Forums > Photography Talk > Let me guess your lighting!

Photographer

Corey Ward

Posts: 2479

Austin, Texas, US

Okay so I learned photography by examining photos looking at the lighting, posing, composition, etc. I'd like to think that I've become pretty good at figuring out how a particular shot was lit, but then the other day I was completely freakin' off. Apparently I need some more practice!

Post a shot that you're willing to reveal the setup of for me to guess at!


Edit: This is primarily for studio-type shots. You can post shots from outside and stuff too, but if you took a photo of your co-worker in your office and it was lit by 4 rows of florescent lighting don't post it....thanks!

Jan 13 08 02:28 pm Link

Photographer

Night Light Images

Posts: 933

Tulsa, Oklahoma, US

My avatar, which is also in my port.

Jan 13 08 02:34 pm Link

Photographer

mrbeagle

Posts: 803

Mission Viejo, California, US

I have the setup picture to show after you guess

https://plushimages.net/clients/molly3/images/purse.jpg

Jan 13 08 02:35 pm Link

Photographer

Jamie-JAYCE-Charles

Posts: 2207

Hollywood, Florida, US

mrbeagle wrote:
I have the setup picture to show after you guess

https://plushimages.net/clients/molly3/images/purse.jpg

i spy a soft box camera high left

Jan 13 08 02:37 pm Link

Photographer

mrbeagle

Posts: 803

Mission Viejo, California, US

jaycephotos wrote:
i spy a soft box camera high left

you spy close but wrong

Jan 13 08 02:38 pm Link

Photographer

Corey Ward

Posts: 2479

Austin, Texas, US

Richard Gorremans wrote:
My avatar, which is also in my port.

Main looks like just a fairly large softbox or umbrella to the left at about a 60º angle and then a large octabox to the right at about a 45º angle acting as a fill. Looks like the falloff was done in PS.

Close?

Jan 13 08 02:38 pm Link

Photographer

Gary Melton

Posts: 6680

Dallas, Texas, US

Jan 13 08 02:40 pm Link

Photographer

Ray Cornett

Posts: 9207

Sacramento, California, US

Pick any nude in my portfolio.

Jan 13 08 02:43 pm Link

Photographer

Corey Ward

Posts: 2479

Austin, Texas, US

mrbeagle wrote:
I have the setup picture to show after you guess

https://plushimages.net/clients/molly3/images/purse.jpg

This one is pretty tough.

Appears that there is something relatively soft (small softbox maybe) coming from the left at about a 110º angle and raised just above the model. Another light coming from above and in front of the model with a beauty dish on it. There is a small fill hitting her legs, I'd guess it's from a reflector bouncing light from the light that is coming from above. EDIT: The fill could also just be coming from whatever she was standing on...white or gray seamless would do it.

That's not including the background...if it's part of the original, it was probably just a reflector dish with a honeycomb.

Ballpark?

Jan 13 08 02:44 pm Link

Photographer

Corey Ward

Posts: 2479

Austin, Texas, US

Through Garys Eyes wrote:
Guess this one:

https://modelmayhem.com/pic.php?pic_id= … id=3497789  18+

Single light with a reflector dish (or possibly a small beauty dish) shot to camera right and diffused through the sheet.

Jan 13 08 02:45 pm Link

Photographer

Jamie-JAYCE-Charles

Posts: 2207

Hollywood, Florida, US

mrbeagle wrote:

you spy close but wrong

lol ok im just learning so i will take another crack at him

Jan 13 08 02:45 pm Link

Photographer

Corey Ward

Posts: 2479

Austin, Texas, US

Primal Lens wrote:
Pick any nude in my portfolio.

That's not how the game works. Besides, most of them are natural light or a single strobe.

Jan 13 08 02:47 pm Link

Photographer

mrbeagle

Posts: 803

Mission Viejo, California, US

Corey Ward wrote:
This one is pretty tough.

Appears that there is something relatively soft (small softbox maybe) coming from the left at about a 110º angle and raised just above the model. Another light coming from above and in front of the model with a beauty dish on it. There is a small fill hitting her legs, I'd guess it's from a reflector bouncing light from the light that is coming from above.

That's not including the background...if it's part of the original, it was probably just a reflector dish with a honeycomb.

