How did I light that?
At a shoot, tons of ideas, unique situations, and decisions happen almost subconsciously. When I look back at this shot, there are many subtle things I did to capture it.
The model is Dru Levine (MM#2256048), who is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. We shot this for The Diamond Dozen and Fun Now at the Heat Utra Lounge in Anaheim.
Setup
When I checked out the layout of the club, I loved the look of this wall because it had a reflective quality that made it shimmer. You probably can’t tell, but for this shot the model is standing on a table in front of a booth – you can see the table at the bottom, and the bottom gray portion is the top of the booth. I wanted as much of the cool background a possible, so I had Dru stand on the table.
I also moved the table out from the wall about 10 feet or so, to make sure the shimmer from the wall wasn’t too bright and overpowering. Shots involving anything shiny are always tricky. This also gave me enough room to place my rim lights in front of the booth but behind the model.
Main light placement
For the main light, I used a 48-inch octobox with a grid from Paul C Buff, lit with an Einstein strobe. The light sat on a C Stand about 2 to 3 feet off center to camera left. I raised the light until the center was right about where her face was. You can see this by looking at the catchlight in her eye, which is in the upper center part of her eye. You can also see the shadow cast from the main light on the wall at the model’s left.
Rim lights placement
I set up two strip boxes with grids on both sides of the model and behind her. This is what creates the highlight on her body and also a touch in her hair. It also helps separate her from the background a little more.
Camera placement
I took this shot with my Canon 5D mkII, with a 135mm f2 at 1/200 f8.0 ISO 250. I was pretty close to the ground either sitting or even laying down. So camera height is right around, or below, her feet. Being so far back it is not too noticeable, but by shooting low (instead of high at head level), the model appears taller (the platforms also help tremendously).
All these elements come together to create an image greater than the sum of its parts.
February 04, 2012 at 5:27 am, Mister said:
Well, this is interesting… I just joined, so still awaiting the process…. First, hats off to ya Reuben for taking the time and effort to help those with less knowledge. Personally, I like the photo! After reading some of the comments, I’m questioning myself for joining a site with so many DIVAS! I went to one of the Diva’s sites who had such harsh criticism, totally Unimpressive. In fact on a few of the shots, I would have hit the “Delete” key. Was not impressed with the lighting or composition. But, then we do still call photography an ART… Correct? There is no right or wrong. If a photograph moves the soul or creates a feeling or is simply a pleasure to look at, who am I (or YOU) to criticize? Every artist holds the brush a little differently…….
Thanks for the article Reuben.
December 12, 2011 at 12:49 am, gary said:
hey
great shot do you use any filter on those lights cause skin tones look really warm. if not what is your process for creating your skin tones
gary
December 06, 2011 at 7:11 am, Cesar Alvarez said:
Reuben, you keep doing what your doing. I really like your ideas and your images. I guess we can all improve on our exposure techniques a bit. Take it from me I’ve been in this business for twenty five years professionaly and I can only encourage you to push forward. It’s nice to see a youngman like yourself out there trying to teach others. At least your out there trying not like those others who sit back and just critize.
November 28, 2011 at 5:56 pm, NeoModa said:
I can’t believe all of these people that are sh$@tting on this article. Enough with the “holier than thou attitude” that’s so prevalent in the photography world. Reuben is putting it out there to share his knowledge, so kudos to him. Some of you backseat drivers should try to do the same, rather than put him down.
November 27, 2011 at 3:42 am, bill green said:
The girl is “HOT”
November 27, 2011 at 3:41 am, bill green said:
Man just give in. Reuben is sharing his work, Markman where is your work that you can share with us. Is there a link you can give us to see your work?
November 23, 2011 at 11:07 pm, bill said:
Easy boys, he is talking how the photo was lit. Not the smile, etc, etc….
It is about the lighting!
