Studio setup - 6th November 2015

Portraits - Silhouettes

For this session in the studio we looked at different sorts of portraiture and decided we wanted to try something different. We chose silhouettes. There were only two of us in so it was more awkward as normal as one would normally take notes as the others were photographing and modelling. Unfortunately for this reason I cannot remember the exact setting on the flash lights facing the backdrop. 

Below are a few images I researched before going into the studio to try a couple...

(Image found at http://murrayparkphotography.weebly.com/uploads/2/3/7/9/23798812/5598606_orig.jpg on 16.12.2015)

I like this image as it still shows a little detail instead of the model being completely dark. I think there would have been two lights on the backdrop and maybe one more modelling light facing the model from the left side of the photographer. A fast shutter speed will have been used to capture the hair in mid air like it has as there is only a small amount of movement blur. 

(Image found at http://www.hdwallpapersimages.com/women-silhouette-portrait-images/93901/ on 16.12.2015)

This image interests me as again it shows a little detail of the models face and around the shoulders. I think again there would have been two flash lights set up behind towards the backdrop and then one more behind facing the model but from above the left shoulder. 

(Image found at http://calgainesphotography.com/wp-content/gallery/portraiture/Portraiture-black-and-white-photography-silhouette.jpg on 16.12.2015)

The final image I chose was this one. I like this one as there is very very little light on the model from the photographers side. The backdrop will have been lit with two flash lights again but there wasn't a modelling light on the subject like in the previous two images. I like this style of image as you try to look into it in more depth when no matter how hard you try you cannot see any detail on the models face other than her profile. 

This is a drawing of the set up in the studio...

And these are the images I took of my model...

None of these images have been edited just to show how decent the images are when the lighting set up and camera set up is good. A light meter was used to set up the flash lights facing the backdrop and camera. 

After that we set up with a modelling light to add some detailing to the models face. Here is a drawing of where the light was added to...

And here are the results that followed...

I am really impressed with these images too. The light was above the model looking down at her face. We tried different brightnesses but my favourite one has got to be the final image. I think it gives just enough light to show detail and soft as well as a few harsher shadows which I always feel adds depth to an image. 

Below are the images I decided to edit...