Creating a soft and dramatic image doesn’t require too many complicated settings and gear. In this short video, photographer Jeff Rojas will show you how to do it with a minimalistic approach. All he uses to create wonderful, dramatic portraits is one light placed overhead.
Gear
As for the gear, this is what Jeff uses: Strobe: Phottix Indra 360 Trigger: Phottix Odin II Lighting Modifier: Phottix Hexa-Para Softbox – 59″ – Jeff points out that it creates very soft light. Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Lens: Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Of course, you’re invited to experiment, use what you prefer and what you have. But as you can see, the amount of gear is minimal.
Setup
Light is placed 1.5 – 2 feet above the subject.What’s especially important to remember is that the subject is placed right along the edge of the lighting modifier. This is because the remaining light will accentuate and fill any unwanted shadows in the face. Jeff also angles the main light slightly down towards the subject’s face. This eliminates shadows on the face and creates subtle tones both in black and white and in color.
The subject is placed 5-6 feet away from the background. So, you can use this setup in almost any room. You can see Jeff’s results in the video, and feel free to share your own examples in the comments below. [How to Use One Light Overhead in Your Portrait Photography | Jeff Rojas]