November 15, 2011 at 12:31 am, SimpsonShoots.com said:
Thanks for sharing this Reuben 🙂
November 14, 2011 at 2:54 pm, Jessica Tolentino said:
Reuben, I think you did a great job despite all of the negative feedback from some of these MMayhemers. i think the model is gorgeous and the background couldn’t have been anymore perfect. PLEASE keep up the good work !
November 14, 2011 at 3:48 am, Rob said:
I really like the way it turned out, good idea with lighting and camera placements!
November 13, 2011 at 1:46 pm, image by klarc said:
Reuben, I appreciate your contribution very much. I find it almost amusing the cattiness of some of our “colleagues”. I only hope that you can find it amusing as well, or I fear you may be discouraged from future contributions. Which would be a shame, since the edu section of MM is much needed and highly valuable – but completely dependent on good people’s willingness to give of themselves.
Keep up the good work and know that it is appreciated. As for your position on shooting nude, I recommend you try it… not only is it liberating but you’ll find that it makes the model more comfortable… no one likes to be the only naked person in the room (-;
November 14, 2011 at 3:50 am, reuben dixon said:
LOL! Well played.
November 13, 2011 at 9:09 am, Mark said:
Nice informative article, love the lighting diagram.
November 13, 2011 at 9:09 am, Anonymous said:
Reuben, thank you for taking the time out of your time to write this article and to share.
November 13, 2011 at 1:55 am, Cetre said:
Well I think that all of you have been quite beneficial! First Reuben for his post, and then the critics whom have all expressed what is wrong etc… This way we can see the photo which some may think is great, then see what some of the seasoned guys have to say to see how it can be made better.
Thanks guys!
November 12, 2011 at 10:45 pm, VBC said:
Thanks for taking the time to share.
November 12, 2011 at 1:14 pm, Kate said:
Hi Reuben. Thanks for sharing your article and diagram. Your model is very beautiful and it’s a lovely picture. It’s helpful, especially for people like me who are less experienced. Tough to shoot shimmery.. I don’t think I could have pulled it off the way you have. I’d love for you to look at my work and offer some tips, even if brief. I’ll send you a message. Love Kate in Japan.
November 12, 2011 at 1:07 pm, Kate said:
Hi Reuben. Thanks for sharing your article and diagram. Your model is very beautiful and it’s a lovely picture. It’s helpful, especially for people like me who are less experienced. Tough to shoot shimmery.. I don’t think I could have pulled it off the way you have. I’d love for you to look at my work and offer some tips, even if brief. I’ll send you a message. Love Kate in Japan.
November 12, 2011 at 5:07 am, Jules said:
Yeah, I do agree with a few things posted about improvements you could make, and like all dedicated photographers, I’m sure you want every image to be better than the last. I object to the tone of some of these posts, which are not constructive.
Cheers for posting, Reuben and good luck for your future shoots.
November 12, 2011 at 4:45 am, J P said:
Amazing how your lighting set up managed to produce subtle shadows. Very artistic.
November 12, 2011 at 12:21 am, Private said:
The way I see it is don’t talk crap unless you are willing to write a better article. This guy is taking his time to share some info. If you don’t like it move on and don’t read it. Does Model Mayhem’s “NO Unsolicited Critiques Rule” apply here if not it should.
I don’t see where he asked for your critiques or opinions. He only shared his own knowledge. It’s not a bad image compared to many I have seen on Model Mayhem so many people could learn from it. If you’re beyond it and shoot better keep it to yourself. You sound like petty A$$holes that are not getting laid enough and get no recognition in life because most accomplished people don’t have the time or desire to go attack others for sharing.
You @$$es would prevent many people from even want to share knowledge or write articles.
Bottom like if you not going to write a better article STFU!
November 12, 2011 at 1:56 am, Markman said:
The irony of your post is that not only is it obnoxious but that you signed it “Private.”
Given that people can post here anonymously, clearly the MM “unsolicited critique” rule can not apply.
But, be thankful that the “personal attacks” rule doesn’t apply to your anonymous ass either.
November 13, 2011 at 3:17 am, me said:
Stop trolling.
