Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/01/20

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Subject: [Leica] [img] is this light too soft?
From: kcassidy at asc.upenn.edu (Kyle Cassidy)
Date: Sun Jan 20 11:51:04 2008

I'm thinking of doing a series of studio portraits of "heroes" -- doctors, 
firefighters, police -- people who for one reason or another put their lives 
at risk to protect others. 

i'd like to have a sort of "standard" portrait lighting for all of them, and 
was kicking around the 63 inch photek softlighter II as big enough and soft 
enough (and easy enough to set up) -- but looking at last nights tests on 
trillian:

 http://www.kylecassidy.com/lj/2008/trill-sb1.jpg

 http://www.kylecassidy.com/lj/2008/trill-sb3.jpg

i'm wondering if it's just _too_ soft -- i'd like some sharper shadows on 
interesting faces and i'm wondering if it would be better to move to:

 a) a smaller umbrella

 b) a softbox

 c) "window light" is not an answer here, thank you for trying though.

 i'm afraid if i go to too small an umbrella, if just won't have the 
coverage to get "head to waist". gak.

what are your favorite ways to light interesting faces with wrinkles & 
character? i fear i've been photographing models too long, trying to get RID 
of wrinkles and character ..... i want their faces to tell the story, if you 
know what i mean....


kc

Replies: Reply from abridge at gmail.com (Adam Bridge) ([Leica] [img] is this light too soft?)
Reply from reid at mejac.palo-alto.ca.us (Brian Reid) ([Leica] [img] is this light too soft?)
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Reply from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] [img] is this light too soft?)
Reply from robertmeier at usjet.net (Robert Meier) ([Leica] [img] is this light too soft?)
Reply from kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] [img] is this light too soft?)
Reply from tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant) ([Leica] [img] is this light too soft?)