Say Hello to ... "The Entertainer"

[Colin Southern]

One of many from tonights studio shoot

[Donald]

Wonderfully lit. Superb image.

[Colin Southern]

[Colin Southern]

Wonderfully lit. Superb image.

Thanks Donald!

[Colin Southern]

Ladies & Gentlemen - the artist has left the building. Thank you, and good-night.

[JohnnyG]

As little as an 1/8 inch more lead out, and I'd hang it on my wall...it's just a bit too tight on the lead out, given the positioning of the microphone on the left - that, or give some more accent to the overall frame to pull the eye back to the left to a bit more. To me, as it sits now, he seems more like he is almost falling out of the frame, than "exiting stage right."

[Colin Southern]

As little as an 1/8 inch more lead out, and I'd hang it on my wall...it's just a bit too tight on the lead out, given the positioning of the microphone on the left - that, or give some more accent to the overall frame to pull the eye back to the left to a bit more. To me, as it sits now, he seems more like he is almost falling out of the frame, than "exiting stage right."

Hi Jonny,

Thanks for the kind words and feedback. I appreciate what you mean (and agree) - but it would be something I'd have to work-over in PP quite a bit (wasn't too keen at 1:23am!). Basically that edge is cropped at the point where the white seamless finishes and the rest of the studio becomes visible -- and additionally we were constrained to a square aspect ratio as it's a candidate for a CD cover (so if we extend to the right we then have to extend down which unbalances the shot a little).

[rpcrowe]

Great shots. I am sure that he is vey happy with these. BTW: Colin, can you make me look like him

[Sahil]

WOW! Great shots....
I love the way black shirt is showing separately against a black background, in the first image. Each & every detail is visible.
I am sure you took shots of your setup too.. Mind sharing them

[Colin Southern]

Great shots. I am sure that he is vey happy with these.

Thanks Richard, 700+ shos on their way to him as we speak!

BTW: Colin, can you make me look like him

Sure - folks can do anything with Photoshop!

[Colin Southern]

WOW! Great shots....
I love the way black shirt is showing separately against a black background, in the first image. Each & every detail is visible.
I am sure you took shots of your setup too.. Mind sharing them

Thanks Sahil,

A lot of folks seem to fear black on black, but it's pretty easy if you do a couple of things ...

1. Use rim lights. In this case we had a couple of strip lights behind and to the left/right of the subject firing back towards the subject - this gives the highlight edge and separation.

2. Remember that the tone of a black shirt ultimately depends on the amount of light it receives; hit it with enough for a correct exposure and it's (close to) black -- hit it with twice as much and it'll be middle gray - hit it with a total of 4 times as much and it'll be a white shirt. So in this situation we have a black background receiving very little light, and a black shirt that's receiving a lot more light - so it's going to reflect a proportion of that and in reality, be a dark gray shirt - so again it seperates from the background.

In reality I was using an octabox to subject left, and a couple of large reflectors to subject right.

Hope this helps

[speedneeder]

Hi Colin, I really like these images. Very well done.
I would like to ask a question about the first one if I may: there is a slight glow around him, especially his left shoulder, what is causing this? Is this lighting or a PP effect? I like it and I want to know how you did it.
Thanks

[Colin Southern]

Hi Colin, I really like these images. Very well done.
I would like to ask a question about the first one if I may: there is a slight glow around him, especially his left shoulder, what is causing this? Is this lighting or a PP effect? I like it and I want to know how you did it.
Thanks

Thanks Brian,

Thats the rim light - a light that's put behind (and to the right of the subject), pointing back towards the camera. It's also important to flag off the light do that the camera can't see it or you (can) get flare.

[speedneeder]

I'm sorry Colin as I wasn't clear in my question. I understand the rim lighting, my question is about the background - it is less black around the subject.

[Colin Southern]

I'm sorry Colin as I wasn't clear in my question. I understand the rim lighting, my question is about the background - it is less black around the subject.

Hi Brian,

Ah - sorry - with you now. It's a GND & vignette in post ... the key light contaminated it a bit too much.

[speedneeder]

Thanks Colin, I need to work on my gradients/vignettes.

[Colin Southern]

Thanks Colin, I need to work on my gradients/vignettes.

I use vignettes all the time - they give the illusion of targeted lighting, which is always a good thing

The digital GND is easy for Photoshop users - whilst in ACR just hit "G" and drag from the outside of the image in

[speedneeder]

I'm good with symmetrical/regular vignettes, I struggle with irregular vignettes.

[Colin Southern]

I'm good with symmetrical/regular vignettes, I struggle with irregular vignettes.

Hi Brian,

I use a couple of approaches in these situations:

1. Just use the burn tool

2. Duplicate the layer - apply the vignette to one of them - erase parts of the layer with the vignette where you don't want it (soft brush).

[speedneeder]

Thanks Colin. I have been experimenting with vignettes on separate layers lately so that I can adjust them with a curves tool independently from the base layer. I hadn't thought of masking the vignette layer or modifying with a burn tool. I will have to give this a try.