Assignment 5:  One Strobe Light Source

Portrait 1:  Using one strobe, light a person against a white background so that their face has a highlight and a shadow side.  The background should appear darker on the highlight side and lighter on the shadow side.

Using a small soft box (ProPhoto Acute 2 2400 strobe) to the side of the subject and feathered on vertical axis to create gradient shadow effect on white backdrop.  Subject close to camera and approx 6-8 ft from backdrop.

Portrait 2:  Using one strobe, light a person against a white background so that their face is evenly lit and the background is black.

Using a small soft box (ProPhoto Acute 2 2400 strobe) directly above the camera straight on to subject and feathered on horizontal axis to ensure no spill onto white backdrop rendering it black.  Soft box almost parallel to the floor.  Subject close to camera and approx 20ft from backdrop.

Assignment 4:  Three Light Sources 

Portrait 1:

Portrait using classic Rembrandt lights (key at 45 to side, 45 up).  All regular tungsten light bulbs --  key light (150w), fill (75w) and backlight (spotlight bulb or 75w).  Images color-corrected for white balance in post.

Portrait 2:

Portrait using 3 light formula.  Same lights as above, but used differently.  Idea was to build on Portrait B from Assignment 3 (one light source at 180° to subject illuminating only half the face).  By using a fill light and a hair light I had intended to open up the shadow side of the face to reveal a little detail and to separate the back of the head from the background).   The resulting image below give strange hair highlights and red ears.

I moved the hair light from directly behind Jean's head to the side to create the lighting effect below, which solved the problem above.  The compromise was that I did not end up with the split of light and dark down the middle of the face and ended up with a more asymmetrical lighting effect than I had intended.