Photography Lighting Technique: Rembrant Lighting

[Leonid3s]

LOVE the shot at 2:05. Great work!

[dmeskouris]

Thanks for the tips, I shoot all of our COMEDY SKETCHES on a Cannon 7D. Any tips you can give me on that?

[MacandPc703]

This model is HOT!

[MrJubblegum]

Is there a rule on how far the flash has to be?

[Dombowerphoto]

@MrJubblegum no rule, it can be as far away as the sun or as close as you like

[Demonods]

But what do you recommend shooting with umbrella or softbox? thanks

[Dombowerphoto]

@Demonods umbrellas are a lot cheaper, lighter, and easier to set up. but softboxes are good also but I wouldnt be taking one out on location with me every time. umbrellas are all i have ever invested in sofar, the catch light from an umbrella is more attractive as well

[Demonods]

@Dombowerphoto Thanks Dom Cheers.

[Demonods]

Excellent Dom thanks for the tips :)

[martenfisher1]

That is one cute model. You should hold on to that one.

[xboxcrazee]

Hey Dom. You been working out ??

[madterrapin]

Hey Dom, do you have any suggestions on flattering lighting for ladies of the more... advanced years? Young women look great and the elderly look fantastic especially when its taken in black and white as it draws out their character, but I find it difficult with women in their 40's/50's who are developing more wrinkles/lines/bags under eyes (and find it hard to accept it). What would you suggest would be the best way of lighting these subjects to knock a few years off them? Could you do a video?

[Dombowerphoto]

@madterrapin totally understand. I think wrinkles look great to really show the age and wisdom but understand that people dont want that.

my advise is to slightly over expose, you loose texture when you over expose and that will take out some pores/wrinkles and make the light soft, no harsh lighting that will create shadows

[madterrapin]

@Dombowerphoto Cheers Dom, I know I could smooth it out a little in Lightroom but would rather get it right in camera as much as possible. Will give that a try - keep up the good work.

[wangstafro]

@madterrapin i actually read in joe mcnally's book about this exact thing! just put a flash above them and below them with soft light and it will decrease the shadows making it more flattering! hope this helps!

[madterrapin]

@wangstafro Thanks, it certainly does. I've been doing the Kelby Training course online (£16 per month) and am working through his videos - after all the tips I've got from 'Mr Dom' and the 'Fro' I'm able to understand them really easily.

[zrsgamboa]

@madterrapin I would suggest the "over-under" lighting. Using 2 shoot-through umbrellas, or better yet, 2 soft boxes. I hope this helps.

[vixyfairy1988]

Hi Dom i was wandering if you could help me, i have just applied for a photography course at Aberdeen College and im in the middle of trying to put together a small portfolio just incase they ask for one at my interview, The only problem is i dont have any lighting apart from the pop flash, i also cant really afford any lighting at the moment , is there anyway i could do portraiture photos with normal everday lighting?? btw your videos are helping me so much =] x

[TheNeonWorm]

@vixyfairy1988 Try using natural lighting? as you said, normal everyday lighting..

You COULD use tungsten lights (household lamps etc) with a sheet of white A4 paper over it (depending on thickness) or a sheet/shirt or anything which may act as a white diffuser.

You could then put your camera in tungsten or manual white balance mode, and see what results you get..

Remember the background is also important, and also to shoot in RAW for editing later on, if it didn't quite work the way you wanted.

[vixyfairy1988]

@TheNeonWorm Thanks for commenting me back yeh i should have worded it differently i was meaning lamps and tungsten light etc i would do natural lighting but the weather in scotland is quite unpredictable lol, i was going to buy a plain white sheet to tape up on the wall for a background for cheapness so fingers crossed all goes to plan :) thanks so much again !!

[Dombowerphoto]

@vixyfairy1988 totally but you will have to be careful with any camera shake and model movement as you may be using slower shutterspeed, also getting some reflectors and scrims (big white sheets to stop harsh direct sunlight) will help

[vixyfairy1988]

@Dombowerphoto Omg thank you for replying no-one never normally replies lol Yeh my other halfs getting me a tripod so that should come in useful, I have the sony A200 and just getting used to it so experimenting alot, Big white sheets could i get these from craft stores? sorry for all the questions just trying to absorb everything that i can, thanks for the vids your helping alot of ppl with them and doing a great job :)

[Dombowerphoto]

@vixyfairy1988 could get them from craft stores or you could just use your bed sheets,

[magix93]

put a reflector in on the right for bit of fill, and one below her face for nice reflection in her eyes...