Jackie_Kancir

Film Noir Self Portrait

NIKON D5100

settings

Aperture f/5.6 ISO 400 Shutter 1/30

upload_date

Jun, 2014

Views

498

Likes

+55

Awards

People's Choice in Black&white female portrait Photo Challenge

Peer Award

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

Superb Composition

Magnificent Capture

Top Class Lighting

All Star

Exceptional Contrast

Emotions

Impressed

Top Ranks

Top 30 rank week 2

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 2

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

My basement with a small inexpensive studio light set up.

Time

Evening

Lighting

I had a hard light with umbrella on camera right, and a hair light about 45 degrees from that camera left and higher. I also put a short light behind me to separate from the background.

Equipment

Nikon D5100, Nikon 18-55mm (my very first DSLR kit)

Inspiration

I think it was a google+ group that had been posting lots of film noir style portraits, and I loved them. I wanted to try to achieve that result myself.

Editing

Very minimal post processing. Conversion to black and white, some minor clean up of things like flyaways, and I had to bring up the light in the eyes.

In my camera bag

D300, D750 | Lenses: 12-24, 50 1.4, 105 2.8, 70-300 | SD/CF cards, batteries | Sometimes a reflector or continuous LED.

Feedback

Google is your friend. :) You will need a minimum of two lights. They don't need to be high-priced studio lights, but at least one needs to be powerful. This lighting style was difficult to achieve as a self-portrait. I had to take several images, getting up after each, looking at the back of the camera, adjusting in my head where the light needed to be, do that, sitting back down, trying again. But... once I got it, I knew I had. I love how readily available tutorials are online for us. I appreciate everyone who took the time to share their knowledge so I could learn this from the comfort of my home.

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Jackie_Kancir

Jackie_Kancir

Film Noir Self Portrait

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow Jackie_Kancir

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