...

I concur. Those examples of Lebon's work are truly dreadful. I find myself wondering what the rejects looked like!

Andrew O'Neill · Jun 18, 2020

I'd probably have a go with an Instax and one strong light.

Schuter · Jun 18, 2020

I’ll try to explain how I would duplicate the style of lighting without passing aesthetic judgment. A professional should be able to create and deliver what his or her client is asking for, which he apparently did in this case. You don’t hire models, hair stylists, makeup artists and assistants only to bang away haphazardly. I believe these images were carefully staged and deliberate. Ultimately they were published.

Images 50725 and 50728 (single model) I would shoot with a beauty dish, or smallish softbox, possibly with a little bounced fill from a reflector. The kissing couple (egg yolk?) I would shoot wide open and light them with a softbox plus a background light, either on a colored background or with a gel on the light. Some of the color could be achieved with lighting, but I would do most of it in post-processing. All three appear to have teal dialed into the shadows and orange pumped into the midtones and highlights. The darker shadows were raised to eliminate any deep blacks. This style of image was more popular about 5 years ago.

reddesert · Jun 18, 2020

FWIW the kissing / egg-yolk photo is a clear reference to a famous interlude scene in Juzo Itami's movie "Tampopo." http://cleojournal.com/2014/04/24/bad-eggs-juzo-itamis-tampopo/ or search for "Tampopo egg scene" and you'll get plenty of references.

I'm not sure why people are saying you could do this with one strong light or a P&S aesthetic. There is obviously an off-camera main light with diffusion being used - look at the soft edges of the shadows. There's also fill in the two single-model pictures or the off-side would be much darker than it is. It could be bounced from a reflector as Schuter says.

Auer · Jun 18, 2020

A hotel floor lamp with a standard white translucent shade will give you those shadows

Image Deconstruction - Tyrone Lebon

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Image Deconstruction - Tyrone Lebon

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