A couple more from studio evening

[Patrick]

Here a a couple more from the studio evening at Smethick

Patrick

[Bear]

Re: A couple more from studio evening

Patrick, these and the others posted separately, are really quite splendid. Would you mind qucily describing the lighting setup ?

[Patrick]

Re: A couple more from studio evening

Patrick, these and the others posted separately, are really quite splendid. Would you mind qucily describing the lighting setup ?

I didn't set the lights up myself, I would have done it a touch differently in so much as I would set the key lights higher, but as its a club session there is no time for personal adjustments.
The lighting was worked on in Photoshop to darken the backdrop or lighten it more and emphasize the lighting used on the face.
I am very much a Photoshop man and love making the final picture there.

The backdrops were very light, generally I like dark backdrops.
There were two setups one for each model.
Each had two Flash heads with soft boxes fitted lighting the backdrop, the red headed girl, Holly was lit by one large flash with soft box fitted as a key light, and a reflector on the opposite side to fill the shadows a little. This is where I would have had the key light a little higher.
The other set up with Eva had a large soft box as key and another at a lower level on the opposite side at half power, I did switch this off for one or two shots. I wasn't as happy with the results of Eva which is why I have only posted one picture.
An infra red trigger was used to work the flashes.

Patrick

[Stephen]

Re: A couple more from studio evening

I didn't set the lights up myself, I would have done it a touch differently in so much as I would set the key lights higher, but as its a club session there is no time for personal adjustments.
The lighting was worked on in Photoshop to darken the backdrop or lighten it more and emphasize the lighting used on the face.
I am very much a Photoshop man and love making the final picture there.

The backdrops were very light, generally I like dark backdrops.
There were two setups one for each model.
Each had two Flash heads with soft boxes fitted lighting the backdrop, the red headed girl, Holly was lit by one large flash with soft box fitted as a key light, and a reflector on the opposite side to fill the shadows a little. This is where I would have had the key light a little higher.
The other set up with Eva had a large soft box as key and another at a lower level on the opposite side at half power, I did switch this off for one or two shots. I wasn't as happy with the results of Eva which is why I have only posted one picture.
An infra red trigger was used to work the flashes.

Patrick

Haha, I knew when Bear made the request that the lighting setup used would bear little resemblance to the result achieved by you Patrick. I can see that when in a club shoot, they need to set up a fairly generic light arrangement.

Whilst white is nice, esp for high key, its not to everyone's taste and I often feel its a waste of a couple of lights as it needs lighting. For you perhaps, a mid grey b/g may have been better, I might have then used one of the lights for a headlight. I used to like black b/g's but they needed masking to keep direct light off, but could give dramatic results.

As for these two photos, I love the first shot, but her position in the second seems to have emphasised her collar bones and shoulder areas which isn't very flattering. Again though they are sensitively processed

[Patrick]

Re: A couple more from studio evening

Haha, I knew when Bear made the request that the lighting setup used would bear little resemblance to the result achieved by you Patrick. I can see that when in a club shoot, they need to set up a fairly generic light arrangement.

Whilst white is nice, esp for high key, its not to everyone's taste and I often feel its a waste of a couple of lights as it needs lighting. For you perhaps, a mid grey b/g may have been better, I might have then used one of the lights for a headlight. I used to like black b/g's but they needed masking to keep direct light off, but could give dramatic results.

As for these two photos, I love the first shot, but her position in the second seems to have emphasised her collar bones and shoulder areas which isn't very flattering. Again though they are sensitively processed

Yes if high key is the aim white is obviously best. In the main (there are always exceptions) I like low key using dark gray or dark brown backdrops.

Other than a quick switching on or off of a light there was simply no time to play with the lights, a hair light on Holly would have been wonderful.
Smethwick runs these studio nights every two weeks on none club nights. For my first visit I chose the busiest they have had in years, 19 tuned up.
This gave each photographer 3 mins with each model, then a further 2 mins with each, teaches you to work fast.
It was all very well organized with electronic timers, two photographers were in each studio at any time, one taking pictures, one waiting, when time was up the next photographer goes in, this is the signal for the waiting photographer to replace the working photographer who then leaves, and so on until every one has had his or her turn. Interestingly, considering Holly was posing for figure work a third of the photographers were ladies.

I have what I conciser two tasteful semi nude figure studies which I would like to post but am waiting for Ian's permission first.

I see what you mean about the collar bone, not sure it bothers me that much.

Patrick

[Stephen]

Re: A couple more from studio evening

Yes if high key is the aim white is obviously best. In the main (there are always exceptions) I like low key using dark gray or dark brown backdrops.

Other than a quick switching on or off of a light there was simply no time to play with the lights, a hair light on Holly would have been wonderful.
Smethwick runs these studio nights every two weeks on none club nights. For my first visit I chose the busiest they have had in years, 19 tuned up.
This gave each photographer 3 mins with each model, then a further 2 mins with each, teaches you to work fast.
It was all very well organized with electronic timers, two photographers were in each studio at any time, one taking pictures, one waiting, when time was up the next photographer goes in, this is the signal for the waiting photographer to replace the working photographer who then leaves, and so on until every one has had his or her turn. Interestingly, considering Holly was posing for figure work a third of the photographers were ladies.

I have what I conciser two tasteful semi nude figure studies which I would like to post but am waiting for Ian's permission first.

I see what you mean about the collar bone, not sure it bothers me that much.

Patrick

Patrick there is no need to wait for permission. This has already been granted. Graham of Rainham has already posted a few in the past and they were well received. Besides you are a respected member of the forum and can be trusted not to be OTT with such matters

[Patrick]

Re: A couple more from studio evening

Patrick there is no need to wait for permission. This has already been granted. Graham of Rainham has already posted a few in the past and they were well received. Besides you are a respected member of the forum and can be trusted not to be OTT with such matters

OK I will post but with a warning.

Patrick

[Josh Bear]

Re: A couple more from studio evening

Hi

having an afternoon relaxing by reading the forum hence my many messages in the space of a short time. Had to comment on these pictures. Superb. Really inspirational to me as people photography is something I am not very good at.

thank you for posting.

best regards

Josh

[Caz]

Re: A couple more from studio evening

Another pair of excellent images. I love the lighting on the face of the second picture, but can understand what Stephen says about the lighting making her shoulders and collarbone stand out harshly - not a fault of the photographer!

It's been interesting reading about the lighting set up too, something that I haven't tried yet. Really must join a club, but have still to choose a local one. Living in such a remote part of Northamptonshire, wherever I go I'm going to have to travel at least 10 miles for a local one... not a great distance but in the winter it seems so much further!

[Autumn]

Re: A couple more from studio evening

It's all been said Patrick. I think they are superb.

She is a very attractive model and you have captured all the pictures and processed them so well.