Shooting black males with dramatic lighting
August 3rd, 2008I shot this male model using very dramatic lighting. There is a myth that shooting black people or people with very dark skin is much different than shooting people with lighter skin. Well that is what it is, A MYTH. Just expose the same way you would with any type of skin color. So I shot this with a small umbrella up high camera left at a 45 degree angle to the face. For the edge light you see on the models left side, camera right, I placed a strobe on a stand with a small snoot and exposed it at a stop and a half over my main. Shadows of this nature are ok when shooting men. When shooting women it is not as acceptable UNLESS that is the look you are going for.
Black male shadowed lighting
August 5th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Glad you have made this point, and this is a great image! I love the look, and the lighting!
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August 7th, 2008 at 1:31 am
beautiful picture again! nice to see also a male model again!
Can I ask how far from the model you placed the umbrella and how far the model was standing from the background?
did you use a 85mm lens with 8.0 opening?
last question, what diameter/size is the umbrella? (sorry for the many questions )
Best regards,
Jay
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August 7th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Hi Jay !
Thank you again for the compliments. I placed the umbrella, 30″ in diameter, about 4 feet from the model. The model was standing about 8 feet from the background. I used gray paper so that when you place the model at least 6-8 feet from the background, the paper will go black.
I used an 85mm lens and my f stop was f/8. And don’t be sorry for many questions. You can ask as many as you want
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August 8th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Hello Jason!
I have a question about what you posted in this blog.
Why is it not always acceptable to have that side light for women but it is okay for me?
I love how you welcome questions. You are a very useful resource and inspiration for people who are starting out.
-Ainee
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August 19th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Hi Ainee,
Thank you for your question. Women are soft, gentile and delicate. Harsh shadows on a woman would destroy all of those beautiful qualities. A woman’s face has features that are soft. A woman’s face doesn’t have the hard lines that a man has. I don’t mean lines as in lines on the face. I am talking about angels. Men’s eyes IN GENERAL are more deep set, our chins are more angular etc. Look at all the ads you see of men, then look at ads with women. You will start to notice a pattern.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
Hi Jason,
Great post. As a photographer with a dark complexion I never thought about how I would photograph someone of a lighter complexion.
I don’t know why I haven’t, but it would seem natural if someone thought there was a difference being that dark colors absorb more light then light colors.
You are one of a handful of people who address the myth. I’m sure it will make more photographers feel comfortable in and out of the studio.
Thanks again,
Monroe
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August 23rd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Thank you Monroe ! Always appreciated.
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October 21st, 2009 at 2:49 am
Who is the model? He’s fucking hot :O.
Realy like it, very nice picture/
xx
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May 7th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
i’m kinda with nadia want to know his name just to look him up and see height and weight that is the perfect size and i want to know if it’s attainable and my god you are gifted with a camera my good man
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Jason Christopher Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Thank you for the compliment Jeremy. I am not allowed to give out names of models or how to contact them. I think getting to his level of fitness is very attainable
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August 21st, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Very informative post, I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the fantastic work Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
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