People portrait with gelled snoot

enoeske · 06-01-2018, 09:11 AM

had a shoot for some clients and setup a quick studio in my garage. I thought the background was missing something when it was totally dark so I threw on a CTO gel and snoot hit the background with it. How does everything look? Any points for improvement all around?

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mcgregni · 06-01-2018, 11:17 AM

I really like the effect of the gelled snooted light on the background. It brings some life and interest to the surrounds of the subject and softens the sharp edge around him and the blackness behind.

Regarding the face, it's a very extreme switch from the lit side to the unlit side, emphasised by the half split down the nose. My preference would be for some spill from the main light to reach his right eye and bring that out.... I'm not keen on a "black eye". A change in body angle and face direction towards the main light might achieve this.

Also I feel a little fill on the off side world be nice. I appreciate that this may change the tone and not be your intention but both spproaches are worth a shot or 10!

**clackers** · 06-01-2018, 12:29 PM

Well done, Enoeske, split lighting is a standard setup, and works well IMHO for men and for women with strong personalities.

The gel does give the pic a lift - a white background doesn't have that warm mood.

My only suggestion is that with your subject's mouth closed, he should tilt his head back a bit and look down on you slightly, so the feel is confident rather than defensive.

enoeske · 06-01-2018, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by mcgregni

Regarding the face, it's a very extreme switch from the lit side to the unlit side, emphasised by the half split down the nose. My preference would be for some spill from the main light to reach his right eye and bring that out.... I'm not keen on a "black eye". A change in body angle and face direction towards the main light might achieve this.

Thanks. I would have preferred some fill on that side as well, or a rim light. The extreme side lit was the clients request. He wanted a really contrasty black and white with half the face lit and the other side nearly black.

Originally posted by clackers

Well done, Enoeske, split lighting is a standard setup, and works well IMHO for men and for women with strong personalities.

The gel does give the pic a lift - a white background doesn't have that warm mood.

My only suggestion is that with your subject's mouth closed, he should tilt his head back a bit and look down on you slightly, so the feel is confident rather than defensive.

I have that shot as well. Honestly, I have about 10 shots from the shoot that are great and couldn't choose which to post. Client wanted b&w but they look great in color too.

mcgregni · 06-02-2018, 03:25 AM

If you could post any of the alternatives I’d be grateful ..... useful for those of us looking to understand the effects of light placement better and trying to improve our portraits.
I’m glad the subject was pleased with it and you were able to give that look, that’s the main achievement. Myself, I just find a front on face like this with only one eye lit rather odd .....

**clackers** · 06-02-2018, 03:59 AM

Originally posted by mcgregni

Myself, I just find a front on face like this with only one eye lit rather odd .....

Just google 'Split lighting', Nigel, and have a look at the images the search returns.

Also look at the iconic cover of 'With the Beatles'. It's dramatic, very cool.

One eye front on is a standard shot with the model's hair falling across the other ... it makes for intrigue.

If a client asks for this look and feel, we have to have done it many times beforehand like any other style.

And if as amateurs we get the best out of ourselves and our hobby by learning the routines the pros do, this is one of them.

enoeske · 06-02-2018, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by mcgregni

If you could post any of the alternatives I’d be grateful ..... useful for those of us looking to understand the effects of light placement better and trying to improve our portraits.
I’m glad the subject was pleased with it and you were able to give that look, that’s the main achievement. Myself, I just find a front on face like this with only one eye lit rather odd .....

Here is 2 more. One with another client (same shoot) with the light more above, and another more as the client requested with no backlight.

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06-01-2018, 12:29 PM	#3
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Well done, Enoeske, split lighting is a standard setup, and works well IMHO for men and for women with strong personalities. The gel does give the pic a lift - a white background doesn't have that warm mood. My only suggestion is that with your subject's mouth closed, he should tilt his head back a bit and look down on you slightly, so the feel is confident rather than defensive. Last edited by clackers; 06-01-2018 at 12:34 PM.

06-02-2018, 03:59 AM	#6
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by mcgregni Myself, I just find a front on face like this with only one eye lit rather odd ..... Just google 'Split lighting', Nigel, and have a look at the images the search returns. Also look at the iconic cover of 'With the Beatles'. It's dramatic, very cool. One eye front on is a standard shot with the model's hair falling across the other ... it makes for intrigue. If a client asks for this look and feel, we have to have done it many times beforehand like any other style. And if as amateurs we get the best out of ourselves and our hobby by learning the routines the pros do, this is one of them. Last edited by clackers; 06-02-2018 at 04:04 AM.

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06-01-2018, 11:17 AM	#2
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	I really like the effect of the gelled snooted light on the background. It brings some life and interest to the surrounds of the subject and softens the sharp edge around him and the blackness behind. Regarding the face, it's a very extreme switch from the lit side to the unlit side, emphasised by the half split down the nose. My preference would be for some spill from the main light to reach his right eye and bring that out.... I'm not keen on a "black eye". A change in body angle and face direction towards the main light might achieve this. Also I feel a little fill on the off side world be nice. I appreciate that this may change the tone and not be your intention but both spproaches are worth a shot or 10!

06-01-2018, 04:14 PM	#4
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136 Original Poster	Originally posted by mcgregni Regarding the face, it's a very extreme switch from the lit side to the unlit side, emphasised by the half split down the nose. My preference would be for some spill from the main light to reach his right eye and bring that out.... I'm not keen on a "black eye". A change in body angle and face direction towards the main light might achieve this. Thanks. I would have preferred some fill on that side as well, or a rim light. The extreme side lit was the clients request. He wanted a really contrasty black and white with half the face lit and the other side nearly black. Originally posted by clackers Well done, Enoeske, split lighting is a standard setup, and works well IMHO for men and for women with strong personalities. The gel does give the pic a lift - a white background doesn't have that warm mood. My only suggestion is that with your subject's mouth closed, he should tilt his head back a bit and look down on you slightly, so the feel is confident rather than defensive. I have that shot as well. Honestly, I have about 10 shots from the shoot that are great and couldn't choose which to post. Client wanted b&w but they look great in color too.

06-02-2018, 03:25 AM	#5
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	If you could post any of the alternatives I’d be grateful ..... useful for those of us looking to understand the effects of light placement better and trying to improve our portraits. I’m glad the subject was pleased with it and you were able to give that look, that’s the main achievement. Myself, I just find a front on face like this with only one eye lit rather odd .....