Ballpark?

ummmm fucking a dude! lol kudos smile
you got every piece correct, awesome


https://plushimages.net/clients/molly3/images/setup.jpg

Jan 13 08 02:47 pm Link

Photographer

Corey Ward

Posts: 2479

Austin, Texas, US

mrbeagle wrote:
ummmm fucking a dude! lol kudos smile
you got every piece correct, awesome

https://plushimages.net/clients/molly3/images/setup.jpg

Haha good deal! I actually edited my description a bit before I saw this and attributed the fill to either white or grey seamless...lol. I guess I'm not as rusty as I thought! Nice shot, by the way!

Jan 13 08 02:49 pm Link

Photographer

Night Light Images

Posts: 933

Tulsa, Oklahoma, US

Corey Ward wrote:

Main looks like just a fairly large softbox or umbrella to the left at about a 60º angle and then a large octabox to the right at about a 45º angle acting as a fill. Looks like the falloff was done in PS.

Close?

You got two right.  Want to see the lighting diagram?

Jan 13 08 02:51 pm Link

Photographer

ericphotonyc

Posts: 538

Brooklyn, New York, US

Is the garage door open or closed?

Jan 13 08 02:51 pm Link

Photographer

Gary Melton

Posts: 6680

Dallas, Texas, US

Corey Ward wrote:

Single light with a reflector dish (or possibly a small beauty dish) shot to camera right and diffused through the sheet.

Pretty close: single monolight strobe with 24X36 softbox above the model's feet and angled to cover her torso (light diffused through the sheet).  Catch lights added in PS to make it appear that there is a small light coming from the camera position.

Jan 13 08 02:53 pm Link

Photographer

mrbeagle

Posts: 803

Mission Viejo, California, US

ericphotonyc wrote:
Is the garage door open or closed?

mine? closed and blacked out windows

Jan 13 08 02:53 pm Link

Photographer

Chris Macan

Posts: 12966

HAVERTOWN, Pennsylvania, US

How about this one?

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/071028/21/47253e29363d4.jpg

Jan 13 08 02:54 pm Link

Photographer

Hipgnosis Dreams

Posts: 8943

Dallas, Texas, US

What the hell...
https://modelmayhm-1.vo.llnwd.net/d1/photos/071007/14/47092a45a4f79.jpg
...my avatar

I've had a few others guess on this one and it's rarely dead on accurate.

Jan 13 08 02:55 pm Link

Photographer

R Christopher

Posts: 173

Charlotte, North Carolina, US

Corey Ward wrote:

This one is pretty tough.

Appears that there is something relatively soft (small softbox maybe) coming from the left at about a 110º angle and raised just above the model. Another light coming from above and in front of the model with a beauty dish on it. There is a small fill hitting her legs, I'd guess it's from a reflector bouncing light from the light that is coming from above. EDIT: The fill could also just be coming from whatever she was standing on...white or gray seamless would do it.

That's not including the background...if it's part of the original, it was probably just a reflector dish with a honeycomb.

Ballpark?

I vote beauty dish as well. You can see how the light falls off at the bottom, characteristic of a beauty dish in single light. I am curious what the F Stop is

Jan 13 08 02:55 pm Link

Photographer

Corey Ward

Posts: 2479

Austin, Texas, US

Through Garys Eyes wrote:

Pretty close: single monolight strobe with 24X36 softbox above the model's feet and angled to cover her torso (light diffused through the sheet).  Catch lights added in PS to make it appear that there is a small light coming from the camera position.

Tricky, tricky! I knew there was something suspect about those catchlights. I attributed it to you using a really harsh light and a relatively thin sheet, though! Nice one!

Jan 13 08 02:55 pm Link

Photographer

Jay Esposito

Posts: 215

Denver, Colorado, US

have your go, i'll give you a hint, the catchlight on the model left eye has been intensified in ps. https://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd262/jespophoto/DSC_1708.jpg

Jan 13 08 02:56 pm Link

Photographer

R Christopher

Posts: 173

Charlotte, North Carolina, US

Chris Macan wrote:
How about this one?

https://photos.modelmayhem.com/photos/071028/21/47253e29363d4.jpg

natural light camera left

Jan 13 08 02:57 pm Link

Photographer

Night Light Images

Posts: 933

Tulsa, Oklahoma, US

Richard Gorremans wrote:

You got two right.  Want to see the lighting diagram?

