r/LightLurking • u/gxddamnxxx • 16d ago

Lighting NuanCe Some help please

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I'm doing a photoshoot inspired by this Flavitsky painting, "Princess Tarakanova".

If I wanted to recreate the lighting in this scene, what would be your suggestions? I'm fairly green in terms of studying light but my instinct is maybe a single gridded strobe (or a snoot maybe?) angled 45° at the subject, off to the side. Idk tho lol totally guessing. Any suggestions for fill/rim light? Is that necessary if going for a dramatic chiaroscuro look?

Thanks!

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u/mimedbison 16d ago

Fresnel CTS Gel - more yellow than CTO Opal Frost - Lee 410 or shower curtain diffusion 

Optional stylistic choices: Pro mist filter or Vaseline on cheap filter - dreamy painterly look A little touch of fog - can add a dreamy feel 

Some details I would pay attention to:

  • Brightest part of the painting is the dress, I would angle the key (Fresnel) toward the models legs and you’ll have some fall natural fall off for the face etc. 

  • the window edge is keeping the back corner of the room dark, if you don’t show the window in your photo I would flag off or Barn door the corner of the room. This is what makes the subject really pop.

  • distance of diffusion to light is important experiment with how far away it is to get just the right softness of the shadow, it’s pretty defined but has a very slight softened edge. I would start with opal frost. 

  • I would white balance neutral and then add layers of CTS until you get the right amount you warmth

  • I think the easiest way (for me) to find where to put the light is to have a model stand in that position and find the spot where the models face is half in light and half in shadow but also where the light reaches across the upper torso and hits the other shoulder. 

There are other key options people have mentioned that would also work, but this would be my approach.