November 14, 2011 at 3:52 am, reuben dixon said:
*super high five* for that post. Thanks! I really appreciate people sticking up for me 🙂
November 11, 2011 at 6:16 pm, a fan said:
Reuben,
Stick with it and I’m glad you’ve been willing to share your experiences. Photography is an art as as an art there are many ways to get there. Sharing your way helps to educate others on one way of getting to the final shot. It is helpful and I for one really appreciate that you take the time.
Don’t let the grumpy people get you down.
November 11, 2011 at 2:16 pm, 14robinhoods said:
hey reuben , your work is exceptional .If an aspiring photographer can have the ability to absorb all the finite details that are projected to him/her visually , then they are one step closer to perfection which never can attained..isn’t that the goal of all of us, photographer/model.We are a team with a common goal ..For all of you on the other side of the fence ,is success beyond your grasp.? Has anyone seen my pandora’s box ?
November 11, 2011 at 12:12 pm, Anonymous said:
I like the image,use of the grids to put some highlights on her works well,but maybe using a fill as well,on camera right would have even out the light on the background,so it is not so dark on one side.
November 11, 2011 at 4:05 am, Ravholly said:
Nice Image.
November 11, 2011 at 3:51 am, Gumbosnow said:
Thank you for sharing your technique. You are appreciated by more people than you might think. Not sure why those few feel the need to bash your efforts. Online communication can harbor an unpleasant few who apparently do not feel confident enough with themselves to let others grow and share.
November 11, 2011 at 7:13 am, reuben dixon said:
Thank you very much for that reply! That means a lot to me.
November 11, 2011 at 2:31 am, Greg Cobb said:
If nothing else you’re showing off your work. The technique is rather basic.
November 11, 2011 at 1:09 am, Mark Jaffe said:
To me it’s a great shot and the finer details can be thought through – or even worked towards – by anyone using the principles outlined.
I love the way the silhouette has been maximised and all the great details accented with a full tonal range. You’ve made the most of a great-looking model and an interesting but tricky location as far as I can tell; and she looks like she’s enjoying it well enough. It’s a great professional job and a good explanation!
November 11, 2011 at 7:13 am, reuben dixon said:
Thanks for the comment, Mark!
November 10, 2011 at 9:47 pm, Thomeng55 said:
This was very good… thanks
November 10, 2011 at 9:39 pm, Justin Bonaparte said:
Nice shot, good job!
November 10, 2011 at 9:21 pm, Absentographer said:
I don’t find this all that useful. I’m not particularly impressed by the image or its lighting. I also don’t think that the author gives enough information about his light settings/power or about the ambient light in the club.
There was a thread for a long time on modelmayhem which contained many of these light set-up diagrams. That thread, with its 100 different lighting set-ups was 100 times more useful than this educational article.
In the world of good news: if I ever want to shoot a mediocre shot of a model standing on a table at Heat Ultra Lounge in Anaheim, this article is an awesome head start.
Is this edu article supposed to be more useful than the lighting thread in the photography forum on mm?
November 10, 2011 at 11:07 pm, John Labmo said:
I agree. I suggest categorizing articles at different levels from beginner to expert. This article is clearly gear towards beginners.
November 11, 2011 at 12:36 am, Me said:
Showing your lighting setup is nice. It would be more helpful if you actually shared your settings though…
November 11, 2011 at 12:39 am, Me said:
And that should have been in reply to the OP. My bad.
November 11, 2011 at 7:16 am, reuben dixon said:
Thanks for the constructive criticism. Most of the time I am shooting for the photo and not to write articles. So I always forget what settings I used or even to take a setup shot!! If I can’t remember my settings, would it be helpful for me to write a post about the method to how I adjust the settings for my lights? Like I meter the main light for this and then I meter the other lights for that?
November 11, 2011 at 4:43 pm, Markman said:
Reuben, if you’re shooting to shoot and not to post an article, why write the article?
