Soft light?

[djl4]

I've been trying to figure out how to get that "soft light" in photos. I've fiddled with a lot of settings on Photoshop, but I still can't get it to what I want. I'm wondering if there's anything I need to do on the "picture-taking" end. I changed my camera settings (Nikon D200) to soft light.
Here is something I want:



I took this from hansooim from Flickr.

I've seen a lot of Canons making a lot of these images, not too many Nikons.

Any advice/suggestions/recommendations would be highly appreciated.

[Gna]

Shoot against the sun with +1EV correction. Desaturate to taste. Do not sharpen.

[Benji]

Originally Posted by djl4

I'm wondering if there's anything I need to do on the "picture-taking" end. I changed my camera settings (Nikon D200) to soft light. Any advice/suggestions/recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Changing camera settings will not affect the light source used in the creation of an image. Hard light sources leave distinct hard edged shadows, whereas soft light sources leave indistinct very soft shadows. Your on camera flash is a hard light source.

The image you posted was backlit by the sun which is a hard light source. If you look at her feet you will see a shadow in front of her left by the sunshine. The light on the front of her body was "daylight" which is the light outside that is not sunshine. Daylight is usually quite soft. My second image below was lit by daylight. The first one below was lit by sunshine bounced off of a very large section of brand new corrugated steel. Normally bounced sunshine is a soft light source but since the steel that the sun was striking was real shiney (almost mirror like) it remained a hard light source. Note the fairly hard shadow behind and beside him. Now compare the shadow on image # 2 to this one. The shadow is almost undectable because the light source was so soft.

Benji

[djl4]

Thank you for explaining that. I really appreciate it.
I'll keep those in mind when I go shoot!

[KatMitchell]

What kind of processes did you try in photoshop? This photo you posted looks like is also has the washed/bleached process effect applied to it which would enhance the washed softer light appeal...

The only way I know how to achieve soft light while shooting is via diffusion in a controlled environment. However, I know you can achieve the appeal your talking about in photoshop.

Here are two tutorials that may help on creating a soft light effect :

Eyeball Site

Photoshop Effects Soft Focus Glow Tutorial

~ Kat

[djl4]

Thank you for the links!
I wasn't sure if it was the shooting or the Photoshop. I tried the Photoshop method, but it didn't come out the way I wanted.
That tutorial in the link you provided is very helpful. Thank you.

[KatMitchell]

Originally Posted by djl4

Thank you for the links!
I wasn't sure if it was the shooting or the Photoshop. I tried the Photoshop method, but it didn't come out the way I wanted.
That tutorial in the link you provided is very helpful. Thank you.

You are very welcome...

I researched to try and find some method to accomplish it "in camera" and aside of diffusion, I cannot see any other way of doing it other than photoshop..

Best of Luck on getting what you want....

~ Kat

[RocketRick]

Kat,

As others have noted, softness is all about the relative size of the light source, as seen from the perspective of the subject being photographed.

If the light source looks like a tiny pinpoint of light to your subject (like the sun does on a clear day, or like a bare flash does), then you will get hard shadows and harsh lighting on facial features, showing every wrinkle or blemish.

If the light source looks relatively large to your subject (like an umbrella or "softbox" real close to them, or like a uniformly cloudy sky overhead), then the shadows will be soft, and the light will "wrap around" facial features, softening them and smoothing out the appearance of wrinkles and skin blemishes.

Remember: large is soft, and close is large.

- Rick

[KatMitchell]

Originally Posted by RocketRick

Kat,

As others have noted, softness is all about the relative size of the light source, as seen from the perspective of the subject being photographed.

If the light source looks like a tiny pinpoint of light to your subject (like the sun does on a clear day, or like a bare flash does), then you will get hard shadows and harsh lighting on facial features, showing every wrinkle or blemish.

If the light source looks relatively large to your subject (like an umbrella or "softbox" real close to them, or like a uniformly cloudy sky overhead), then the shadows will be soft, and the light will "wrap around" facial features, softening them and smoothing out the appearance of wrinkles and skin blemishes.

Remember: large is soft, and close is large.

- Rick

Hey Rick,

I hear ya.. I get that.., thanks for helping... Sorry, that is what I meant by diffusion, but your right, a larger diffused light is best for the softest light...

