articles/Lighting/bigdog13-page2

Rolling with the BIG Dog Part 13 - part 2 of 1 2 3

by Damian McGillicuddy Published 01/02/2012

Now the most important question is where did the light sit to create the look I was after? I had decided for simplicity that I'd go for the 'loop' lighting pattern. If you look closely at the subject's face you can see that there is a shadow projected to the side and down from her nose on the opposite side of her face from the 'key' light, the 'key' light being to camera left and hidden out of frame. It looks like a little loop shaped shadow, hence the term 'loop lighting'...cunningly named eh!

From my second 'behind the scenes' set up picture we can see the speedlights placement in relation to the subject. The easiest way to understand the light placement is to imagine that the way the model's nose points is 'zero degrees', the light is approximately 45 degrees to her right and approximately 40 degrees above her eye line. The flash was about six to eight feet away from the subject to camera left. Please be aware these are approximations, the length of the subject's nose and depth of the ocular cavity will ultimately dictate exactly where the light needs to be placed to create a pleasing pattern of shadow on the face and catchlights in the eyes.

The 'bare bulb' enhancer pushes a broad, slightly contrasty, expanse of light (a little like sunny window light) towards the subject. Its super quick and easy to use and as you can see from the finished image very effective at what it does, almost unbelievable eh ;0)

We can't ignore the other light source used to create this image as its manipulation and inclusion to the picture was every bit as vital to the result as was the use of the speedlight, so please let's not forget the ambient light in the scene, it plays more than one major part in how this image renders.

Just to prove it's not a fluke the image of the amazing Anita De Bauch was shot during one of my Master classes with a Qflash fitted with the bare bulb enhancer...simply exquisite light! So, so simple, lightening quick and very straight forward to use.

Ok so what's next? Let's have a quick look at the variable aperture snoot. Again the source of illumination is a speedlight, that is the 'key'. The 'rim' light is a second unit buried behind the settee with the trusty 'Bare bulb' enhancer fitted. The fill is supplied by the ambient once more.

• Rolling with the BIG Dog Part 13 page 1
  
• Rolling with the BIG Dog Part 13 page 2
  
• Rolling with the BIG Dog Part 13 page 3
  

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