Welcome to the seventh installment of our new monthly that highlights a different Elinchrom Light Shaper or Lighting Technique, with sample images (full length and cropped headshots) and lighting diagrams. All the images were photographed with the same model and outfit (standing in the same spot on the background – about 3 feet away), the same day in the same blacked out studio, with the same strobes at the same height (forehead height) & distance (about 5 feet) from the model and the same camera setup. I tried to remove as many obstacles as possible so we can compare light shaper effects.
I used an Elinchrom FIVE battery monolight triggered by the Elinchrom Transmitter Pro. My trusty Gossen Digisky light meter ensured consistent exposure values – it has an integrated Skyport transceiver to remotely trigger the FIVE. My Nikon D810 had a Tamron 85mm f/1.8 lens and all was mounted on a Vanguard VEO 3+ 263CB tripod. Camera settings are ISO64, f/8, 1/125s We used an Easiframe backdrop system with the Grey Texture backdrop. I tethered my camera into Capture One on my laptop with a Tether Pro USB-C to C cable and connected my laptop to a large screen TV with a TetherPro HDMI cable so we could review images on the big screen.
Special thanks to Phil and RevPrint Studio (https://www.revprint.com) for the use of their space. Phil hosts workshops featuring Elinchrom gear via West Toronto Photography Group (https://www.wtpg.ngo/)
This month, I’ll share two simple and effective three-light setups, including lighting diagrams and compare to my favourite two-light setup. I’ll explain where and why I positioned the lights and modifiers I used. These setups can be done at home, in studio or on location.
Since I’m doing portraits, I chose the Deep Octa 70cm as my key light. If you recall from the very first installment, the Deep Octa is one of my favourite light shapers for portraiture due to the fairly round catchlights and the way it wraps light around your subject, giving your portrait dimensionality.
For reference, let’s review one of my favourite two-light setups:
I have the Deep Octa camera left and the Strip Box with a textile grid camera right, behind Maya. This is nice and controlled light.
For the three-light setup, I’ve kept the Deep Octa camera left. The Strip box is now a background light camera right. For my Fill light, I have an ELC 500 with an umbrella, metered three stops less light than the key light.
My key light creates a nice short loop lighting pattern – very close to a classic Rembrandt. The umbrella gives the portrait a nice soft fill whilst the Strip Box illuminates the background to create more separation between Maya and the Easiframe background. This lighting looks more flattering – brighter with softer skin tones and less contrast. That’s mainly due to the Fill. The Deep Octa sculpts Maya’s face nicely and creates a flattering shine on her leather pants to define them.
The only change I felt I needed to finish the portrait was to remove the textile grid from the Strip box to allow a touch of light to spill onto Maya’s hair on her right.
You can create really nice portraits with just two lights. Adding a third light gives you more control and more options – especially when using it create more separation between your subject and the background. This is why studio images “pop” more. I’ve used this technique with location portraits as well. Battery-powered strobes such as FIVE and THREE are perfect for location lighting.
Share some of your favourite images where you used multiple lights to your advantage on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram #photonewscanada #elinchromlightshaper.
Next month, I’ll show some advanced portrait techniques that utilize a unique feature of the Elinchrom FIVE and THREE monolights. See you next month!
Read the previous articles:
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 1
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 2
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 3
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 4
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 5
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 6
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 7
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 8
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 9
Elinchrom Light Shapers and Lighting Techniques – #Episode 10
Items Discussed
Author: Will Prentice
A portrait, fine art and commercial photographer for 30 plus years, Will Prentice is not just a contributor to PHOTONews magazine, but also host of PHOTONewsTV, owner of Captura Photography+Imaging and Technical Support/Brand Manager for Amplis Foto, Canada’s largest distributor of photographic equipment.
Will teaches photographers of all skill levels how to improve their craft – from creative photo projects to picking the right gear for their needs to flattering lighting to getting the best expressions to creating final images for screen and print. His unique style of highly detailed images with perfect tonality, wide dynamic range and stunning colour is instantly recognizable. Commercial clients rely on Will’s creative eye and mastery of lighting.
When he’s not behind the camera or in front of a class, you’ll find Will outdoors in any weather – usually on one of his bikes or enjoying time with his grandchildren.
