Self_2048
Ph: Fulvio Chiari
Self Portrait
Oct, 2013Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
The photo was taken in a small room in my old house.Time
It was around 20.30 (8.30 p.m.), but it doesn't matter as the lighting was completely artificial.Lighting
I was looking for a solution in which all the frame can be dark and only my face and the hand can be lighted. All my small room was white painted, therefore I have to face some problems. To avoid light bouncing I use a spot light close to my face in order to avoid the spread of the light and to have a quick fall-off. The hard light was what I was looking for because a want a dramatic and introspective shot.Equipment
For that shoot I used a Nikon D300s (APSc 1.5x) with a telephoto lens 80/200 f/2.8 @ 120mm f/4. As this is a self, the camera was on a tripod. The flash was a speedlight on a stand, snooted with a cardboard cylinder and some tape... and was radio triggerd. Self-timer, beeep, beeep, beeep... move fast, strike the pose, see the results, self-timer... you all know what I mean...Inspiration
I was in love with a portrait shooted by Herb Ritts to an actor and I well remember that the feeling and the pose was like this. So I start wondering how can be recreated and... Ok, I'm not a movie star ;-)Editing
Of course there is a b/w conversion, dodge and burn, and a little of sharpness. As the light was very close to me and to my hand (see the direction of the light), my hand was too bright compared to my face that should be on the same level. That was caused by the fast fall off of the light and I had to solve this matter in post with a curve level and a layer mask.In my camera bag
I dont't really have a standard equipment, but what is often with me is a Nikon D700, a Nikon 28/70 f2.8 (love this old boy... more soft, more warm) and his big brother Nikon 80/200 f/2.8. I'm tring to learn how to use a 16mm fisheye and I'm loving it. Some more spaces are for an SB800 and/or the Nissin di866 (excellent!) and a flash diffuser (or a lumisphere or a white bounce to be attached to the flash). Battery Pack, cable, stuff, usefull stuff, useless stuff, absolitely useless stuff... more of the last that you can think...Feedback
There is no specific advise or suggestion to have a capture like this except to experiment in lighting solution, read some good books and watch video on lighting. Let you be inspired by photos you see around in internet, but don't fall in love with the "wow" of your eyes, pls, feel the "wow" of your soul... I hope it's clear what I mean...
