Frightning!

[Revald]

Where:
Taken at a meeting with a lot of other photographers fanatic about using strobes (Copenhagen Strobists). We had quite a few models and a makeup artist. Of course this helps a great deal in taking shots like these.

Settings:
Camera was on full manual at 1/250sec f/2.8, ISO 100. Lens at 50mm (taken with a Canon 24-70L 2.8 lens). Furthermore several radio triggered flashes were involved. Two on each side behind the model, set manually at 1/8, and 1 flash at 1/16 behind a white shoot through umbrella directly below the models body, pointing up.

Why:
The model Casper Mohr was really easy to work with. He knew that his crazy hair went along great with an aggressive attitude so we shot mostly with that and similar facial expressions. We tried different lighting angles, but this one I knew with make him look more sinister (light from below always does that too you - think of how you might have scared your younger brother or sister holding a flash light below your chin ). The reason for the lights behind the model was to separate him from the background, which was purposely left a bit dark.

PP work:
I added some port crop vignetting in Lightroom as well as upped the exposure, contrast, and clarity a bit, while I tuned down the vibrance and general saturation a little. I furthermore desaturated the red, orange, yellow, purple and magenta colors a bit more, leaving the blue more dominant (for that ghostly color cast).

Did I pull if off?:
I think so. As said before it's easy if you have a good model and a stylist to work with in the first place. I think however that I managed to enhance the aggressive attitude and scary look by careful lighting composition and selective post processing work.

Anything I feel I could have done better:
I regret shooting this as 2.8, because there were no real reason for it (except for blurring the background of course). Had I shot it at perhaps 5.6, his hands would also have been in focus. However this is only a minor glitch as it doesn't ruin the picture and the feeling altogether. Others could argue that it looks better blurred as it seems he's leaning forward growling at you.

Feel free to comment if you want. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[Trader]

I think for a shot like this an f/2.8 is the appropriate setting. Having the hands crisp and in focus would take away from that depth that is added by the narrow depth of field. I think you did a real good job with it and there isn't anything I would want different. Kudos!

[iamronaldo]

I agree with Trader - my eyes were drawn to the focused-ness of the model's face, and I think having his hands also in focus would have detracted from this.

Great shot!