portrait exposure technique

[Gary Holliday]

This image is very similar to my own style and was wondering what technique would you use to achieve this without the use of variable grade paper?

eg
lens set to f5.6
light to the left with a hand held meter reading of f8
light to the right with a meter reading of f11.
Process as normal?

light to left f5.6
light to right f8
from f5.6, open up aperture 1-2 stops.
and under develop my one minute?

 

[Troy]

Looks like a lot of retouching to me. Look how the hair and collar fade out.

 

[Charles Webb]

Just a comment, not a challenge.

Vignetting is not considered retouching, simply the un retouched negative image projected through a hole in a piece card board stock, while keeping the hole and board slightly moving during the exposure.


Charlie..................................................

 

[Troy]

Just a comment, not a challenge.

Vignetting is not considered retouching, simply the un retouched negative image projected through a hole in a piece card board stock, while keeping the hole and board slightly moving during the exposure.


Charlie..................................................

You're right, sir.

 

[George Papantoniou]

Some other things might help:

- "Burning" the background (overexposing it by 2-3 stops)
- General overexposure (1-1.5 stops) without changing the development
- Not using a compensating developer
- Selective bleaching after exposing an image at the enlarger through the carton with the hole in it.

 

[vet173]

I would not shoot at the ratios you state. There is a lot less difference in key to fill than one stop. I would adjust lighting to get what you want rather that vary exp-dev.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

White clothing, white background. Huge background strobe and some sort of reverse spot lighting on subject (shade face and hair and collar). Overexpose 1 to 1 1/2. Just throwin 'em out there.

 

[jd callow]

2 stops over on clothes and background (using a reflective reading) would be where I would start.

 

[bjorke]

And black BEHIND the camera

 

[MikeK]

Lindahl has a white vignetting mask that is illuminated from below by a small strobe. The strobe is pointed upward and overexposes the mask by at least two stops. The masks came in a number of shapes, an oval which would give the effect in the picture, semicircles, ragged edge circles which would give a softer effect.

I was unpacking a bunch of stuff this morning and found my set, have not used it probably 20 years; might just give it a try.

Mike

 

[Mark H]

I'd add a trifold reflector in front and slightly below face level. And blow the heck out of the background.

 

[spb854]

You might go over to www.photocamel.com . Go under "Forums" and then "Tutorials". There's interesting stuff there.

 

[Lee L]

Large softbox to the right. Small softbox high and just left of camera, a half stop or so below large softbox. Large white (maybe silver) horizontal fill card/reflector filling from below just in front of sitter. Either front lit white background or backlit translucent background overexposed 2.5 stops or more. Vignette during printing.

Lee