PRO ANALYSIS
What makes a great shot? We dissect another top portrait photograph from Rory Lewis
NAME: James Purefoy, London
DATE: 4 December 2019
KIT: Canon 5D MK IV & Canon 85mm f/1.2L USM X2 Bowens XMT 500s Lastolite LL Ls2954 Ezybox II Octa with Grid mounted Bowens Snoot Cone
Lastolite Collapsible Background 1.5 x 1.8m Black/White
X3 Avenger C-Stand 18 Black/White
WEBSITE: www.rorylewis.studio
BACKGROUND SEPARATION
TO ADD DRAMA TO YOUR PORTRAITS AND MAKE THEM FEEL IMMERSIVE YOU NEED TO SEPARATE THE SUBJECT FROM THE BACKGROUND. RORY DID THIS WITH A TWO LIGHT SETUP, AS THIS ENABLED HIM TO CUSTOMISE THE DIRECTION OF HIGHLIGHTS AND SHADOWS. “DRAMATIC LIGHTING MAY SEEM A DIFFICULT CONCEPT, HOWEVER WITH A FEW LIGHTING TOOLS YOU CAN MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN. PREFERRING THIS STYLE OF LIGHTING FOR MY ACTORS’ HEADSHOTS, DRAMATIC LIGHTING CAN MAKE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY JUMP OFF THE PAGE,” HE EXPLAINS.
MODIFY THE LIGHT
TO FURTHER ADD TO THE DRAMATIC STYLE IT HELPS TO CREATE FOCUSED BEAMS OF LIGHT, TO PREVENT IT FROM SPILLING ACROSS THE SCENE, LIGHTING IT EVENLY. FOR THIS IMAGE RORY MADE USE OF A COUPLE OF LIGHTING ACCESSORIES TO ACHIEVE
THIS TIGHT LIGHTING. “LIGHTING-WISE TO ACHIEVE THESE SHOTS YOU WILL NEED A SOFTBOX, PREFERABLY AN OCTA WITH A MOUNTED GRID. A GRID IS A HONEYCOMB MODIFIER THAT YOU PLACE DIRECTLY
OVER THE OCTA SOFTBOX. THE PATTERN RESTRICTS THE LIGHT, CREATING A NARROWER BEAM, RESULTING IN HARD AND HARSH LIGHTING, WHICH BRINGS OUT ALL THE DETAIL OF THE FACE. YOUR SECOND MODIFIER IS THE SNOOT – A COLLAPSIBLE CYLINDER, WHICH CREATES A
SPOTLIGHT EFFECT.”
FIND YOUR SUBJECT
SOURCING SUBJECTS FOR ACTOR HEADSHOTS MIGHT SEEM A LITTLE INTIMIDATING AND OUT OF REACH TO MOST PHOTOGRAPHERS
BUT RORY EXPLAINS SOME ROUTES TO FOLLOW. “MY FAVOURITE SUBJECTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ACTORS, TRAINED TO TAKE COMPLEX DIRECTION AND WORK TO CAMERA. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALSO ATTEMPT YOUR
OWN ACTOR’S HEADSHOT SESSION WITH THIS LIGHTING SETUP. YOU CAN SEEK OUT A SUBJECT USING CASTING WEBSITES, SUCH AS STARNOW, BACKSTAGE OR EVEN FACEBOOK.”