Here is the diagram.  Hope I get the link right.

https://www.spiritwolfx.com/images/Monica_001.jpg

Jan 13 08 02:57 pm Link

Photographer

Corey Ward

Posts: 2479

Austin, Texas, US

Desire Photos wrote:

I vote beauty dish as well. You can see how the light falls off at the bottom, characteristic of a beauty dish in single light. I am curious what the F Stop is

Actually, what gives away the beauty dish is the very soft light with distinct shadows. Also, if you've got a keen eye you would notice the trademark black spot inside of the white circle in the reflection of her bracelet. wink

A softbox would fall off the same way below the purse if it was the same size.

Jan 13 08 02:58 pm Link

Photographer

Corey Ward

Posts: 2479

Austin, Texas, US

I've got a meeting with a clothing store here so give me a bit and I'll keep going. I think I'm going to enjoy this thread!

Jan 13 08 02:59 pm Link

Photographer

R Christopher

Posts: 173

Charlotte, North Carolina, US

Corey Ward wrote:

Actually, what gives away the beauty dish is the very soft light with distinct shadows. Also, if you've got a keen eye you would notice the trademark black spot inside of the white circle in the reflection of her bracelet. wink

A softbox would fall off the same way below the purse if it was the same size.

I am blind without my glasses so no keen eye! sad

Jan 13 08 03:00 pm Link

Photographer

Chris Macan

Posts: 12966

HAVERTOWN, Pennsylvania, US

Desire Photos wrote:
natural light camera left

Medium florescent box to the left front about chest high,
4"x8" reflector tucked in close just out of the frame on the right.

Jan 13 08 03:02 pm Link

Photographer

mrbeagle

Posts: 803

Mission Viejo, California, US

Corey Ward wrote:
Actually, what gives away the beauty dish is the very soft light with distinct shadows. Also, if you've got a keen eye you would notice the trademark black spot inside of the white circle in the reflection of her bracelet. wink

A softbox would fall off the same way below the purse if it was the same size.

wow I actually didn't even notice the catchlight in the bracelet until you just pointed it out smile

Jan 13 08 03:02 pm Link

Photographer

Jamie-JAYCE-Charles

Posts: 2207

Hollywood, Florida, US

mrbeagle wrote:

mine? closed and blacked out windows

nice dude thanks for playing helps me to learn

big_smile

Jan 13 08 03:02 pm Link

Photographer

R Christopher

Posts: 173

Charlotte, North Carolina, US

Chris Macan wrote:

Medium florescent box to the left front about chest high,
4"x8" reflector tucked in close just out of the frame on the right.

okay I am 0 for two...perhaps I need to go back and study

Jan 13 08 03:08 pm Link

Photographer

R Christopher

Posts: 173

Charlotte, North Carolina, US

https://img5.modelmayhem.com/061120/22/45627fcd8425b_m.jpg

This should be an easy one to guess.

Jan 13 08 03:08 pm Link

Photographer

DVS

Posts: 10000

Detroit, Michigan, US

Try this one...

https://img2.modelmayhem.com/050606/23/42a51d25a8779.jpg

or this...

image contains a nipple

Jan 13 08 03:12 pm Link

Photographer

Travis Sackett

Posts: 1613

Reno, Nevada, US

this should be fun

https://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a165/Deuse/119-1.jpg

Jan 13 08 03:15 pm Link

Photographer

Robert Randall

Posts: 13890

Chicago, Illinois, US

Try this one on for size.

https://www.robert-randall.com/MM/SHR-P30-LeannFN.jpg

Jan 13 08 03:16 pm Link

Photographer

Kris Perry Photography

Posts: 872

Placentia, California, US

make it happen

https://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i147/krisperry72/MariaE5.jpg

Jan 13 08 03:44 pm Link

Photographer

Star

Posts: 17966

Los Angeles, California, US

https://modelmayhm-6.vo.llnwd.net/d1/photos/071027/03/4722ee6e6a007.jpg

Jan 13 08 03:48 pm Link

Photographer

What Fun Productions

Posts: 20868

Phoenix, Arizona, US

Here's one for you. Thanks!

https://img5.modelmayhem.com/070119/14/45b122612c8a7.jpg

Jan 13 08 04:42 pm Link

Photographer

Night Light Images

Posts: 933

Tulsa, Oklahoma, US

Deleted

Jan 13 08 04:45 pm Link