self portrait-how'd I do?

[SGToliver]

Trying my hand at self portraits. I have always wanted to do a photo like this but I don't own any fancy lighting equipment. I used a small clamp lamp from ikea and just adjusted it until I found some at least somewhat flattering. Does it look right? Is there anything I could have done differently or better? Every time I tried to light more of my face it didnt look very nice. Any tips for using DYI lighting to get my whole face in this style of portrait?




Camera Nikon D3100
Exposure 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture f/5.0
Focal Length 38 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash No Flash
+lightroom adjustments

[JFSanders]

Pretty good! Now to light the whole face you would need either another light or a reflector (white foam board or corroplast) to reflect the light onto the other side of your face. What you have done here is called hatchet lighting, duh! as it cuts your profile in half. If you would move the light up and forward (toward the camera so that it shines down at you at about 45 degrees and at 45 degrees from the camera center line you would get light on your other side as well. And then put your reflector at about 90 degrees to you on the opposite side of the key light. This is called Rembrandt lighting. See this page link for a diagram and explanation.

Jim

[SGToliver]

thank you, I tried moving the light but didnt think to use a reflector since I was holding the light and my shutter release.