Assignment 1: Environmental Portrait indoors

Diagram


Objective:

This assignment is to provide an image of a businessperson in their environment, suitable for the front cover of Time magazine.

1. Camera position: 9ft from away from the subject and at 4.5 ft high
2. The subject is centered in the composition, sitting in front right of the piano.
3. Focal length: 50 mm at f2.0
4. Back umbrellas (white): at 3 ft above ground, reading:f. 2.8, 1/125 sec, 1/16 power. Front umbrella: at 6 ft above ground (pointing down on the subject), reading: f5.6.
All the readings will be quite different at the time of the actual shooting. The time of the readings was 4 PM, and the actually shooting will be in the morning.

Pre-light report and analysis

1. The location of our shot is a bit challenging. There is available light coming from behind the subject. At the time of the actual shooting there is going to be very bright. I will be blowing out the background, allowing a bit of detail through.

Above the subject the ceiling is low, with different light sources (tungsten and florescent).
The side ubmbrellas will be bouncing of the ceiling, lighting up the background.
The front umbrella will be facing the subject.

2. I've chose a 50 mm lens at f. 2.0 taking into consideration the fact that the background windows require blurriness.
3. The aperture at the time of testing was f 2.0 (at 4 PM). At the time of the actual shooting (morning) the aperture would be probably 1 stop higher.
4. 1/125 sec
5. yes
6.yes
7. It might be just enough light
8. The reflection of the umbrellas in the back windows, that can be solved by the time of the day (morning shot, more light through the windows, that can balance out the reflection).
9. Based on these readings it was clear that we would have to balance the interior light sources and manage the strong highlight coming from behind the subject. Equipment list and setup:

1 x Profoto kit (with reversible umbrellas)

3 x tall light stands

1 x umbrella adaptor

2 x Sunpak or equivalent hand flashes

1 x optical trigger (if necessary)

1 x shoot-through white umbrella or small softbox

6 x extension cords

Light meter

Grey card

1 x remote transmitter/2 receivers and cables

1 x white reflector

Masking tape or rubber mats

Magazine layout, laptop and Capture One (n/a at time of shoot)

Tripod

Remote shutter release

Green gel (for fluorescent correction)

Due to the wide range of exposures in the test shot, we also realized that we should prepare to bracket the background in order to provide material for composites if necessary.

Final polaroid: