Portrait Lighting

[BShumaker]

Ok, so I made an attempt at lighting. Although with nobody else around, doing a self portrait didn't make it easy on my first attempt. So basically, the set up was one umbrella camera left and one umbrella camera right. It is a pretty small spare bedroom, and I hung a black cloth for the backdrop.

Now it is your time to rip it apart. Are the highlights on the forehead (center and left temple) too much? And does the hair blend to the background to where it needs more backlighting? I had a difficult time with that. And of course anything else you see.

Thanks in advance.



EXIF:
F/8
ISO 800
1/15 Sec

[zona5101]

Your lighting is pretty good. And where is suffers you have self-identified. That's awesome.
You could move your fill light more to the back so it rims/high lights a bit more. that will increase the contrast on the side of the face opposite of the main...but I think that would actually be preferred especially on men.

[BShumaker]

I appreciate the tips Zona, and something I will definitely try next time.

[Ginger Pixie]

This is only my personal opinion - I'm no expert. I'm also female, which may have a bearing on my perspective.

When I look at photographs of men, I enjoy the contours of their faces. The lighting you have used would be very flattering on a female face, I think, but it isn't very... manly? I'll probably get blasted now.

The brightest area of your photograph is the t'shirt and tracksuit top. This is distracting and irrelevant to the photograph - unless you are an athlete or there is some significance in the choice of clothing.

I think you should go for some rim lighting.

I don't want to hijack your thread, (I can delete it) but here is an example of a two light set up experiment I carried out where I moved the 2nd light behind the subject to create rim light and increase contours on the subjects face. I also used the black side of a reflector to suck the light from the left. This is by no means perfect! I just thought it might help to see a visual of the kind of thing I mean.

[ccting]

wow nice lighting... I am still learning lighting, but start with 1 light source..

[BShumaker]

I see what you are saying Ginger, and no need to delete your post. I think most of us on this site probably have the tendency to learn more by sight. Thanks for critique.

thank you ccting. I was playing with 1 and 2 light sources.