When a film critic goes to the movies, he does so conscious that he will be publishing a review of the film. He pays attention to, and records, the details that will be relevant in his review.
What you seem to be telling us is that you did this shoot and then –after the fact– thought it would be cool to publish an article that would draw attention to the photo.
Leaving aside the criticism above (re: the far more useful lighting thread in the MM Fora) it seems to me that you should not be publishing articles about how you shot a photo if you didn’t even take the time to properly document how you took the photo.
November 13, 2011 at 9:06 am, Anonymous said:
@Markman: This is the second article I’ve read tonight where your comments, as would say in your profession, “go to character”
Your comments appear to imply you could write a better article. Would you care to supply us with URL’s for articles you’ve written for Model Mayhem? If don’t have any, would you be so kind as to write an article for us, showing your ‘expertise’.
It is usually people who have an issue with their own self-esteem that feel the need to tear down others.
December 07, 2011 at 3:33 am, Matt said:
@Markman, did you read your comments before posting? Have you read Joe McNally’s Hot Shoe Diaries? Do you seriously think that all of the photos and lighting setups in that book, were done just for the book? “If you’re shooting to shoot, and not post an article, why post an article?” What kind of crap is that? I’m sure some of the photos in McNally’s book were set up for the book, but most weren’t. By your logic, he shouldn’t have wrote the book, since all of the photos weren’t specifically done for the book? Think about that, and stop posting crap!
November 13, 2011 at 3:54 am, Me said:
Yes, a simple 1/2 stop, 1 stop etc between the lighting. No need for exact f-stop numbers. So if your rim lights were 1 stop above your main light that would be more helpful.
November 11, 2011 at 2:36 am, Carlos said:
Ambient light in the club makes no difference as the strobes most likely overpowered it.
November 11, 2011 at 2:41 am, Carlos said:
Also, instead of finding fault with someone e;se;s effort, why not post your own “better” article? At least he put the thought and efort into sharing some fo his knowledge and experience with the rest of us.
November 11, 2011 at 7:24 am, reuben dixon said:
Thanks for sticking up for me 🙂
November 11, 2011 at 2:17 pm, semi234 said:
Its called “constructive criticism”.
If one is going to tout themselves as the acknowledge expert, they have to learn to gracefully accept it. Not just looking for pats on the back that reinforces their own ego.
November 11, 2011 at 7:15 pm, Adam Sternberg said:
I’m actually in agreement over this. The author of the article is using an image I would hardly be proud of and it’s obvious by his numerous article submissions he’s doing this for either his ego or just to promote his business rather than actually provide useful tips or content for Model Mayhem. While it’s easy to nit pick others’ work, the image he chose is hardly what I would call worthy of using as an example of great lighting techniques. Before I even get into the specifics of the technical elements, I find that the model isn’t really all that great. Her “smile” is really bad and she isn’t exactly inspiring in her facial expression at all. She looks really tight and uncomfortable in this pose.
As far as the photo itself goes, the photographer didn’t align himself properly in the center of the shot and you can tell this as, when the image was probably rotated in post, the dots on the wall behind the model are perfectly vertical on the left side of the image but are not on the right side of the image. This suggests that the photographer was not centered with the model when he shot this and you can then tell that the model is not in the center of the image…she’s a bit far to the left, so in my opinion this was a not-so-great photo and not-so-great retouching job.
As far as the lighting, I’m not all that crazy about it. You have a dark patch on the upper right corner of the image and a BIG dark patch on the lower right. To me, that’s a sign of extremely BAD lighting, not a sign of professional lighting. Anyone can setup three lights and take a picture, it takes a professional eye and experience to light a subject consistently and evenly and this image shows neither. There is always a case to be made for using directed light to create a shadow of a subject but here, it just looks unprofessional and was probably not lit to create this effect, rather it is an unwanted side effect of poor lighting.
