New lighting set up

[Mark Engelhart]

I have been playing around with the placement of my studio lights and ended up with this set up. Any suggestions on improving the lighing to make image more realistic or appealing?
Key light= angled camera right@30deg above F11
Fill light= next to camera just above face level F8
Hairlight= Directly behind and above F9
Snoot@ f8 aimed at backdrop.



I look forward to any suggestions for improvement. Thanks

[commongrackle]

There is a shadow on the face on the left hand side of the photo.

[Mark Engelhart]

I can eliminate all shadows on the face if I shoot the image real flat, but I am trying to step up my game. Which "shadow" are you referring to and what can be done to improve it. Thanks,

[dannyrich]

I think they refer to camera left, I understand where you are coming from but thik if the light is increased it will lose the darker shadows.

As you would usually have the closest eye primarily in focus it seems strange that in this instance you would have it in shadow. Perhaps swap the left and right lights, ot key light camera left and reflector camera right. Though that way you lose the hair light.

[Mark Engelhart]

Originally Posted by dannyrich

I think they refer to camera left, I understand where you are coming from but thik if the light is increased it will lose the darker shadows.

As you would usually have the closest eye primarily in focus it seems strange that in this instance you would have it in shadow. Perhaps swap the left and right lights, ot key light camera left and reflector camera right. Though that way you lose the hair light.

So up the fill to F9 will increase light on fill side. The other exercise I was working on was "round face=short lighting"

Thanks, I'll play around with your idea of changing key and fill.

[zona5101]

I think your lighting is outstanding. You got a nice 3 dimentinal shadowing going on, hairlight/rimlight is giving nice separation. your background light is subtle but effective. The lighting hight looks good as well, catchlights are well placed. Double catchlights are a personal preference thing. As of late I've been editing out the catchlight from the fill light.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by Mark Engelhart

So up the fill to F9 will increase light on fill side. The other exercise I was working on was "round face=short lighting"

Thanks, I'll play around with your idea of changing key and fill.

It's definitely a more dramatic look, but I agree that you need to step up the fill. I don't mind the side fo the head being so moody, but with the nose shadow being pretty stark, it feels like it's a little too much.

[Mark Engelhart]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

It's definitely a more dramatic look, but I agree that you need to step up the fill. I don't mind the side fo the head being so moody, but with the nose shadow being pretty stark, it feels like it's a little too much.

Good input. I see what you are referring to. Thanks

[Mark Engelhart]

Originally Posted by zona5101

I think your lighting is outstanding. You got a nice 3 dimentinal shadowing going on, hairlight/rimlight is giving nice separation. your background light is subtle but effective. The lighting hight looks good as well, catchlights are well placed. Double catchlights are a personal preference thing. As of late I've been editing out the catchlight from the fill light.

Thanks for the input. As far as catch lights I'm not sure why I didn't edit down to one light. These were for practice and not for real. I prefer the fill light for the catch. I need a larger softbox so I can produce a larger catchlight.