how to shoot this close-up at DVinfo.net

Philip Fass · February 27th, 2012, 01:39 PM

I'm going to shoot a close-up of a rap artist from Africa. Very dark skin. I want the effect of a spotlight hitting his face/head from about 45 degrees from the camera and a few feet above. Kind of stark. Little or no background seen, and neck/shoulders barely visible.

So the way I imagine it, it's using a key light and nothing else. The question is, should I add a fill that's just strong enough to take the other side of his face out of shadow? Anything else?

Robin Davies-Rollinson · February 27th, 2012, 04:47 PM

I find that a blue backlight looks very good with dark skin...

Garrett Low · February 27th, 2012, 04:57 PM

Can't really tell for sure until you start lighting it but I'd be ready with a small fill and bounce if needed. I would also have a small light and C-stand with grip arm on hand in case you decide you want a hair light to really give a little rim around the top of the head.

Are you going to be shooting it in a dark studio?

Philip Fass · February 28th, 2012, 05:43 AM

It will actually be in a conference room with off-white walls. The opposite wall has 2 windows with blinds that can keep out almost all of the daylight.Any lights I use will be 5600K, so I can easily use the natural light if it helps.

Bob Hart · February 28th, 2012, 06:51 AM

My personal preference would be to go for blue highlights as well. It is a good look, maybe a bit commonly done these days but use what is proven good. I would be inclined to make the backdrop as dark as you can, and maybe throw some dark blue or dark orange patches on it. I think the make-up people do water or oil shine to look like the sweat of energetic performance to also bring out facial highlights. I would take care not to use a wide angle lens a confined location may force you to think of using. For close-ups it may be less than complimentary.

That is my personal preference. I am in no way qualified in this game so please take the advice of others.

Les Wilson · February 28th, 2012, 07:03 AM

I recommend you add some fill. Lighting all of your subject will let you expose for a lit subject that is brighter than the background. This means the background will expose darker which is what you want. If you don't add fill then that side of your subject will be the same exposure as the background. Fill and hair lights will let you separate your subject via exposure. You can dial down the aperture to darken the background because you have raised the level on your subject.

Also, daylight through a window that's bounced around a room is not going to be 5200K. It's like the shade which is typically 3900-4500K depending. A little orange on your lights will help bring it into that range.

Philip Fass · February 28th, 2012, 08:29 AM

Very good ideas here.

I was actually thinking of adding some blue light to his face. Is there anything to know about colors interacting with dark skin vs light skin?

Charles Papert · February 28th, 2012, 09:23 AM

Using a shiny reflector (mylar-type finish) delivers good results on black skin. Large softboxes or white bounces can result in a flat, patchy look as the skin will reflect those as the white sources that they are. I don't use a full gold reflector myself but that look is flattering (it was done a lot in The Help).

Philip Fass · February 28th, 2012, 09:49 AM

My lucky day -- I happen to have a gold reflector!

February 27th, 2012, 01:39 PM	#1
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	how to shoot this close-up I'm going to shoot a close-up of a rap artist from Africa. Very dark skin. I want the effect of a spotlight hitting his face/head from about 45 degrees from the camera and a few feet above. Kind of stark. Little or no background seen, and neck/shoulders barely visible. So the way I imagine it, it's using a key light and nothing else. The question is, should I add a fill that's just strong enough to take the other side of his face out of shadow? Anything else?

February 27th, 2012, 04:47 PM	#2
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Re: how to shoot this close-up I find that a blue backlight looks very good with dark skin... __________________ TV Director / Cameraman

February 27th, 2012, 04:57 PM	#3
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	Re: how to shoot this close-up Can't really tell for sure until you start lighting it but I'd be ready with a small fill and bounce if needed. I would also have a small light and C-stand with grip arm on hand in case you decide you want a hair light to really give a little rim around the top of the head. Are you going to be shooting it in a dark studio? __________________ Garrett Low www.GLowMediaProductions.com

February 28th, 2012, 05:43 AM	#4
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	Re: how to shoot this close-up It will actually be in a conference room with off-white walls. The opposite wall has 2 windows with blinds that can keep out almost all of the daylight.Any lights I use will be 5600K, so I can easily use the natural light if it helps.

February 28th, 2012, 06:51 AM	#5
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,477	Re: how to shoot this close-up My personal preference would be to go for blue highlights as well. It is a good look, maybe a bit commonly done these days but use what is proven good. I would be inclined to make the backdrop as dark as you can, and maybe throw some dark blue or dark orange patches on it. I think the make-up people do water or oil shine to look like the sweat of energetic performance to also bring out facial highlights. I would take care not to use a wide angle lens a confined location may force you to think of using. For close-ups it may be less than complimentary. That is my personal preference. I am in no way qualified in this game so please take the advice of others.

February 28th, 2012, 07:03 AM	#6
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: how to shoot this close-up I recommend you add some fill. Lighting all of your subject will let you expose for a lit subject that is brighter than the background. This means the background will expose darker which is what you want. If you don't add fill then that side of your subject will be the same exposure as the background. Fill and hair lights will let you separate your subject via exposure. You can dial down the aperture to darken the background because you have raised the level on your subject. Also, daylight through a window that's bounced around a room is not going to be 5200K. It's like the shade which is typically 3900-4500K depending. A little orange on your lights will help bring it into that range. Last edited by Les Wilson; February 28th, 2012 at 10:09 AM. Reason: Fixed iphone typos

February 28th, 2012, 08:29 AM	#7
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	Re: how to shoot this close-up Very good ideas here. I was actually thinking of adding some blue light to his face. Is there anything to know about colors interacting with dark skin vs light skin?

February 28th, 2012, 09:23 AM	#8
Charles Papert Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 6,810	Re: how to shoot this close-up Using a shiny reflector (mylar-type finish) delivers good results on black skin. Large softboxes or white bounces can result in a flat, patchy look as the skin will reflect those as the white sources that they are. I don't use a full gold reflector myself but that look is flattering (it was done a lot in The Help). __________________ Charles Papert www.charlespapert.com

February 28th, 2012, 09:49 AM	#9
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	Re: how to shoot this close-up My lucky day -- I happen to have a gold reflector!