November 14, 2011 at 2:16 pm, Todd said:
Your critique can be approached in a more positive way. I happen to like the photo, yet I agree with some of your comments. Instead of attacking, the approach should be more: You can improve your lighting by … And the model needs to have a sexier look or a smile (her confused face was the first thing I noticed). My point is – someone shared a potentially nice photo. An experienced and secure professional will look to encourage and mentor rather than attack.
December 07, 2011 at 1:33 am, Dennis said:
Adam, you obviously have a hard-on for this guy. You can say nothing nice, so I think you should take some pictures and post them along with an article on how you did it, you seem an expert at least with you mouth. come on show us how to do it right from Las Vegas.
December 07, 2011 at 1:35 am, Dennis said:
I should have mentioned Adam that I check out your expert work and believe it need more work before you can actually become a critic, put your pictures where you mouth is!
December 07, 2011 at 3:20 am, Matt said:
Adam, who did the photo of you on your website? The lighting is flat, maybe from a pop up flash? There is a nasty shadow on your chest from your pointing arm? Was this shot taken by one of your children, or maybe a random homeless man that you trusted with your Kodak Easyshare camera?
November 11, 2011 at 3:38 pm, Rolfe said:
Absentographer: Reuben’s article is, in fact, educational. Maybe not to you but there are plenty of others that will learn from his set up. If you didn’t find it particularly helpful then just move on with your day. Or, man up and post an article of your own.
November 12, 2011 at 5:34 pm, Lvproimaging said:
Maybe you could provide a link to the lighting thread?
November 10, 2011 at 7:51 pm, Andre Belmont said:
Very nice! Her lower legs could use a little more light though…
November 11, 2011 at 7:19 am, reuben dixon said:
Thanks for the nice words! Nice catch on that detail.
For better or worse, I used all the lights to lead the viewer up to the model’s face. You can see a slight falloff in light for her lower body both from the main light and the rim lights. This was done on purpose.
So you think it would have looked more aesthetically pleasing to keep the light on her full body more even?
November 12, 2011 at 7:02 pm, Tim Hunter Photography said:
The eye goes to the brightest part of aphoto — so keeping the focus on the face is better. Evenly lit means everything is equally important. Good stuff!
November 10, 2011 at 7:18 pm, Kenneth Aston Jr said:
Great background, awesome lighting, great separation, nice pose and stunning model! Great job Reuben.
November 11, 2011 at 7:19 am, reuben dixon said:
Thanks!!
November 10, 2011 at 7:11 pm, Leungevityphotography said:
good article, thanks for the info, are the strobes all set at equal power?
November 11, 2011 at 7:22 am, reuben dixon said:
Honestly, I don’t know. I metered the main light so I could shoot around f8. Then I set up the rim lights to be a little brighter. Hope that helps?
November 11, 2011 at 3:15 pm, Zoe said:
Thank you so much Reuben for this useful information!!! I will try it one day as I think it’s awesome!! Great shot!! What rim lights did you purchase?
December 11, 2011 at 9:23 pm, gary said:
hey
great shot do you use any filter on those lights cause skin tones look really warm. if not what is your process for creating your skin tones
November 11, 2011 at 3:18 pm, Will white said:
I cannot believe all the negative criticism people have left you for simply sharing your passion. We can all do things better and notice where we’ve gone slightly wrong. Keep at it Reuben.
I would say that looking at your image the side lights would be probably twice the power of the front/main light. Regards, Will
November 11, 2011 at 3:26 pm, Leungevityphotography said:
thanks for the reply 🙂
November 10, 2011 at 6:58 pm, Anonymous said:
Another good article. I’m no wizard at lighting, so these kinds of subjects are helpful.
November 11, 2011 at 7:22 am, reuben dixon said:
Great, that’s awesome to hear! What other things would be helpful to you?
November 10, 2011 at 6:47 pm, Sanjayb said:
This is what I expected more from MM edu. info in the forum but in a manageable format. I would suggest the writer change title to something more specific than “how did I light this” however.
November 11, 2011 at 7:23 am, reuben dixon said:
LOL, I had no clue what to name it…… any suggestions?