The 1-3-2 Posing Technique

[Winnie]

Thanks for the tip Benji

[Benji]

JD asked, "What is your ratio of fill to key lighting?" *Fill metered alone at F 6.3 the main alone at F 11. This is almost two stops. I've noticed if I go any more than two stops the image starts looking a little too contrasty for my liking in portraiture.

" How far/close are you placing the fill?" *About 12 feet from the edge of the umbrella to the tip if the subject's nose.

Benji

[shortyred]

Thanks this is the stuff I'm looking for. What if your on limited equipment can you still do this? I took some pictures for my first studio shoot there ruff but can you C&C for me? I hope its OK to ask?
http://www.photocamel.com/index.php/topic,14745.0.html

[Alter_ego]

I can understand the 1.2.3 technique Benji, but can you explain what you mean by the 1.3.2 pose.

[Benji]

Allcart,

The general name of the technique is 1-2-3. All of my examples show the 1-3-2. Look at my above image and study the position of the body in relation to the head and then the eyes in relation to the body and the head.

Benji

[rich426]

Can something like this even be attempted with just a speedlite? Seems like the really good portrait techniques come from off-camera lighting.

Thanks,
Rich

[Benji]

Rich,

Yes, I suppose it could if you went outdoors and found a spot that had good portrait ligfhting that only needed a fill flash to make it perfect portrait lighting!

Benji

[rich426]

Or a sunny window inside?

[Benji]

Cut and paste,"Or a sunny window inside?"

While sunshine CAN be used as a main light source, I suggest waiting until you've mastered using daylight as your main light, ("daylight" meaning the natural light streaming through a window (or outside) that is not sunshine.) When I use daylight I use a reflector to lighten up the shadows rather than a flash unit.

Benji

[rich426]

Oh, that's what I meant. 'Daylight'. Got a good snap of my niece using light coming through a window on her right as the main source, and bouncing my diffused flash off the ceiling for some fill.

When this scenario is not available... Can I turn the flash head around & back, bounce the flash off a piece of poster board, and still get a good result? (light on one side of the face, some slight shadow on the other)

I'm going to drive the wife nuts experimenting with her as my subject.

Thanks,
R