However, I think she is trying to accomplish this with actual "in camera" settings... and natural light...I could not find any way to do that... do you know of any settings on board and in camera that would give this soft washed effect? I looked it up and I cannot find anything but photoshop tricks..

~ Kat

[RocketRick]

Originally Posted by KatMitchell

However, I think she is trying to accomplish this with actual "in camera" settings... and natural light...I could not find any way to do that... do you know of any settings on board and in camera that would give this soft washed effect? I looked it up and I cannot find anything but photoshop tricks..

Kat,

Unfortunately, if the light isn't right, you can't manufacture it in-camera using any sort of magic setting.

If you want a smooth, gradual transition from highlight to shadow, then you need a light source (or sources) that provide that gradual falloff from highlight to shadow. If the light is casting harsh shadows, then the camera will see them.

Sometimes, just adding a little bit of fill from your on-camera flash is enough to soften the harsh shadows caused by the sun or whatever other light source is in use. Light from multiple sources can sometimes have a similar effect to light from a single larger source. Other times (like shooting on an overcast day, or in shade on the north side of a building), the entire open sky is your light source, and that provides a very soft, even sort of light.

Instead of looking for a magic button on your camera, start looking for environmental factors that will provide the light that you want. Even when you don't have your camera with you, start noticing the way that the light plays across people's features everywhere you go. You'll start developing, through practice, an intuition about "good" and "bad" conditions and locations for shooting photos.

- RIck

[RocketRick]

Originally Posted by djl4

I've been trying to figure out how to get that "soft light" in photos. I've fiddled with a lot of settings on Photoshop, but I still can't get it to what I want. I'm wondering if there's anything I need to do on the "picture-taking" end. I changed my camera settings (Nikon D200) to soft light.
Here is something I want:



I took this from hansooim from Flickr.

I've seen a lot of Canons making a lot of these images, not too many Nikons.

Any advice/suggestions/recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Originally Posted by Gna

Shoot against the sun with +1EV correction. Desaturate to taste. Do not sharpen.

To clarify what Gna is saying, here:

The reason that the light on this young woman is soft is that the sun is *not* the main light source for her. Instead, the sun is behind her, and the entire beach and sky in front of her is providing the light that is shining on the side of her that the camera sees.

The sun is back-lighting her, giving her hair that glow. But the light on her front and her face is provided by nature's softbox -- the diffuse reflected and refracted light from the open sky and the beach in front of her. It's not as bright as the direct light from behind her, which is why Gna suggested opening the exposure up by a stop or so. But, it's there, and it's nice, soft light.

- Rick

[KatMitchell]

Originally Posted by RocketRick

Kat,

Unfortunately, if the light isn't right, you can't manufacture it in-camera using any sort of magic setting.

If you want a smooth, gradual transition from highlight to shadow, then you need a light source (or sources) that provide that gradual falloff from highlight to shadow. If the light is casting harsh shadows, then the camera will see them.

Sometimes, just adding a little bit of fill from your on-camera flash is enough to soften the harsh shadows caused by the sun or whatever other light source is in use. Light from multiple sources can sometimes have a similar effect to light from a single larger source. Other times (like shooting on an overcast day, or in shade on the north side of a building), the entire open sky is your light source, and that provides a very soft, even sort of light.

Instead of looking for a magic button on your camera, start looking for environmental factors that will provide the light that you want. Even when you don't have your camera with you, start noticing the way that the light plays across people's features everywhere you go. You'll start developing, through practice, an intuition about "good" and "bad" conditions and locations for shooting photos.

- RIck

Thanks for taking the time to help out Rick... Your explanations are "very" educational and helpful both....

~ Kat

[ascending Phoenix]

Old weddding photographer,Back when was shooting film.Used to sometimes put old pieces of his wifes pantyhose..over the lens.For added diffusion.Might experiemnt with that..also can paly with saran wrap over the lens

[kewk]

Originally Posted by ascending Phoenix

Old weddding photographer,Back when was shooting film.Used to sometimes put old pieces of his wifes pantyhose..over the lens.For added diffusion.Might experiemnt with that..also can paly with saran wrap over the lens

Think I remember reading an old Hollywood style photo using this technique as well.

[ascending Phoenix]

And with a Cokin Filter holder..can add center spots,gradients etc..and slide it in the holder to adjust placement of the effects

Photoshop isnt how we create images.As a mentor told me.WE create images.Photoshop fine tunes them to convert to a web postable image